The impressive mountain range of the Cantabrian Mountains, near the coast in the north of Spain, rises up to over 2,500 metres. The nearby Atlantic Ocean provides a high atmospheric humidity. Thanks to the plentiful snowfalls in winter and heavy rains in summer the northern side is covered with oak, chest nut and beech forests in lower altitudes and lush green mountain meadows in higher altitudes. Sheer rock is only on the high summits. This is a reason, why this region is called “Espana Verde” – “Green Spain.”