 The
Parque Nacional de Sierra Nevada lies in the south of the
Iberian Peninsula, forming part of the Cordilleras Béticas
mountain range, in the Autonomous Region of Andalusia.
Southeast of the city of Granada, it also includes the western
edge of the province of Almería.
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The
Parque Nacional Sierra Nevada (known as the Sierra Nevada
National Park in English) is located in Spain. It stretches from
Alpujarra to the Marquesado and the Lecrin Valley. Some of the
mountain peaks reach up to over 3,000 meters. There are over 60
species of flower here that belong exclusively to the area. Here you
will find a thriving Spanish ibex population along with other
species, such as badger and wildcat. Popular activities include:
skiing, hiking, climbing, paragliding, ibex watching and bird
watching.
Sierra
Nevada (Spain)
The
Sierra Nevada, meaning "snowy range" in Spanish, is
a mountain range in the region of Andalusia in Spain. It contains
the highest point of continental Spain, Mulhacén at 3,479 m.
It
is a popular tourist destination, as its high peaks make skiing
possible in Europe's most southern ski resort in an area along the
Mediterranean Sea predominantly known for its warm temperatures and
abundant sunshine. At its foothills is found the city of Granada
and, a little farther, Málaga and Almería.
Parts
of the range have been included in the Sierra Nevada National Park.
The range has also been declared a biosphere reserve. The Sierra
Nevada Observatory is located on the northern slopes at 2800 m.
Formation
The
Sierra Nevada were formed during the Alpine Orogeny, a
mountain-building event that also formed the European Alps to the
east and the Atlas Mountains of northern Africa across the
Mediterranean Sea to the south. The Sierra as observed today formed
during the Tertiary Period (65 to 1.8 million years ago) from the
collision of the African and Eurasian continental plates.
Geography
Central
to the mountain range is a ridge running broadly west-south-west -
east-north-east. For a substantial distance, the watershed stays
consistently above 3000m in altitude.
On
the southern side of the range, several long but narrow river
valleys lead off towards the south-west, separated by a number of
subsidiary ridges.
On
the steeper and craggier northern side, the valleys have less
regular orientations. This side is dominated by the Rio Genil which
starts near Mulhacén and into which many of the other rivers flow.
External
links
Mulhacén
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Mulhacén
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Elevation
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3,479 metres (11,414 ft)
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Location
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Granada,
Spain
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Range
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Sierra
Nevada
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Prominence
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3,285 metres (10,778 ft)
Ranked 64th
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Coordinates
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37°03′16″N,
3°18′36″W
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First
ascent
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unknown
(before 1500)
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Easiest
route
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hike
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Mulhacén
is the highest mountain in continental Spain and in the
IberianPeninsula. It is part of the Sierra Nevada range in the
Cordillera Penibética. It is named after Muley Abul Hassan, the
penultimate Muslim King of Granada in the 15th century, who
according to legend was buried on the summit of the mountain.
While
not of exceptional height by European standards, Mulhacén is the
third most topographically prominent peak in Western Europe, after
Mont Blanc and Mount Etna, and is ranked 64th in the
world by prominence. The peak is not exceptionally dramatic in terms
of steepness or local relief. The south flank of the mountain is
gentle, and presents no technical challenge, as is the case for the
long west ridge. The shorter, somewhat steeper north east ridge is
slightly more technical. The north face of the mountain, however, is
much steeper, and offers several routes involving moderately steep
climbing on snow and ice (up to French grade AD) in the winter.
Mulhacén
can be climbed in a single day from the villages of either Capileira
or Trevelez, but it is more common to spend a night at the mountain
refuge at Poqueira, or in the bare shelter at Caldera to the west.
Those making the ascent from Trevelez can also bivouac at the tarns
to the northeast of the peak.
On
March 7, 2006 three British climbers from Teesside died on the
mountain from suspected hypothermia. Initial reports quoting the
Spanish Civil Guard stated that the three were ill-equipped for the
extreme conditions. This claim was subsequently disputed both by the
family and a colleague of one of the climbers, and by one of the
rescuers.
Alpujarras
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La
Alpujarra (sometimes Las Alpujarras) is a mountainous
district in Southern Spain, which stretches south from the
Sierra Nevada mountains near Granada in the autonomous region
of Andalusia. The western part of the region lies in the
province of Granada and the eastern part in the province of
Almería. In older sources the name is sometimes spelled
Alpuxarras; it may derive from Arabic al Busherat
meaning "the grass-land".
The
region consists principally of valleys which descend at right
angles from the crest of the Sierra Nevada on the north, to
the Sierras Almijara, Contraviesa and Gádor, which separate
it from the Mediterranean Sea, to the south.
The
region is one of great natural beauty, and it is sometimes
referred to as "The Spanish Switzerland". Because of
a warm southerly climate combined with a reliable supply of
water for irrigation from the rivers running off the Sierra
Nevada, the valleys of the western Alpujarras are among the
most fertile in Spain, though the steep nature of the terrain
means that they can only be cultivated in small fields, so
that many modern agricultural techniques are
impractical. |
A
typical Alpujarran village, Busquístar. |
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A
street corner in Trevélez showing traditional architecture
and door curtain |
They
contain a rich abundance of fruit trees, especially grape vines,
oranges, lemons, persimmons, figs and almonds. The eastern
Alpujarra, in the province of Almería, is more arid, but still
highly attractive.
La
Alpujarra was successively settled by Ibero-Celtic peoples, by the
Romans, and by Visigoths before the Moorish conquest of southern
Spain in the eighth century. The region was the last refuge of the
Moors, who were allowed to remain there for nearly 150 years after
the fall of Granada in 1492. Following the Morisco Revolt of 1568,
the Moorish population was forced from the region after the Moriscos
used it as a military base. By order of the Spanish crown, two
Moorish families were required to remain in each village in order to
demonstrate to the new inhabitants, introduced from northern Spain,
the workings of the terracing and irrigation systems on which the
district's agriculture depends.
The
influence of the Moorish population can be seen in the agriculture,
the distinct cubic architecture (reminiscent of Berber architecture
in Morocco's Atlas Mountains) the local cuisine, the local carpet
weaving, and the numerous Arabic placenames.
The
largest villages in the district are Lanjarón, with its ruined
castle and chalybeate baths, Órgiva, Ugíjar, Laujar, Berja. All
are situated at a considerable elevation, and Trevélez, whose main
church is at 1446 metres above sea level, is the highest recognised
town in Spain. The three white villages in the gorge of the Rio
Poqueira, Pampaneira, Bubión and Capileira, have become recognised
tourist destinations; however there are many other equally
traditional villages of similar appearance, for example those in the
La Taha municipality to the east of the Poqueira gorge. The
steepness of the land means that the houses in the villages seem to
be piled on top of another, and their characteristic flat roofs,
distinctive roofed chimneys, and balconies (tináos)
extending across the steep narrow streets give them a unique and
picturesque appearance.
Among
the agricultural specialities of the region is a variety of
air-cured ham, especially associated with Trevélez. In general,
however, the impossibility of mechanising agriculture in such a
district means that it is not competitive under modern conditions,
and the growth area of the economy is tourism. The district is
served by bus services from Granada, and can be reached in a few
hours from the international airport at Málaga. The GR 7 (E4)
"Mediterranean Arc" European long-distance footpath passes
through the region.
Chris
Stewart's best seller Driving Over Lemons is set in La
Alpujarra.
External
links
Las
Alpujarras Area Guide
» |
Properties in Spain 
airports:
Visiting
Spain is not only about sun, great cuisine, and a warm welcome, but also its
rich monumental heritage and dazzling natural environment.
