Liébana

Liébana is a comarca in the autonomous region of Cantabria in northern Spain. The Comarca Liébana has a size of 570 km ². In the southwest of Cantabria situated adjacent the comarca of the provinces of Asturias, Leon and Palencia. To Liébana include the communities Cabezon de Liébana, Camaleño, Cilliorigo de Liébana, Pesaguero, Potes, Tresviso and Vega de Liébana.

Geography

Liébana is a mountainous region by four valleys ( Valdebaró, Cereceda, Piedrasluengas and Cillorigo ) that come together in the center at Potes, is characterized. The main rivers are the Deva, Quivieseva and Buyon. The cliffs consist of coal leading limestone. Shale and sandstone can be found in the valleys. This region is also known for its high steep slopes and in the deep valleys of an amazing variety of fauna. Especially here are the many oak species mentioned, the holm oak, cork and oak.

In the narrowness of the valleys there is in contrast to the other regions of Cantabria, where there is more of an Atlantic climate, a Mediterranean microclimate. The maximum temperatures average 28 ° C, the minimum 8 ° C. The average rainfall is less than in the rest of Cantabria ( 800 mm per year as opposed to 1,000 to 1,200 mm).

Economy

The economy in the Liébana has evolved over the past decades on the primary sector towards a growing region of rural tourism ( rural tourism ). The National Park Picos de Europa and the almost untouched nature are the main attractions. This positive development is primarily in Potes, the capital of Liébana. This increases the population and out-migration and aging are initially stopped, which is not the case with the other places.

History

The monk, theologian and geographer Beatus of Liébana ( 730-800 ) lived in San Martin de Turieno monastery. He achieved fame by his main work, dating back to 776, with the comments of the biblical apocalypse in twelve books ( Beatus ( Illumination ) ). In the introduction, is one of the earliest Christian world maps, mappa mundi which mapped.