View source for Mulhacén

{{short description|Highest mountain in the Iberian Peninsula}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2023}}
{{Infobox mountain
| name = Mulhacén
| photo = Alcazaba, Punta de la Cornisa y Mulhacén 3.479 m.jpg
| elevation_m = 3479
| elevation_ref = <ref name="IGN">[http://www.viewfinderpanoramas.org/Mulhacen_I.pdf Document supplied by Spanish National Mapping Agency]. The coordinates given here have been converted from [[ED50]] to [[WGS84]].</ref>
| prominence_m = 3285
| prominence_ref = <ref name="PeakList"/><br />{{small|[[List of peaks by prominence|Ranked 64th]]}}
| range = [[Sierra Nevada (Spain)|Sierra Nevada]]
| listing = [[Ultra prominent peak|Ultra]]
| country = [[Spain]]
| subdivision1_type = [[Autonomous communities of Spain|Community]]
| subdivision1 = [[Andalusia]]
| subdivision2_type = [[Provinces of Spain|Province]]
| subdivision2 = [[Province of Granada|Granada]]
| map = Spain#Spain Andalusia
| map_caption = Location in Spain|
| label_position = top
| coordinates = {{coord|37|03|12|N|3|18|41|W|type:mountain_region:ES_scale:100000|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
| coordinates_ref = <ref name="IGN"/>
| first_ascent = Unknown (before 1500)<ref name="world_mountaineering"/>
| easiest_route = Hike
| mapframe = yes
| mapframe-zoom = 10
| mapframe-wikidata = yes
}}

'''Mulhacén''' ({{IPA|es|mulaˈθen|}}), with an elevation of {{convert|3479|m|ft}}, is the highest [[mountain]] in [[peninsular Spain]] and in all of the [[Iberian Peninsula]]. It is part of the [[Sierra Nevada (Spain)|Sierra Nevada]] range in the [[Penibaetic System]]. It is named after [[Abu'l-Hasan Ali of Granada|Abu'l-Hasan Ali]], known as ''[[Mawla|Muley]] Hacén'' in Spanish, the penultimate Muslim ruler of [[Emirate of Granada|Granada]] in the 15th century who, according to legend, was buried on the summit of the mountain. It is still known in present-day [[Arabic]] as ''Jabal Mawla el-Hassan'' (Mountain of Mawla el-Hassan).

Mulhacén is the highest peak in [[Southern Europe]]<ref name="mainland" group=note>The [[Canary Islands]] and [[Greenland]], which are politically attached to Europe, but which are geographically part of Africa and North America respectively, have higher peaks.</ref> outside of the [[Alps]]. It is also the third-most prominent peak in Western Europe, after [[Mont Blanc]] and [[Mount Etna]], and is ranked 64th in the world by prominence.<ref name="PeakList"/> 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 northeast ridge is slightly more technical. The north face of the mountain is much steeper and offers several routes involving moderately steep climbing on snow and ice (up to [[Grade (climbing)|French grade AD]]) in the winter.<ref name="world_mountaineering"/>

Mulhacén can be climbed in a single day from the villages of either [[Capileira]] or [[Trevélez]], 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 Trevélez can also [[Bivouac shelter|bivouac]] at the [[Tarn (lake)|tarn]]s to the northeast of the peak.

==Accidents==
On 5 March 2006, three British climbers from [[Teesside]] died on the mountain from suspected [[hypothermia]]. Initial reports quoting the [[Civil Guard (Spain)|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.<ref name=bbc/><ref name=guardian/> A plaque dedicated to them has been placed at the summit.<ref>[[:Image:MulhacenPlaque.jpg|Photograph of the plaque at the summit dedicated to the British climbers]]</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em|refs=
<ref name=bbc>
  {{cite news | url = https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/tees/4780952.stm
  | title = Climbers die despite rescue bid
  | publisher = BBC News | date = 7 March 2006 | access-date = 2015-01-24}}</ref>
<ref name=guardian>
  {{cite news | url = https://www.theguardian.com/spain/article/0,,1725205,00.html?gusrc=rss
  | title = Three British climbers die on Spanish mountain after son's rescue bid fails
  | work = [[The Guardian]]| date = 7 March 2006 | access-date = 2015-01-24}}</ref>
<ref name="PeakList">
  {{cite web | url = http://www.peakList.org/WWlists/ultras/EuroCoreP1500m.html
  | title = European ultra-prominent peaks | publisher = peakList.org | access-date = 2015-01-24}}</ref>
<ref name="world_mountaineering">
  {{cite book | title = World Mountaineering | chapter = Mulhacén | author = Griffin, Lindsay
  | editor = Salkeld, Audrey | publisher = Bulfinch Press | year = 1998 | isbn = 0-8212-2502-2}}</ref>
}}
;Notes
{{Reflist|group=note}}

==External links==
* {{Commons-inline}}
* {{in lang|es}} [http://www.komandokroketa.org/Mulhacen/Mulhacen.html Route to climb Mulhacén]
* [http://www.alpujarras.eu/places/mulhacen.html Mulhacen - Alpujarras.eu: your holiday quide, travel information and rural accommodation]
* {{cite opentopomap|Pico de Mulhacén|37.05336|-3.31156|2023-05-28}}
{{Ultras of Europe}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mulhacen}}
[[Category:Sierra Nevada (Spain)]]
[[Category:Baetic three-thousanders]]
[[Category:Penibaetic System]]
[[Category:Mountains of Andalusia]]
[[Category:Extreme points of Spain]]
[[Category:Highest points of Spanish provinces]]
[[Category:Ultra-prominent peaks of Europe]]