View source for Sierra Nevada (Spain)

{{Short description|Mountain range in southern Spain}}
{{Other uses|Sierra Nevada (disambiguation)}}
{{Infobox mountain
| name = Sierra Nevada
| photo = Sierra Nevada desde el embalse del Cubillas, en Atarfe (Granada).jpg
| photo_caption = View of Sierra Nevada from the [[Cubillas Reservoir]]
| highest = [[Mulhacén]]
| elevation_m = 3479
| elevation_ref = 
| coordinates = {{coord|37|3|12|N|3|18|41|W|type:mountain_scale:100000|display=inline,title}}
| coordinates_ref=
| range = [[Penibaetic System]]
| country = Spain
| region = [[Andalusia]]
| subdivision3_type = Provinces
| subdivision3 = {{enum|[[province of Granada|Granada]]| [[province of Almería|Almería]] | [[province of Málaga|Málaga]]}}
| map = Spain
| map_caption = Location in Spain
| range_coordinates =
| range_coordinates_ref=
| topo = 
| type = [[Alpine Orogeny|Alpine]]
| age = [[Tertiary (period)|Tertiary]]
}}
'''Sierra Nevada''' ({{IPA|es|ˈsjera neˈβaða|lang}}; meaning "snow-covered mountain range") is a [[mountain range]] in the [[Andalusia]]n [[province of Granada]] in [[Spain]]. It contains the highest point of continental Spain:<ref name="mainland" group="note">The highest peak in Spanish territory is [[Teide]] on the island of [[Tenerife]] in the [[Canary Islands]], which is outside of continental Spain.</ref> [[Mulhacén]], at {{convert|3479|m|ft}} [[AMSL|above sea level]].

It is a popular tourist destination, as its high peaks make [[skiing]] possible in one of Europe's most southerly [[ski resort]]s, in an area along the [[Mediterranean Sea]] predominantly known for its high temperatures and abundant sunshine. At its foothills is found the city of [[Granada]], and a little further south, [[Almería]] and [[Motril]].

Parts of the range have been included in the [[Sierra Nevada National Park (Spain)|Sierra Nevada National Park]]. The range has also been declared a [[biosphere reserve]]. The [[Sierra Nevada Observatory]], the [[Calar Alto Observatory]], and the [[IRAM 30m telescope]] are located on the northern slopes at an elevation of {{convert|2800|m|ft}}.

==Formation==
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 plate]]s.

==Geography==
{{Wide image|Sierra Nevada Fargue.jpg|900px|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 [[Drainage basin|watershed]] stays consistently above {{convert|3000|m|ft}}.<ref name="EB1911">{{Cite EB1911|wstitle=Sierra Nevada, The (Spain)|display=Sierra Nevada, The|volume=25|page=57}}</ref>

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 [[schist]]s, sloping steeply to the north, but more gradually to the south and south-east.<ref name="EB1911"/>

=== Highest peaks ===
{|cellpadding="1" style="float: left; border: 1px solid #88a; background: #f7f8ff; padding: 5px; font-size: 100%; margin-left: 10px"
|-
|colspan=3 style="text-align:center;" |'''Highest peaks of Sierra Nevada'''
|-
| '''Peak (> 3,000m)''' || '''Height (m)'''
|-
|[[Mulhacén]] ||align="right"| 3,479
|-
|[[Veleta (Sierra Nevada)|Veleta]] ||align="right"| 3,398
|-
|[[Alcazaba (Sierra Nevada)|Alcazaba]] ||align="right"| 3,371
|-
|Cerro los Machos ||align="right"| 3,324
|-
|Puntal de Siete Lagunas ||align="right"| 3,248
|-
|Puntal de la Caldera ||align="right"| 3,226
|-
|Pico de Elorrieta ||align="right"| 3,206
|-
|Crestones Río Seco ||align="right"| 3,198
|-
|Loma Pelada ||align="right"| 3,187
|-
|Cerro Pelado ||align="right"| 3,179
|-
|Tajos de la Virgen ||align="right"| 3,160
|-
|Tosal del Cartujo ||align="right"| 3,152
|-
|Pico de La Atalaya ||align="right"| 3,148
|-
|Puntal de Vacares ||align="right"| 3,143
|-
|Cerro Rasero ||align="right"| 3,139
|-
|Tajos del Nevero ||align="right"| 3,120
|-
|Raspones Río Seco ||align="right"| 3,120
|-
|Tajos Altos ||align="right"| 3,111
|-
|Picón de Jeres ||align="right"| 3,090
|-
|Tajo de los Machos ||align="right"| 3,088
|-
|Cerrillo Redondo ||align="right"| 3,058
|-
|Juego de Bolos ||align="right"| 3,018
|-
|[[Pico del Caballo]] ||align="right"| 3,011
|}
{{clear}}

