Glossary of common terms used in Spanish maps and guides

aguja

needle-like rock tower

alto

summit

arista

arête, knife-edge ridge

arroyo

stream

baranca/o

gully, steep sided river bed

barrera

ridge

cabeza

rounded summit

callejón

corridor between spines of vertical rock

camino

footpath, track

cañada

drove route

canal

gulley

canchal

area of rocky outcrops

cancho

crag, outcrop

canto

rock formation, boulder

cerro

hill, peak

charca/o

pond or pool in river

chozo

shepherd's hut in high pastures

collado

col, saddle

coto

hunting reserve

cuchillar

knife-edge ridge

cuenca

river basin

cuerda

ridge

cuesta

slope

cueva

cave

dehesa

grazing land, often with trees

embalse

reservoir

estación

station or ski lift

finca

farm

fuente

spring, drinking fountain

garganta

gorge, river, stream

hito

cairn, pile of stones

hoyo/a

bowl, depression

jardín

garden, level area surrounded by rocky outcrops

ladera

slope

laguna

lake, tarn

lomo/a

hillside, slope

majada

high mountain pasture

Meseta

the high tableland which makes up the centre of Spain

mirador

viewpoint

nava

high, fertile plain

pantano

reservoir

parador

state-run hotel

peña/ón

crag

pico

peak

piedras

rocks

pinar/es

pinewood/s

pista

ski slope or dirt road

portacho

col

portachuelo

col, small pass

portillo/a

col, small pass

pozo

well, pool

pradera

meadow

prado

meadow

presa

reservoir dam

puente

bridge

puerto

pass

punta

point, headland

refugio

mountain hut or shelter

regajo

stream

río

river

risco

cliff, crag

roca

rock

senda

narrow track

sendero

mountain footpath

solano

sunny, south-facing slope

tapia

wall

trocha

track

umbria

shady, north-facing slope

vadero

wide form

vado

form

valle

valley

vega

pasture or meadow

venta

country inn