Picos

Picos is the plural form of pico in Spanish and is used primarily to describe mountain peaks or sharp summits. The term pico derives from the Latin pīcus, meaning beak or point, reflecting the angular forms these features often take in the landscape. In geography and cartography, picos are used to denote high, pointed points on terrain models and maps, and they commonly occur in the names of mountain ranges and individual summits.

The most famous use is in Picos de Europa, a limestone mountain range in northern Spain that straddles Asturias, Cantabria, and Castile and León. The range features rugged escarpments, deep valleys, and several prominent peaks, including Picu Urriellu (Naranjo de Bulnes), one of the classic objectives in Spanish mountaineering.

Beyond this, picos appear in toponymy across Spanish-speaking regions as descriptors of groups of peaks or striking summit features. In travel guides, hiking literature, and geological surveys, the word signals a high, pointed point on the terrain and helps distinguish mountainous areas from other landscapes.