Serra de São Mamede
| Serra de São Mamede | |
|---|---|
| Saint Mammes Range | |
The Serra de São Mamede near Castelo de Vide
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| Highest point | |
| Peak | Pico de São Mamede |
| Elevation | 1,025 m (3,363 ft) |
| Coordinates | 39°12′54″N 6°7′25″W / 39.21500°N 6.12361°W |
| Dimensions | |
| Length | 25 km (16 mi) NW/SE |
| Width | 9 km (5.6 mi) NE/SW |
| Geography | |
| Country | Portugal |
| Range coordinates | 39°17′N 7°21′W / 39.283°N 7.350°WCoordinates: 39°17′N 7°21′W / 39.283°N 7.350°W |
| Parent range | Montes de Toledo |
| Geology | |
| Orogeny | Alpine |
| Age of rock | Ordovician, Silurian and Devonian |
| Type of rock | Quartzite, Dolomite |
Serra de São Mamede (English: Saint Mammes Range) is a mountain range in Portalegre District, Portugal. This range is named after Saint Mammes. Together with the Serra de Arraiolos the Serra de São Mamede is one of the few places in the Alentejo region where there might be snow in the winter.
This mountain range separates the drainage basin of the Tagus to the north from the basin of the Guadiana to the south. The main rivers that have their sources in this range are the Sever and Nisa flowing towards the Tagus, as well as the Caia River and its tributary, the Arronches, flowing towards the Guadiana.
The town of Marvão is an ancient fortified town located on a ridge of the range. Its emblematic castle is an archetype of medieval castle-building. It dates back to the times of the Reconquista, the reconquest of the Iberian Peninsula from the invading Moors. Besides Marvão, Portalegre, Castelo de Vide, Arronches and Alegrete are other important towns in the area of the range.
The Serra de São Mamede stretches for about 25 km in a NE/SW direction between Castelo de Vide and La Rabaza, Cáceres Province, Extremadura, at the border with Spain. It rises in the area of the Alto Alentejo to the west of the parallel Sierra de San Pedro across the border and is relatively lower than the latter. Its highest point is 1,025 m high Pico de São Mamede, the highest summit in Continental Portugal south of the Tagus. Other important peaks are Fria, Pico de Marvão and the Penha da Castelo de Vide. Physiographically this range is part of the western end of the greater Montes de Toledo, one of the main mountain systems of the Iberian Peninsula.
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