Puntos de Interés
Hydrography
River Engaña
River Engaña has its source in the Somo mountains, located in the Cantabrian Mountains. It is one of the most beautiful landscapes of the whole region, in the north of the province of Burgos, in Merindad de Sotoscueva.
From its source, at an altitude of 1,420 metres, it flows entirely through the region of Las Merindades, covering 15 kilometres until it reaches its mouth in the River Nela, as it passes through the municipality of Santelices, thus becoming one of the most important springs in the area.
Its riverbank runs over the abandoned tunnel to which it gives its name: La Engaña railway tunnel, which crosses the Somo mountains from north to south.
Its riverbank is included in the Regional Catalogue of Outstanding Riverbanks of the province of Burgos and, in addition, in its surroundings there are natural spaces of singular importance. One of them is Ojo Guareña, included in the Natura 2000 Network, or the Site of Community Importance (SCI) Banks of the river Nela and tributaries.
Many species of fauna can be found in its area of influence, such as the common trout or the red-tailed barbel. Near its waters you can also observe specimens of midwife toad, Pyrenean desmanes or river bats. In addition, colonies of griffon vultures, Egyptian vultures and even peregrine falcons tend to nest in the vicinity of its banks.
As for the vegetation present in the area, you can find endemic and boreoalpine species, with the meadows and forests of beech, oak and birch being predominant.