Valley of the Huerna

Massif of Las Ubiñas.

The valley of the Huerna (Asturian Güerna) is one of the valleys of the Asturian central mountain in the Principality of Asturias, where the river Huerna flows. It is 104.49 km² and is located in the southwest of the council of Lena: It comprises the parishes of Jomezana, Piñera, Sotiello, Telledo, Tuiza and Zureda. It is accessed via the LE-8 local road from Campomanes, where the Huerna merges with the Pajares river.

The toponymic origin of "Huerna" is "Orna", whose meaning could be ordinary or torrent. The river Huerna is born in the massif of Ubiña, massif declared Protected Landscape and that at the moment forms part of the Natural Park of the Ubiñas-the Table.

The Huerna is being used as an alternative to the Port of Pajares, a traditional route of communication between Asturias and the Central Plateau. Part of the route of the Ruta de la Plata Highway crosses the valley, so this highway is also called Autopista del Huerna. Currently the works of the Pajares railway variant are being carried out, with the exit of the Pajares tunnels in Telledo. The Huerna Valley received the Prince of Asturias Prize to the Exemplary People in 1998 for adapting the traditional livestock forms to the current needs, allowing the recovery of the native Asturian breed of the valleys. Although cattle farming is its traditional economy, rural tourism has been boosted in recent years.

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