The materials that predominate are slates, schists and sandstones
from the Paleozoic, combined with strips of quartzites and
grey limestones. The landscape is characterized by the reliefs
formed by quartzites. During the Hercynian Orogeny, many folds
were bent towards the northwest. Later, these were smoothed
by erosion. During the Alpine Orogeny, most of the blocks
rose up, and the rivers began to run along the folds. That
is why the summits of the range rise above 1000 , from the
valleys below. The rivers that cross and border O Courel (Sil,
Lor...) have preserved the remains of Roman mines, where gold
was extracted from the alluviums.
O Courel offers a variety of landscapes, on account of
the climatic contrast between the foot of the valleys and
their summits. The lush vegetation include magnificent woods,
such as the "devesas", usually located in steep
areas, which consist of beeches, yews, holly trees, birches
and maple trees. The "soutos", that can be found
in the valleys, include chestnut woods.
The type of vegetation depends on the geographical situation
of the sierra, between the Mediterranean and Eurosiberian
influences. This is what determines the numerous vegetal
species, adapted to the climatic and topographical conditions.
At the end of the valleys grow species that are adapted
to dry climates: holm oaks, cork oaks and bushes such as
the strawberry tree, rockroses and lavender. Thickets of
heather and Quercus pyrenaica grow at a maximum altitude
of 1000 m, and above, Eurosiberian species such as the cork
oak, beeches and birches that form thick woods.
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