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.
Altitude: 684 m
Coordinates:
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.