Natural springs
Park geography
Detailed analysis of boundary spans, elevation data, and natural mountain landforms
Sierra de Guadarrama National Park: geography
Location: Spain. Recorded area: 339.6 km². Elevation: 900–2,428 m.
Spain's Alpine Heartland: Mountain Peaks, Ancient Pine Forests, and Glacial Lagoons
Sierra de Guadarrama National Park
Sierra de Guadarrama National Park is a recently established protected area in central Spain, declared in June 2013 and now representing the fifth-largest national park in the country. The park encompasses the granite peaks and forested slopes of the Sierra de Guadarrama, a mountain range forming part of the Sistema Central that divides the northern and southern mesetas of the Iberian Peninsula. The protected area spans approximately 34,000 hectares across the Community of Madrid and the provinces of Segovia and Ávila in Castile and León, protecting a remarkable diversity of eleven distinct ecosystems that include the only Iberian examples of high Mediterranean mountain environments. The range serves as a critical watershed, feeding rivers that flow to both the Tagus and Duero basins. Peñalara, at 2,428 meters, stands as the park's highest summit, while the landscape features dramatic glacial cirques, pristine lagoons, and some of Spain's finest natural pine forests.
- Location
- Spain
- Park type
- National park
- Established
- 2013
- Area
- 339.6 km²
- Highest point
- 2,428 m
Location overview
Regional placement across Castile and León and the Community of Madrid
Geographic Context of Sierra de Guadarrama National Park in Spain
Sierra de Guadarrama National Park spans the Community of Madrid and Castile and León in Spain. The inland sanctuary contains no transboundary, coastal, island, or marine territories.
- Countries
- Spain
- Regions
- Castile and León, Community of Madrid
- Primary location
- Spain
- Geographic setting
- Inland
Boundary and coordinates
Spanning 339.6 square kilometers of protected geographic terrain
Mapped Boundaries of Sierra de Guadarrama National Park
Detailed boundary geometry outlines the physical footprint of Sierra de Guadarrama National Park. Accompanying geographic facts supply estimated area metrics, coordinate limits, and spatial center points.
- Boundary area
- 355.3 km²
- Boundary perimeter
- 282.2 km
- Northernmost point
- 41.0379° N
- Southernmost point
- 40.7378° N
- Easternmost point
- 3.7301° W
- Westernmost point
- 4.1394° W
- Geographic centre
- 40.8583° N, 3.9218° W
- North–south span
- 33.3 km
- East–west span
- 34.5 km
Elevation and terrain
Mountain relief statistics and recorded natural features
Sierra de Guadarrama National Park Terrain and Elevation Range
Recorded elevation ranges span from 900 meters to a maximum high point of 2428 meters across the terrain. Linked feature cards provide names, types, and spatial relationships for recorded natural formations.
Elevation span
1,528 m
Vertical extent from the lowest to the highest recorded elevation in the park
- Minimum elevation
- 900 m
- Maximum elevation
- 2,428 m
- Highest point
- 2,428 m
Selected named natural features
Streams
Arroyo de las Caseras
Streams
Arroyo Santa Ana
Streams
Arroyo de Aguas Buenas
Mountain saddles
Collado de las Loberas
1,565 m
Peaks
Peña del Yelmo
1,718 m
Environmental setting
Analysis of Mediterranean climate zones, forest cover, and mountain relief types
Sierra de Guadarrama National Park Environmental Settings and Landscape Classifications
Recorded landscape features, habitat types, and water presence categories frame the physical setting of Sierra de Guadarrama National Park. Mapped classifications connect specific environmental metrics to corresponding atlas destinations.
- Relief
- Mountain
- Climate
- Mediterranean
- Water
- Major water bodies
- Forest cover
- Mostly forested
- Seasonality
- Year-round
Landscape features
Mountains · Valleys · Forest · Rivers · Lakes · Waterfalls · Cliffs
Habitat types
Temperate coniferous forest · Temperate broadleaf forest · Montane forest · Alpine meadow · Grassland · Wetland · Riverine habitat
Park atlas
Explore the geographic spread of protected areas surrounding Sierra de Guadarrama National Park, comparing mountain landscapes and diverse Iberian ecosystems.
Compare National Parks Near Sierra de Guadarrama, Discovering Central Spain's Protected Landscapes
After viewing Sierra de Guadarrama National Park, explore other protected areas in central Spain, discovering comparable mountain ranges, diverse pine forests, and unique high Mediterranean ecosystems. Compare these conservation landscapes to understand the regional spread of protected geography and its significance within the Iberian Peninsula.
