The five Bocineros Mountains - BOCINEROS-DEIADAR XTREME

GANEKOGORTA

Altitude: 999 m.

Coordinates:

UTM: 30T X.501664 Y.4783279

Geographical: 43º12’08,23 “N 2º58’46,26” W

Mountain range/massif: Ganekogorta.

Municipalities: Alonsotegi and Arrankudiaga

Prominence: 708

Map: MTN 61-IV (Arizgoiti), 1: 25,000, of the IGN

The Ganekogorta is the mount in Greater Bilbao. With 999 m in height, it is one of the highest mountains surrounding the city. Its Basque name means ‘pasture at the top’. The Ganekogorta was home to Basque mountaineering in the late nineteenth century; in fact, the earliest mountaineers’ association was established in the area in 1870.

The summit includes three distinct peaks: Biberdi (871m), Ganekogorta in the centre and Galarraga (901m). Although the mount belongs entirely to the Historical Territory of Bizkaia, the boundary with Araba is only 69m from it.

GORBEIA

Altitude: 1.482 m.

Coordinates:

UTM: 30T X.517826 Y.4764604

Geographical: 43º02’02,09”N 2º46’52,24”W

Mountain range/massif: Gorbeia

Municipalities: Zeanuri (Bizkaia) y Zuia (Araba).

Prominence: 867 M

Map: MTN 87-III (San Juan), 1:25.000, del IGN

The Gorbea (or Gorbeia in Basque) is the highest of the five horn mountains. Being 1,482m in height, it stands high above the other mounts in its range.

Since 1899, the summit has been crowned by a 17.23m metal cross, the Gorbea Cross, which can be seen from every point in Arratia-Nervión. Its four arms point to the four points of the compass. At its foot there is a statue of Our Lady of Begoña, the Patroness of Bizkaia. The Gorbea Cross has become a mountain icon, attracting lots of visitor every year.

On the border between the municipalities of Zeanuri in Bizkaia and Zuia in Araba, the Gorbea can be accessed from all four sides. It is surrounded by a magnificent natural area that has come to be Gorbea Nature Park.

Kolitza

Altitude: 883 m.

Coordinates:

UTM: 30T X.479634 Y.4783139

Geographical: 43º12’02,71”N 3º15’02,45”W

Mountain range/massif: Ordunte

Municipalities: Artzentales y Balmaseda.

Prominence: 54 m.

Map: MTN 60-IV (Balmaseda), 1:25.000, del IGN

Kolitza was the mount chosen in the area of Las Encartaciones to sound the horn. Being 883m high, it belongs to the Ordunte mountain range. Its peculiar, peaky summit dominates the town of Balmaseda, rising over a gorge whose vertigo-inducing chasm channels the river Agüera.

The summit houses the Shrine of San Sebastián and San Roque, one of the few Romantic shrines in the Historical Territory and one of the most popular across Bizkaia.

Oiz

Altitude: 1026 m

Coordinates:

UTM: 30T X.533187 Y.4786169

Geographical: 43º13’39,30”N 2º35’28,78”W

Mountain range/massif: Oiz

Municipalities: Berriz, Markina/Xemein y Munitibar/Arbatzegi/Gerrikaitz

Prominence: 710 m..

Map: MTN 62-IV (Durango), 1:25.000, del IGN

Mount Oiz, which locals refer to as ‘the viewpoint of Bizkaia’, is one of the iconic mountains in this Historical Territory. The views from the summit seem to be boundless, courtesy of the mount’s privileged height and location. Together with the Zengotitagane, the Oiz is part of a longish range whose waterways flow into some of the rivers of the Cantabrian basin, like the Ibaizabal, the Artibai, the Lea, the Oca or the Deba.

The Oiz is a key point in the history of the Basque Country, for its slopes are peppered with prehistoric sites. According to legend, the Oiz is one of the homes of Mari, Mother Earth in Basque mythology.

Sollube

Altitude: 684 m

Coordinates:

UTM: 30T X.519137 Y.4802091

Geographical: 43º22’17,18”N 2º45’49,63”W

Mountain range/massif: Sollube

Municipalities: Arrieta

Prominence: 511 m

Map: MTN 38-I (Bermeo), 1:25.000, del IGN

The Sollube, also known as ‘the viewpoint of Urdaibai’ is the smallest of all horn mountains, only 686m in height. Standing close to the seashore, it lies in the municipality of Arrieta, with part of its slopes in Bermeo, on the border with the Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve. It used to have a strategic location in the region of Bizkaia.