Spain is one of the most mountainous countries in Europe, with an average elevation of 660 meters (2,165 feet). The *Meseta Central* dominates the interior, generally hovering between 600 and 800 meters above sea level. This plateau is ringed by major mountain systems, including the Cantabrian Mountains in the north, the Iberian System to the east, and the Sierra Morena to the south.
The majestic Pyrenees form a natural border with France, stretching from the Bay of Biscay to the Mediterranean. The Baetic System in the south contains the Sierra Nevada, home to mainland Spain's highest peak, Mulhacén (3,479 m / 11,414 ft). However, the absolute highest point in all of Spanish territory is Mount Teide, a towering dormant volcano on the island of Tenerife in the Canary Islands, which reaches 3,718 meters (12,198 ft). The country is also drained by several major rivers, including the Tagus, Ebro, Duero, Guadiana, and Guadalquivir, which carve deep valleys and support fertile agricultural flood plains before meeting the sea.