Sierra Nevada

Sier'ra Nevada
Range
Country	Spain
Communities	Andalusia
Highest point	Mulhacén
- elevation	3,478 m (11,411 ft)
- coordinates	37°03′12″N 03°18′41″W / 37.05333°N 3.31139°W / 37.05333; -3.31139
Orogeny	Alpine
Period	Tertiary
Location of Sierra Nevada in the Iberian Peninsula

The ski resort.

Sierra Nevada.

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 3,478 metres (11,411 ft).

It is a popular tourist destination, as its high peaks make skiing possible in Europe's most southern ski resort after Mt Olympos in Cyprus, 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 further, 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 was 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. The winter is the most favorable. You should dress in warm cloths

Highest peaks

• Mulhacén
• Veleta
• Alcazaba

Sport

• Sierra Nevada Ski Resort

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Sierra Nevada (Spain)

• Alpujarras
• Geography of Spain

External links

• Google Maps Satellite Photo
• Sierra Nevada Ski Resort Official Website (In Spanish)
• Slopes map of Sierra Nevada ski resort
• Maps of the Sierra Nevada
• XVII sport week -Old Pictures -
• (Spanish)Natural Park Sierra Nevada
• English language magazine for the region
• (Spanish)Sulayr

References

• "Sierra Nevada, Spain". NASA Earth Observatory. http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Newsroom/NewImages/images.php3?img_id=17169. Retrieved 2006-04-28. 
• English language magazine for the region

Bibliography

• Francisco Pérez Raya, Joaquín Molero Mesa, Francisco Valle Tendero, 1992: "Parque Natural de Sierra Nevada. Paisaje, fauna, flora, itinerarios". Ed. Rueda. Madrid. ISBN 84-7207-067-0 (Spanish)
• "Flora de la Tundra de Sierra Nevada". Pablo Prieto Fernández, Ed. Universidad de Granada. ISBN ISBN 84-600-1810-5 (Spanish)
• "Sierra Nevada: Guía de Montaña". Aurelio del Castillo y Antonio del Castillo. Ed. Penibética, 2003. ISBN 84-932022-3-1 (Spanish)

Coordinates: 37°05′N 3°10′W / 37.083°N 3.167°W / 37.083; -3.167