The municipality of Cangas de Onís is located in the western part of the interior of the Princedom of Asturias, in one of the most mountainous parts of that region. It is less than 25 km from the Cantabrian Sea.
Extension
212 Sq. Kms.
Population
6.285
Geographical Boundaries
On the north
Towns of Parres and Ribadesella.
On the south
Province of León.
On the east
Towns of Onís and Llanes.
On the west
Towns of Amieva and Parres.
The capital of the municipality, with the same name, Cangas de Onís, is situated between the valley formed by the rivers Sella and Güeña.
The higher part of the municipality, Peñasanta de Enol (2,478 m.), is in the southern part, forming part of the western massif that belongs to the National Reserve of Picos de Europa.
More than half the municipality (7,000 Ha.) is also within the boundaries of the National Reserve.
In contrast with this spectacular orographic region are the beautiful, green, fertile banks of the Sella and Güeña, where the most important towns in the municipality lie; the river banks are also dotted with small villages and hamlets, where agriculture and livestock breeding are the main ways of earning a living.
15 km from the capital, on the slopes of mount Auseva, is the Cave of Covadonga, a historic symbol of the region’s resistance to Muslim domination and birthplace of the Spanish Reconquest.
Its climate is determined by the different orientations and heights, and temperatures range from 11º C. in the peaks to 25º C in the valleys, in the summer.
This type of climate gives rise to different kinds of vegetation; lichen in the mountains, leafy forests of beech, oak, holly and yew that grow at an altitude of between 800 and 1500 m.; below altitudes of 400 m and in the valleys of the Sella and Güeña are chestnuts trees, ash, hazelnut, alder, walnut, birch and extensive meadows and pasture land.
The whole landscape is an ideal habitat for species such as the chamois, golden eagle and other species such as the fox, pine marten, goshawk, boar, capercaillie, and Egyptian vulture. Salmon, trout and rainbow trout can be found in the rivers.
The town is situated amidst an incomparable setting that attracts and enchants all those who are fond of nature and wish to enjoy it to the full.
The municipality is divided up into different areas in terms of relief:
On the one hand, the southern part, with Sierra de Escapa, Sierra de Santianes and the Mountains of Cuana, the highest peak being Mofrechu (897 m.), descending to the chains of Zardón, Olicio, Onao, Peña Verde, Peña Manil and Llueves.
A depression, in which luxuriant riverside towns abound, such as Intriago, Villaverde, Corao, Soto de Cangas and Cangas de Onís.
The mountains south of Güeña, that form the beginning of the western massif of Picos de Europa: Mountains of Covadonga, Cuadragüello, Orandi, Priena, Següenco and the meadows of Covadonga.
The most extensive area of Picos de Europa is formed by the massif of Cornión. The importance of its ecosystem gave rise to the creation, in 1918, of the National Reserve of Montaña de Covadonga, the first National Reserve in Spain, and known today as the National Reserve of Picos de Europa.
Within this setting, in addition to the highest peak, Peña Santa de Enol, there are other important peaks such as Torre de la Canal Parda, Torre del Medio, Torre Cebolleda, or Torre Aliseda.
Lastly, the valleys of Dobra and the Sella contain fertile lowlands such as Tornín and Caño. After passing through Cangas de Onís the Sella received the tributary Güeña, forming the lowlands of Villanueva and Las Rozas. When the river turns towards the east, on its way to Ribadesella, it passes through other lowland areas such as Margolles and Triongo.