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Sierra del Rincón Biosphere Reserve: Mountain Geography and Protected Landscape Analysis
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Sierra del Rincón provides a unique study of ecological compression, where Atlantic-flavored beech groves meet Mediterranean oak and highland shrublands. This protected mountain territory in Madrid integrates rich forest habitats with traditional agro-silvopastoral village life, making it a critical reference for understanding the transitional geography of the Iberian Central System.
- Area
- 152.31 km²
- Established
- 2005
- Relief
- Mountain
- Climate
- Alpine
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North
Sabinares del Arlanza-La Yecla: A Detailed Protected Landscape and Map of Burgos
Ancient juniper woodlands and deep limestone ravines in Castilla y León.
This protected area centers on the remarkable juniper forests and the narrow, vertical walls of the La Yecla gorge. The landscape serves as an essential habitat for cliff-nesting raptors while bridging the terrain between the Sierra de la Demanda foothills and the Arlanza River basin. The map captures the geological diversity of these limestone structures and the expansive botanical value found within this significant Spanish natural entity.
- Area
- 391.74 km²
- Established
- 2020
- IUCN
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- Relief
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Mapped Geography of Montes de Toledo Protected Area
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- Area
- 409 km²
- Established
- 1995
- IUCN
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- Visitors
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Valles del Jubera, Leza, Cidacos y Alhama: Protected Landscapes in La Rioja, Spain
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Valles del Jubera, Leza, Cidacos y Alhama forms a distinct mid-mountain region in northern Spain where four river valleys have carved deep passages into the earth. The area serves as a vital protected landscape containing rich paleontological history, thermal springs, and traditional Mediterranean forests. This atlas entry details the natural boundaries and geographic character of one of Spain's significant biosphere reserves.
- Area
- 1,196.69 km²
- Established
- 2003
National parkSpain
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South
Tablas de Daimiel National Park: Spain's Inland Wetland National Park and Protected Area
Explore mapped boundaries and regional geographic context.
Tablas de Daimiel National Park represents one of the last remaining examples of floodplain wetland systems in Spain's interior. Located in Castilla-La Mancha, this protected area showcases a unique confluence of fresh and brackish waters, supporting a rich mosaic of emergent vegetation and serving as a critical habitat for migratory birds. Use MoriAtlas to explore its precise geographic setting, mapped terrain, and its role as a vital conservation landscape within the Iberian Peninsula.
- Area
- 30.3 km²
- Established
- 1973
- IUCN
- II
- Relief
- Lowland
National parkSpain
About 192 km away#6 closest
Southwest
Monfragüe National Park
Explore mapped terrain and regional geography within this Spanish National Park.
Monfragüe National Park, in Spain.
- Area
- 179 km²
- Established
- 2007
- IUCN
- II
- Visitors
- 331.8K annual
Biosphere reserveExtremadura
About 195 km away#7 closest
Southwest
La Siberia Biosphere Reserve: Mapped Geography and Protected Lands of Extremadura
A study of reservoir coastlines and Mediterranean serranías
La Siberia Biosphere Reserve offers a deep look into the rural landscape of Extremadura, Spain. Characterized by five major reservoirs and vast Mediterranean oak dehesas, the area provides essential habitat for raptors and preserves significant prehistoric rock art within its complex serranía topography. Explore the geographic boundaries and water-dominated landscape of this distinct inland region.
- Area
- 2,836.7 km²
- Established
- 2019
- Relief
- Mountain
- Climate
- Mediterranean
Protected landscapeBragança District
229 km away#8 closest
Northwest
Montesinho Natural Park: Protected Landscape in Bragança District, Portugal
Explore mapped boundaries and regional landscape context.
Montesinho Natural Park is designated as a protected landscape in northeastern Portugal, located within the administrative region of Bragança District. This page serves as an entry point to understanding the park's protected area characteristics, its mapped geographic footprint, and its role in the broader natural landscape of the Trás-os-Montes region. Discover the atlas value of this significant protected territory and its relation to surrounding geography.
- Area
- 742.25 km²
- Established
- 1979
- IUCN
- V
- Relief
- Mountain
MoriAtlas Explorer
Sierra de Guadarrama National Park
Explore the map, landscapes, and protection details for Sierra de Guadarrama National Park.
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