Spain - Madrid

The region of Madrid lies right in the middle of the Spanish mainland bordering Castile-La Mancha and Castile and Leon.

The mountainous region of Madrid can be divided into two areas.

On one hand the sierra, in the north and west of the region, which includes part of Somosierra and Guadarrama.

On the other hand, in the central and southern parts of the region, the area is flatter and forms part of the plateau of La Mancha and La Alcarria.

The sierra is blessed with typical mountainous characteristics including high peaks that reach over 2,200 metres in altitude, including Peñalara (2,430 m), Hierro (2,383 m) and Maliciosa (2,227 m).

In the south there are extensive plains that are crossed by rivers such as the Henares, along with small mountain hills and valleys.

The most important hydrological collector in the region is the Tagus basin, that is nourished by the Jarama, the Manzanares, the Alberche and the Guadarrama rivers. Other major rivers in Madrid include: the Lozoya, the Guadalix and the Henares.