Iberian System in the context of "Soria (province)"

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⭐ Core Definition: Iberian System

The Iberian System is one of the major systems of mountain ranges in Spain.It consists of a vast and complex area of mostly relatively high and rugged mountain chains and massifs located in the central region of the Iberian Peninsula, but reaching almost the Mediterranean coast in the Valencian Community in the east.

The system is hydrographically important, as it separates the watersheds of most of the major rivers in Spain and Portugal, including the Ebro basin to the east from the basins of the Douro, Tagus, Guadiana (Záncara-Gigüela), Júcar and Turia to the west and south.

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Iberian System in the context of Hercynian Europe

The Variscan orogeny or Hercynian orogeny was a geologic mountain-building event caused by Late Paleozoic continental collision between Euramerica (Laurussia) and Gondwana to form the supercontinent of Pangaea. It remains visible today as a series of isolated massifs, including the Ardennes, Bohemian Massif, Vosges-Black Forest, Armorican Massif, Cornubian Massif, Massif Central, and Iberian System. These are interspersed with Mesozoic and Cenozoic sedimentary basins. The chain also crops out in southern Ireland and was later incorporated into the Alpine orogeny (external crystalline massifs) and Pyrenean orogeny. These ancient massifs form the pre-Permian basement of western and Central Europe, part of a larger mountain system stretching from the Ural Mountains in Russia to the Appalachian Mountains in North America.

The chain originated from the convergence and collision of three continental masses: the microcontinent Armorica and the supercontinents Protogondwana and Laurussia (a union of Laurentia and Baltica from the Caledonian orogeny). This convergence contributed to the formation of the supercontinent Pangaea.

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LINKED FROM (PARENTS)
← Hercynian Europe ← Variscan orogeny
LINKS TO (CHILDREN)
Soria (province) → Atienza → Sistema Central → Griffon vulture → Iberian wolf → Marbled newt → Mountain range → Spain → Iberian Peninsula → Mediterranean coast → Valencian Community → Hydrography → Portugal → Ebro → Douro → Tagus → Guadiana → Záncara → Gigüela → Júcar → Turia (river) →