The name Montsec derives from the Latin Montus sectus, which makes reference to its characteristic rock formations. It marks the southern limit of the Pallars region[1][2] and is divided into three main massifs by 3 of the most important rivers in Catalonia:
Montsec d'Estall, in Aragon, located to the west, separated by the Noguera Ribagorçana from the central massif.
Two gorges (congostos), those of Terradets and Montrebei, or Bonremei, have been opened by the action of the rivers and tectonic movements. The highest peak, Santalís, is found in the central massif, standing at 1,678 metres, and dominates views over Àger and the plains of Lleida to the south and the Pyrenees to the north.
The southern face is virtually a great wall with a "step" about two-thirds of the way up, and the northern side, although by no means as steep, still stands at 1,000 metres above the Tremp basin below.
Geographical featuresedit
Sant Alís a 1.675 m high peak in Serra del Montsec
View of Corçà, Àger municipality, with the Montsec d'Estall in the background.
Formationedit
Montsec's formation goes back to when sediments of several thousand metres deep were deposited in the Cretaceous sea, raised and partly covered by the Eocene sea, and then raised again by Pyrenean folding. Fossils from the Mesozoicera are relatively easy to find, and at Vilanova de Meià the deposits there are one of the most important in the world.
Historyedit
Montsec stands in a natural defensive position over the plains and is relatively protected from the icy winds from the north, and as such its strategic aspect was very important in times of the Reconquista. In the 10th century, when the caliphate of Córdoba was at its height, Balaguer was the northernmost Arab city, and the castles of Castelló de Farfanya, Algerri, and Os de Balaguer were satellite fortifications which, together with a barrier of well-placed watch towers, formed the line of defense against the Christians to the north of Montsec. In the 11th and 18th centuries the area had one of the densest populations in Catalonia, but the population level began to fall at the beginning of the 20th century, and nowadays emigration is prominent and many villages are virtually abandoned.
Economyedit
The difficulty of irrigation makes for a very limited agriculture in the area. Local farmers cultivate mostly some barley and almonds. Hydroelectric power is another resource but most of all planners are looking to tourist development to give the region an important boost.
^Francesc Fité Llevot, La Toponimia en la Geografia del Montsec
^Josep Pla i Casadevall, El Pallars és una comarca natural prodigiosa
External linksedit
Media related to Montsec at Wikimedia Commons
Tourism at the Montsec
Photo gallery of birds, landscapes, wildlife and people in Montsec
April 12, 2024
montsec, range, montsec, redirects, here, commune, meuse, département, montsec, meuse, commune, dordogne, monsec, catalan, serra, montsec, catalan, pronunciation, ˈsɛrə, ðəl, munˈsɛk, spanish, sierra, montsec, mountain, system, pyrenees, montsecserrat, corona,. Montsec redirects here For the commune of the Meuse departement see Montsec Meuse For the commune of the Dordogne see Monsec The Montsec Range Catalan Serra del Montsec Catalan pronunciation ˈsɛre del munˈsɛk Spanish Sierra del Montsec is a mountain system of the Pre Pyrenees MontsecSerrat de la Corona ridges of the Montsec d Ares central sector of the Montsec RangeHighest pointElevation1 676 m 5 499 ft Coordinates42 2 N 0 45 E 42 033 N 0 750 E 42 033 0 750GeographyMontsecLocation in the Pre Pyrenees areaLocationAragon amp CataloniaParent rangePre PyreneesGeologyMountain typeLimestone Contents 1 Description 2 Geography 2 1 Geographical features 3 Formation 4 History 5 Economy 6 See also 7 References 8 External linksDescription editThe Serra del Montsec consists of a series of calcareous mountain ranges running roughly from east to west The range system is about 40 km long and 186 96 square kilometres in area The Montsec is located in the Catalan province of Lleida and the Aragonese province of Huesca in Spain Geography editThe name Montsec derives from the Latin Montus sectus which makes reference to its characteristic rock formations It marks the southern limit of the Pallars region 1 2 and is divided into three main massifs by 3 of the most important rivers in Catalonia Montsec de Rubies the eastern massif is separated by the river Segre in the east and the Noguera Pallaresa in the middle Montsec d Ares the central massif Montsec d Estall in Aragon located to the west separated by the Noguera Ribagorcana from the central massif Two gorges congostos those of Terradets and Montrebei or Bonremei have been opened by the action of the rivers and tectonic movements The highest peak Santalis is found in the central massif standing at 1 678 metres and dominates views over Ager and the plains of Lleida to the south and the Pyrenees to the north The southern face is virtually a great wall with a step about two thirds of the way up and the northern side although by no means as steep still stands at 1 000 metres above the Tremp basin below Geographical features edit nbsp Sant Alis a 1 675 m high peak in Serra del Montsec nbsp Llimiana Cliffs at the Montsec de Rubies seen from Montado nbsp View of Corca Ager municipality with the Montsec d Estall in the background Formation editMontsec s formation goes back to when sediments of several thousand metres deep were deposited in the Cretaceous sea raised and partly covered by the Eocene sea and then raised again by Pyrenean folding Fossils from the Mesozoic era are relatively easy to find and at Vilanova de Meia the deposits there are one of the most important in the world History editMontsec stands in a natural defensive position over the plains and is relatively protected from the icy winds from the north and as such its strategic aspect was very important in times of the Reconquista In the 10th century when the caliphate of Cordoba was at its height Balaguer was the northernmost Arab city and the castles of Castello de Farfanya Algerri and Os de Balaguer were satellite fortifications which together with a barrier of well placed watch towers formed the line of defense against the Christians to the north of Montsec In the 11th and 18th centuries the area had one of the densest populations in Catalonia but the population level began to fall at the beginning of the 20th century and nowadays emigration is prominent and many villages are virtually abandoned Economy editThe difficulty of irrigation makes for a very limited agriculture in the area Local farmers cultivate mostly some barley and almonds Hydroelectric power is another resource but most of all planners are looking to tourist development to give the region an important boost See also editGeology of the Pyrenees PallarsReferences edit Francesc Fite Llevot La Toponimia en la Geografia del Montsec Josep Pla i Casadevall El Pallars es una comarca natural prodigiosaExternal links edit nbsp Media related to Montsec at Wikimedia Commons Tourism at the Montsec Photo gallery of birds landscapes wildlife and people in Montsec Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Montsec Range amp oldid 858893451, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
