Xurés Biosphere Reserve

UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, inscribed 2009, in Portugal. The Gerês–Xurés Transboundary Biosphere Reserve is located in the westernmost region of the Iberian Peninsula. The hilly terrain includes two major peaks: Nevosa at 1,556 m and Fontefría at 1,559 m. A continuous mountain range includes the Peneda, Amarela, Xurés, Quinxo and Santa Eufemia mountains, which are encircled by tributaries of the Rivers Limia and Minho. Other major rivers that cross the biosphere reserve are the Vez, Homem and Cávado. The natural landscape is divided into plateaux and glacial valleys, notably the Homem and Vez, the wide valley of the Lima River and steep slopes. In general, the hydrographic network extends through narrow, deep valleys, creating almost rectilinear trajectories.