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Sierra Nevada (Spanish: [ˈsjera neˈβaða]; meaning "mountain range covered in snow") is a mountain range in the Andalusian province of Granada in Spain. It contains the highest point of continental Spain:[note 1] Mulhacén, at 3,479 metres (11,414 ft) above sea level.

Sierra Nevada
View of the Sierra Nevada
Highest point
PeakMulhacén
Elevation3,479 m (11,414 ft)
Prominencevery
Coordinates37°03′N 03°18′W
Geography
Sierra Nevada
Location in Spain
LocationProvinces of Granada, Almería and Málaga
CountrySpain
RegionAndalucia
Parent rangePenibaetic System
Geology
Age of rockTertiary
Mountain typeAlpine

It is a popular tourist destination, as its high peaks make skiing possible in one of Europe's most southerly ski resorts, 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 south, Almería and Málaga.

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 and the IRAM radiotelescope are located on the northern slopes at an elevation of 2,800 metres (9,200 ft).


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 Paleogene and Neogene Periods (66 to 1.8 million years ago) from the collision of the African and Eurasian continental plates.


Geography


Sierra Nevada from Alquería de Fargue near Granada

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 3,000 metres (9,800 ft). This is sufficient altitude for the peaks to be consistently snow-covered.[1]

On the southern side of the range, several long, 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.

Geologically, the range is composed chiefly of soft micaceous schists, sloping steeply to the north, but more gradually to the south and south-east.[1]


Highest peaks


Highest peaks of Sierra Nevada
Peak (> 3,000m)Height (m)
Mulhacén3,479
Veleta3,398
Alcazaba3,371
Cerro los Machos3,324
Puntal de Siete Lagunas3,248
Puntal de la Caldera3,226
Pico de Elorrieta3,206
Crestones Río Seco3,198
Loma Pelada3,187
Cerro Pelado3,179
Tajos de la Virgen3,160
Tosal del Cartujo3,152
Pico de La Atalaya3,148
Puntal de Vacares3,143
Cerro Rasero3,139
Tajos del Nevero3,120
Raspones Río Seco3,120
Tajos Altos3,111
Picón de Jeres3,090
Tajo de los Machos3,088
Cerrillo Redondo3,058
Juego de Bolos3,018
Pico del Caballo3,013

Climate


According to the Köppen climate classification, Sierra Nevada has a Mediterranean climate, with different variations depending on the altitude. Above 2,500 metres (8,200 ft) the climate is Mediterranean subalpine (Dsc), due to the location's high elevation and low summer precipitation. With June and September being around the threshold of 10 °C (50 °F) in mean temperature to avoid the subarctic classification, the climate at a slightly lower elevation is continental highland climate. At an elevation slightly lower than that classification area; where February means average above −3 °C (27 °F); it falls into the normal cool-summer mediterranean classification transitioning with the hot-summer variety in surrounding lowland areas. This renders Sierra Nevada's climate a highland cooled-down variety of a typical mediterranean climate. Summer and winter daytime temperatures are some 12° C cooler than found in Granada, differences that are even greater in spring as Sierra Nevada takes longer to approach the short summers. In May daytime highs in Sierra Nevada are around 4 °C (39 °F) with Granada having an average of 24 °C (75 °F). The yearly temperature of 3.9 °C (39.0 °F) at the ski station of Pradollano is in stark contrast to Granada's 15.7 °C (60.3 °F) and coastal Málaga's 18.5 °C (65.3 °F).[2][3]

