Jump to content

Lakes of Covadonga

Coordinates: 43°16′31″N 4°59′07″W / 43.27528°N 4.98528°W / 43.27528; -4.98528
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Redirected from Lagos de Covandonga)
Lagos de Covadonga
LocationPicos de Europa, Asturias, Spain
Coordinates43°17′N 4°57′W / 43.283°N 4.950°W / 43.283; -4.950
TypeGlacial lakes
Surface elevation1,134 meters (3,720 ft)
Lago Enol seen from La Picota
Lago Ercina
Ercina Lake
Lago Ercina in winter

The Lakes of Covadonga (el. 1134 m.) (Spanish: Lagos de Covadonga) are two glacial lakes located on the region of Asturias, Spain. These lakes, often also called Lakes of Enol or simply Los Lagos, are Lake Enol and Lake Ercina located in the Picos de Europa range and they are the original center of the Picos de Europa National Park, created in 1918. They are near the Covadonga Sanctuary.

Lake Enol is situated approximately 10 km from Covadonga and 25 km from Cangas de Onís. A curving road is available from Arriondas to the lake.[1] Measuring 0.1 square kilometres (0.039 sq mi),[2] it is one of the biggest lakes in the area. Lake Enol is situated 1,070 metres (3,510 ft) above sea level.

A submerged image of the Virgin Mary is elevated every year on 8 September and then taken out for a procession. Regional dancing occurs at Lake Enol during the Fiesta del Pastor on 25 July.[3]

Lake Ercina is situated at an altitude of 1,108 metres (3,635 ft) and its maximum depth is just over 2 metres (6 ft 7 in). The eutrophic lake covers approximately 8 hectares (20 acres).[4]

Vuelta a España

[edit]

The road ascending from Covadonga to the lakes is a popular climb in professional road bicycle racing, having been used by Vuelta a España many times in the last 25 years.

Together with Alto de l'Angliru, Lagos de Covadonga is the most important climb in the modern history of the Vuelta. The road that leads to the lakes starts at Covadonga and is 12.6 kilometres long at an average gradient of 7.3% (height gain: 1056 m).[1] The most demanding section is La Huesera, 7 kilometres from the top of the climb, with an average gradient of 15% during 800 meters. It was featured for the first time in 1983 with the victory of Marino Lejarreta, who was in a fierce battle with Bernard Hinault for overall victory. This was the same Vuelta that saw Hinault, Greg LeMond and Laurent Fignon all riding on the same team. Stage 7 of the 2023 La Vuelta Femenina ended at Lagos de Covadonga, with Dutch cyclist Demi Vollering placing first.

Winners of the Lakes of Covadonga stage - Men

[edit]
Year Name Country
1983 Marino Lejarreta  Spain
1984 Raimund Dietzen  Germany
1985 Pedro Delgado  Spain
1986 Robert Millar  United Kingdom
1987 Lucho Herrera  Colombia
1989 Álvaro Pino  Spain
1991 Lucho Herrera  Colombia
1992 Pedro Delgado  Spain
1993 Oliverio Rincón  Colombia
1994 Laurent Jalabert  France
1996 Laurent Jalabert  France
1997 Pavel Tonkov  Russia
2000 Andrei Zintchenko  Russia
2001 Juan Miguel Mercado  Spain
2005 Eladio Jiménez  Spain
2007 Vladimir Efimkin  Russia
2010 Carlos Barredo  Spain
2012 Antonio Piedra  Spain
2014 Przemysław Niemiec  Poland
2016 Nairo Quintana  Colombia
2018 Thibaut Pinot  France
2021 Primož Roglič  Slovenia
2024 Marc Soler  Spain

Winners of the Lakes of Covadonga stage - Women

[edit]
Year Name Country
2023 Demi Vollering  Netherlands

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Yates 2010, p. 272.
  2. ^ Gutiérrez & Gutiérrez 2014, p. 158.
  3. ^ Quintero & Gallagher 2013, p. 110.
  4. ^ "Lago de La Ercina". www.llanes.as (in Spanish). Retrieved 13 July 2016.
[edit]

43°16′31″N 4°59′07″W / 43.27528°N 4.98528°W / 43.27528; -4.98528