meseta

The Meseta, from the Spanish word meaning “high plain” or “plateau,” is a broad high plain that forms a core geographic feature of the Iberian Peninsula. It is commonly called the Meseta Central or Central Plateau and encompasses much of central Spain.

Geographically, the Meseta covers large parts of Castile and León and Castile-La Mancha, with Madrid near its southern edge, and extends into adjacent areas such as parts of Extremadura and Aragón. It is traditionally divided into the northern Meseta (Meseta Norte) and the southern Meseta (Meseta Sur). Elevations generally range from about 600 to 1,000 meters above sea level, and the plateau is bounded by surrounding mountain systems, including the Cantabrian Mountains to the north, the Iberian System to the east, and the Central System and Montes de Toledo forming its western and southern rims.

The climate is predominantly continental, with hot, dry summers and cold winters, and relatively low rainfall. Soils vary, but the higher, flatter areas support extensive agriculture and grazing. The region is a major locus of cereal crops, viticulture, and livestock, with population and economic activity concentrated around major urban centers such as Madrid and other provincial capitals.

Hydrology on the plateau is controlled by several large river basins. The Duero dominates the northern portion, while the Tagus and Guadiana drain the southern and western parts toward the Atlantic; eastern streams contribute to the Ebro basin near the plateau’s edge.

Historically, the Meseta has been central to Spanish settlement and state formation, serving as a political and cultural heartland in various periods. It remains a defining geographic and cultural region in contemporary Spain.