Climate data for Pradollano Ski Station (1975–1989); 2,507 metres (8,225 ft)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °C (°F) 0.3
(32.5)
−0.9
(30.4)
0.6
(33.1)
3.2
(37.8)
4.6
(40.3)
14.9
(58.8)
21.6
(70.9)
19.8
(67.6)
14.2
(57.6)
10.4
(50.7)
3.5
(38.3)
2.6
(36.7)
7.8
(46.0)
Daily mean °C (°F) −2.9
(26.8)
−4.4
(24.1)
−3.4
(25.9)
−0.6
(30.9)
0.9
(33.6)
9.9
(49.8)
16.6
(61.9)
15.2
(59.4)
9.9
(49.8)
6.3
(43.3)
0.1
(32.2)
−0.7
(30.7)
3.9
(39.0)
Average low °C (°F) −6.1
(21.0)
−7.9
(17.8)
−7.5
(18.5)
−4.3
(24.3)
−2.9
(26.8)
5.6
(42.1)
11.9
(53.4)
10.6
(51.1)
5.7
(42.3)
2.2
(36.0)
−3.3
(26.1)
−4.0
(24.8)
0.0
(32.0)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 86.7
(3.41)
91.2
(3.59)
78.8
(3.10)
53.8
(2.12)
53.6
(2.11)
29.7
(1.17)
6.1
(0.24)
11.7
(0.46)
33.7
(1.33)
69.0
(2.72)
85.2
(3.35)
93.1
(3.67)
692.0
(27.24)
Source 1: Phytosociological Research Center[4]
Source 2: Worldwide Bioclimatic Classification System (Complutense University of Madrid)[5]

Sport





See also



Notes


  1. The highest peak in Spanish territory is Teide on the island of Tenerife in the Canary Islands, which is politically Spanish but geographically part of Africa.

References


  1. Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Sierra Nevada, The" . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 25 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 57.
  2. "Standard climate values for Granada". Aemet.es. Retrieved 5 December 2015.
  3. "Standard climate values for Málaga". Aemet.es. Retrieved 5 December 2015.
  4. "Datos climátológicos de Sierra Nevada" (in Spanish). Phytosociological Research Center.
  5. "Diagramas Climáticos de Pradollano" (in Spanish). S.Rivas-Martínez, Centro de Investigaciones Fitosociológicas, Madrid. 23 June 2020.

Bibliography



Further reading




Media related to Sierra Nevada (Spain) at Wikimedia Commons


На других языках


[de] Sierra Nevada (Spanien)

Die Sierra Nevada (spanisch für „schneebedecktes Gebirge“) ist mit 3482 msnm das höchste Gebirge der Iberischen Halbinsel, das in der Regel jährlich von November bis Mai eine Schneehaube trägt. Es liegt im Süden Spaniens in den Provinzen Granada und Almería in der Autonomen Region Andalusien und ist ein 100 km langer Teil der Betischen Kordillere. Seit 1999 ist das Kerngebiet von 86.208 Hektar als Nationalpark Sierra Nevada geschützt.
- [en] Sierra Nevada (Spain)

[fr] Sierra Nevada (Espagne)

La sierra Nevada /ˈsjera neˈβaða/[1] (littéralement « chaîne de montagnes enneigée » en espagnol) est un massif montagneux rattaché aux cordillères Bétiques situées en Andalousie, en Espagne, qui s'étend sur la zone centre et sud-est de la province de Grenade et une partie du sud-ouest de la province d'Almeria.

[it] Sierra Nevada (Spagna)

La Sierra Nevada è un massiccio montuoso della Spagna meridionale, nella regione dell'Andalusia, esteso nella parte centrale e sud-orientale della provincia di Granada e in parte nella zona sud-occidentale della provincia di Almería. Comprende il picco più elevato della penisola iberica, il monte Mulhacén, che rappresenta, dopo i rilievi delle Alpi, anche la maggior elevazione dell'Europa occidentale. Nel 1986 è stata dichiarata riserva della biosfera dall'UNESCO e gran parte del suo territorio è stato incluso nel Parco nazionale della Sierra Nevada in relazione al suo grande valore paesaggistico e botanico.

[ru] Сьерра-Невада (Испания)

Сье́рра-Нева́да (исп. Sierra Nevada — «снежный хребет») — горный массив на юге Пиренейского полуострова, часть Кордильеры-Пенибетики. Находится на территории Андалусии, Испания. Самая высокая точка — гора Муласен, 3478 м.



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