Los Ancares Leoneses Biosphere Reserve

UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, inscribed 2006, in Spain. The Los Ancares Leoneses Biosphere Reserve is located in the extreme north-east of the Province of León. The reserve is named after the major Ancares River, which flows through the area. Other extensive rivers in the region are the Cúa, Burbia and Ancares. It belongs to two major hydrographic basins, the Cuenca Norte and Cuenca del Miño. Three sub-regions can be found within the reserve, namely Valle de Ancares, Valle de Fornela and Alto Burbia. The boundaries are marked by three mountains: the Sierra del Caurel in the west, the Sierra de los Ancares in the north-east and the Cordillera Cantábrica in the north. The highest peaks are found in the north-eastern and south-western parts of the reserve: Cuina at 1,998 metres, Miravalles at 1,996 metres, El Mostellar at 1,924 metres and Peñarrubia at 1,826 metres.