Spain’s inland landforms Spain is on an area of land called the Iberian Peninsula. Most of it is quite high above sea level. On this relief map you can see the inner plateau (Meseta), several mountain ranges, and two larger river basins that are Spain’s main landform features.
THE INNER PLATEAU Torre del Llambrión The Meseta is a big plateau located in the centre 2,642 m Torre Cerredo Monte Perdido 2,650 m 3,404 m of the Iberian Peninsula. There are two main areas: CAN Basque TABRIAN RANGE Hills P Galician Massif Peña Trevinca E Y R A BR E N E E S León Hills 2,127 m Moncayo O RIV The North Meseta is about NORTH MESETA 2,313 m ER BA 700 metres above sea level. SIN A Ibe ria n Ra CENTRAL SYSTEM nge Pico Almanzor Penyagolosa B 2,592 m B 1,813 m The South Meseta is about Toledo MountainsSOUTH MESETA 670 metres above sea level. Bañuela 1,332 m La Sagra N 2,382 m R BASI SIERRA MORENA RIVE IVIR SYSTEM LQU ETIC Mulhacén DA BA Veleta RIVER BASINS UA 3,482 m G 3,394 m The Guadalquivir and Ebro river basins are low C areas of fertile land.
C D CANARY ISLANDS Teide 3,718 m
The Guadalquivir river flows through The Ebro river flows through the Guadalquivir river basin. the Ebro river basin.
Fact! 1. Which mountain ranges are higher? How can you tell? The elevation 2. Which mountain ranges are on the Meseta? of a landform above sea level 3. Do you know the name of any of the mountains in your area? 4. What areas in Spain are less than 200 metres above sea level? is also called its altitude.
8 eight MOUNTAIN RANGES Spain has three sets of mountain ranges. Generally speaking, the Pyrenees, Meseta the Baetic System and the Pico de la Maladeta Cantabrian Range are rugged. Monte Perdido 3,312 m 3,404 m Other mountains in Spain are CAN Basque Aneto TABRIAN RANGE 3,404 m rounded. Hills P Y EB R E N R E E S ge Moncayo O R an 2,313 m IVE D al R INTERNAL RANGES EXTERNAL RANGES R B ast ASI Co Ib N an These ranges are on the These ranges are outside the er al ian at Meseta. Range C BALEARIC ISLANDS Meseta. Penyagolosa Puig Major 1,813 m 1,445 m SOUTH MESETA
La Sagra N 2,382 m R BASI RIVE VIR YSTEM UI TIC S Mulhacén ALQ AE AD B 3,482 m GU Land height above sea level in metres: The Toledo Mountains are rounded. The mountains of the Pyrenees are rugged. More than 2,000m PERIPHERAL RANGES 500 - 1,000m 1 These ranges surround the Meseta. 1000 - 2,000m 200 - 500m Watch a video Less than 200m about internal and Sea level (0m) peripheral ranges!
The mountains of the Cantabrian Range are rugged.
1. Can we say that generally, Spain’s land is high above sea level? Why? 2. Make a chart with the external, internal and peripheral mountain ranges. 3. What is the relief of the Canary and Balearic Islands like? How can you tell?
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