Pico Almanzor

Pico Almanzor of the Laguna Grande de Gredos

Almanzor of Südenbdep2

The Pico Almanzor, and Plaza del Moro de Almanzor or short Almanzor is, with 2592 msnm the highest peak of Spain's Sierra de Gredos, as well as the entire Iberian vagina Mountains and the Community of Castile and León.

Location

Located about 100 kilometers west of Madrid in the province of Ávila, the summit marks the border between the municipalities Zapardiel de la Ribera and Candeleda, in close proximity to the province of Cáceres. In the north of the ridge extends further to the 2559 m high mountain neighbor Cuchillar de Ballesteros, while the Sierra de Gredos drain to the south the valley of the brook Garganta de Chilla and to the west of the Garganta de Tejea southward into Castilian highlands. To the southeast is separate from Almanzor by the saddle Portilla Bermeja ( 2416 m), the 2507 m high El Sagrao. In the east, a vast Kar, the Circo de Gredos mountain lake extends to the Laguna Grande de Gredos (1940 m) and their upstream Charco de la Esmeralda. Here is the Refugio Elola (1945 m), the most important refuge of the Sierra de Gredos. The area is part of the nature reserve Parque Regional de Sierra de Gredos.

Geomorphology

The Pico Almanzor is constructed as the entire Sierra de Gredos in granite. The present appearance of the mountain is significantly influenced by glaciation during the Pleistocene. This glaciation, which reached its peak about 21,000 years ago lasted until about 16,000 years ago. On the south side the glaciers of the Sierra de Gredos reached lengths of up to 2 kilometers. The ice streams of the north side were up to 9 kilometers in length much longer and dominated the landscape more, so here Kare can be found as the Circo de Gredos and Moränenreste.

Alpinism

The summit of Almanzor is frequently visited. The normal route leads from the northeast parking Plataforma de Gredos (1770 m) on the Laguna Grande and the Portilla Bermeja in 4-5 hours to the summit. This passage in II Difficulty ( UIAA ) have to be managed in the last section. Also from the north via the Cuchillar de Ballesteros is an ascent possible.

The ascent from the south along the Camino del Tío Domingo is a scenically spectacular and unspoiled, but because of the almost 2000 m height difference physically much more demanding route. It leads from the village of El Raso (720 m) over the Sillao de la Peña Chilla (1873 m) and the Portilla Bermeja in about 6-7 hours to the summit.

While it is technically relatively simple but physically demanding tours in the summer, may from November to May, the use of crampons and ice ax may be necessary. In winter and spring, the mountain can be climbed in the form of a ski tour.

Name Origin and History

The name of the mountain derives from al - Mansur ( " The Victorious " ) ibn Abī ʿ Aamir, a military and religious leaders during the Caliphate of Cordoba in the late 10th century. al - Mansur to be penetrated here with a few followers over the Circo de Gredos to Portilla Bermeja and have seen from there the southern highlands. The Circo de Gredos is named ( "place of the Moors al - Mansur " ) after this event, Plaza del Moro de Almanzor, later the name was passed on to the mountain summit.

The Pico Almanzor was first climbed in September 1899 by M. González and José de Amezúa Ibrián Espada. The first winter ascent was made in 1903 by Ontañon and Abricarro. In 1960, a small steel cross was erected on the summit.