{{Infobox mountain
, name = Mugarra
, native_name_lang = eus
, photo = Mugarra 2.JPG
, photo_caption = Mugarra from the east. The
quarry
A quarry is a type of open-pit mining, open-pit mine in which dimension stone, rock (geology), rock, construction aggregate, riprap, sand, gravel, or slate is excavated from the ground. The operation of quarries is regulated in some juri ...
Biscay
Biscay ( ; ; ), is a province of the Basque Country (autonomous community), Basque Autonomous Community, heir of the ancient Lordship of Biscay, lying on the south shore of the Bay of Biscay, eponymous bay. The capital and largest city is Bilb ...
,
Spain
Spain, or the Kingdom of Spain, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe with territories in North Africa. Featuring the Punta de Tarifa, southernmost point of continental Europe, it is the largest country in Southern Eur ...
Mañaria
Mañaria (both in Basque language, Basque and Spanish language, Spanish) is an elizate, town and Municipalities of Spain, municipality located in the province of Biscay, in the Basque Country (autonomous community), Basque Country, Spain. Mañari ...
and the col of Mugarrekolanda.
Mugarra is a peak of
Biscay
Biscay ( ; ; ), is a province of the Basque Country (autonomous community), Basque Autonomous Community, heir of the ancient Lordship of Biscay, lying on the south shore of the Bay of Biscay, eponymous bay. The capital and largest city is Bilb ...
Spain
Spain, or the Kingdom of Spain, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe with territories in North Africa. Featuring the Punta de Tarifa, southernmost point of continental Europe, it is the largest country in Southern Eur ...
), 936 m high, belonging to the ''Aramotz'' massif.
The ''Aramotz'' massif is in the western limit of the
Urkiola
Urkiola is a mountain range of the Basque mountains in Biscay near Durango, in the western Basque Country, Spain. The highest mountain in the range is Anboto (1331 m). The range runs from west to east and forms the water divide between the At ...
and is the eastern limit of the ''Aramotz'' massif.
Huge
limestone
Limestone is a type of carbonate rock, carbonate sedimentary rock which is the main source of the material Lime (material), lime. It is composed mostly of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different Polymorphism (materials science) ...
rock where
fossil
A fossil (from Classical Latin , ) is any preserved remains, impression, or trace of any once-living thing from a past geological age. Examples include bones, shells, exoskeletons, stone imprints of animals or microbes, objects preserve ...
rests of
seashell
A seashell or sea shell, also known simply as a shell, is a hard, protective outer layer usually created by an animal or organism that lives in the sea. Most seashells are made by Mollusca, mollusks, such as snails, clams, and oysters ...
can be found. The southern face forms a 300 m high cliff over the col of ''Mugarrekolanda''. In this cliff have their nests the majority of the
vulture
A vulture is a bird of prey that scavenges on carrion. There are 23 extant species of vulture (including condors). Old World vultures include 16 living species native to Europe, Africa, and Asia; New World vultures are restricted to Nort ...
pairs of Urkiola (60 estimated). The northern face, facing
Durango
Durango, officially the Free and Sovereign State of Durango, is one of the 31 states which make up the Political divisions of Mexico, 32 Federal Entities of Mexico, situated in the northwest portion of the country. With a population of 1,832,650 ...
, is very steep but does not form a cliff, and it is covered by
beech
Beech (genus ''Fagus'') is a genus of deciduous trees in the family Fagaceae, native to subtropical (accessory forest element) and temperate (as dominant element of Mesophyte, mesophytic forests) Eurasia and North America. There are 14 accepted ...
es and Cantabrian Holm Oaks.
The crest of Mugarra has many
rock climbing
Rock climbing is a climbing sports discipline that involves ascending climbing routes, routes consisting of natural rock in an outdoor environment, or on artificial resin climbing walls in a mostly indoor environment. Routes are documented in c ...
ways, but climbing is not permitted to avoid disrupting of the vultures' habitat. This limestone crest is being consumed by a great
quarry
A quarry is a type of open-pit mining, open-pit mine in which dimension stone, rock (geology), rock, construction aggregate, riprap, sand, gravel, or slate is excavated from the ground. The operation of quarries is regulated in some juri ...
that causes irreparable damage to the mountain and is bordering the protected area.
Ascents
In
Mañaria
Mañaria (both in Basque language, Basque and Spanish language, Spanish) is an elizate, town and Municipalities of Spain, municipality located in the province of Biscay, in the Basque Country (autonomous community), Basque Country, Spain. Mañari ...
(181 m), a good path reaches the Mugarrekolanda (760 m) col. From the col an easy route leads to the summit from the west. It is possible from there to access the eastern part of the crest through the break of ''Atxurkulu'' (662 m). The ascent takes 2h.
.
* Source Mendikat