geo.wikisort.org - Mountains

The Sierra Nevada de Mérida is the highest mountain range in the largest massif in Venezuela, the Cordillera de Mérida, which in turn is part of the northern extent of the Cordillera de los Andes (Andes Mountains). The Sierra Nevada de Mérida includes the highest peaks in Venezuela, Pico Bolívar, which has an elevation of 4,981 metres (16,342 ft), Pico Humboldt, Pico Bonpland and others.

Sierra Nevada de Merida
Remnants of glaciers on the Pico Bolívar
Highest point
Peak	Pico Bolívar
Elevation	16,342 ft (4,981 m)
Coordinates	8°34′12.61″N 71°00′45.32″W
Dimensions
Length	200 mi (320 km) Southeast-Northwest
Geography
Country	Venezuela
States	Merida and Barinas
Geology
Age of rock	Precambrian

The Sierra Nevada National Park is a protected area within the range.

The Cordillera de Mérida is a series of mountain ranges, or massif, in northwestern Venezuela. The Cordillera de Mérida is a northeastern extension of the Andes Mountains. The ranges run southwest–northeast between the Venezuelan-Colombian border and the Venezuelan coastal range. The Táchira depression separates the Cordillera de Mérida from the Cordillera Oriental, which forms the Colombia-Venezuela border.

The ranges runs from southwest to northeast and parts lie within each of the following states: Táchira, Mérida, Barinas, Trujillo, Portuguesa and Lara. The southeastern slopes are drained by tributaries of the Orinoco River, while the streams that drain the northwestern slopes empty into Lake Maracaibo. At the northeast tip of the massif lies the town of Barquisimeto and the headwaters of the River Cojedes.

In the centre of the massif is the city of Mérida. Two ranges of peaks lie on either side of the city, the Sierra de la Culata to the north and Sierra Nevada de Mérida to the south. Pico Bolívar, at 4,981 meters elevation (16,342 feet), is the highest peak in Venezuela.

Most of the ranges are covered by Venezuelan Andes montane forests, although the highest elevations (above 3,100 meters) are above tree line. These ranges are home to the Cordillera de Mérida páramo, an enclave of the páramo (tropical alpine grasslands) of the northern Andes.[1] Protected areas in the massif include Sierra Nevada National Park.

Glaciers

In 1991 the mountain range had five glaciers situated near its peaks.[2] However, as of 2017, only one glacier (10% of its size 30 years earlier) remains near Pico Humboldt.[2] It is predicted this last glacier will disappear within the next ten or twenty years.[2][3][4]

The snowy season is between July–August. The snows cover the mountains above 4.200 meters, and sometimes above 3.800 meters.[2]

Gallery

• 
  El Velo de la Novia waterfall
• 
  Sierra de Santo Domingo
• 
  Mucubají lagoon

See also

• Sierra Nevada National Park (Venezuela)
• Sierra La Culata
• Merida glaciation

References

External links

• Schubert, Carlos (1998) "Glaciers of Venezuela" United States Geological Survey (USGS P 1386-I)

На других языках

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[de] Sierra Nevada de Mérida

Die Sierra Nevada de Mérida (allgemein Sierra de Mérida genannt) ist eine Bergkette der Anden, die den westlichen Teil Venezuelas durchquert, insbesondere die Bundesstaaten Lara, Apure, Barinas, Mérida, Táchira und Trujillo. Innerhalb der Bergkette befinden sich wichtige Gipfel wie der Bolivar-Gipfel, Pico Bonpland und Pico Humboldt, die höchsten des Landes und im Bundesstaat Mérida gelegen.

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- [en] Sierra Nevada de Mérida

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[es] Sierra Nevada de Mérida

La Sierra Nevada de Mérida (comúnmente denominada Sierra de Mérida) es una cadena montañosa perteneciente a la Cordillera de los Andes la cual atraviesa la parte occidental de Venezuela, específicamente entre Barinas y Mérida.

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[it] Sierra Nevada de Mérida

La Sierra Nevada de Mérida (comunemente denominata Sierra de Mérida) è una catena montuosa appartenente alla Cordigliera delle Ande che attraversa la parte occidentale del Venezuela, in ispecie gli stati venezuelani di Lara, Apure, Barinas, Mérida, Táchira e Trujillo (questi ultimi tre coperti quasi nella loro totalità dalla Sierra).

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[ru] Сьерра-Невада-де-Мерида

Сьерра-Невада-де-Мерида (известного под названием Сьерра-де-Мерида; исп. Sierra Nevada de Mérida) — горная цепь в Латинской Америке. Входит в состав горной системы Анд.

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