=== Climate ===
According to the [[Köppen climate classification]], Sierra Nevada has a [[Mediterranean climate]] (Csa/Csb), with different variations depending on the altitude. Above {{convert|2500|m|ft}} the climate is [[subarctic climate|subarctic]] (Dsc), due to the location's high elevation and low summer precipitation. With June and September being around the threshold of {{convert|10|C|F}} in mean temperature to avoid the subarctic classification, the climate at a slightly lower elevation is [[humid continental climate|humid continental]] (Dsa/Dsb). At an elevation slightly lower than that classification area; where February means average above {{convert|-3|C|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&nbsp;°C lower 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 {{convert|4|C|F}} with Granada having an average of {{convert|24|C|F}}. The yearly temperature of {{convert|3.9|C|F}} at the ski station of Pradollano is in stark contrast to [[Granada]]'s {{convert|15.7|C|F}} and coastal [[Málaga]]'s {{convert|18.5|C|F}}.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.aemet.es/en/serviciosclimaticos/datosclimatologicos/valoresclimatologicos?l=5514&k=and |title=Standard climate values for Granada |publisher=Aemet.es |access-date=5 December 2015 |archive-date=8 December 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208052408/http://www.aemet.es/en/serviciosclimaticos/datosclimatologicos/valoresclimatologicos?l=5514&k=and |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.aemet.es/en/serviciosclimaticos/datosclimatologicos/valoresclimatologicos?l=6155A&k=and |title=Standard climate values for Málaga |publisher=Aemet.es |access-date=5 December 2015 |archive-date=4 July 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150704212712/http://www.aemet.es/en/serviciosclimaticos/datosclimatologicos/valoresclimatologicos?l=6155A&k=and |url-status=live }}</ref>
{{Weather box
|location = Pradollano Ski Station (1975–1989); {{cvt|2507|m|ft}}
|metric first = Yes
|single line = Yes
|Jan high C = 0.3
|Feb high C = -0.9
|Mar high C = 0.6
|Apr high C = 3.2
|May high C = 4.6
|Jun high C = 14.9
|Jul high C = 21.6
|Aug high C = 19.8
|Sep high C = 14.2
|Oct high C = 10.4
|Nov high C = 3.5
|Dec high C = 2.6
|year high C = 7.8
|Jan mean C = -2.9
|Feb mean C = -4.4
|Mar mean C = -3.4
|Apr mean C = -0.6
|May mean C = 0.9
|Jun mean C = 9.9
|Jul mean C = 16.6
|Aug mean C = 15.2
|Sep mean C = 9.9
|Oct mean C = 6.3
|Nov mean C = 0.1
|Dec mean C = -0.7
|year mean C = 3.9
|Jan low C = -6.1
|Feb low C = -7.9
|Mar low C = -7.5
|Apr low C = -4.3
|May low C = -2.9
|Jun low C = 5.6
|Jul low C = 11.9
|Aug low C = 10.6
|Sep low C = 5.7
|Oct low C = 2.2
|Nov low C = -3.3
|Dec low C = -4.0
|year low C = 0.0
|Jan precipitation mm = 86.7
|Feb precipitation mm = 91.2
|Mar precipitation mm = 78.8
|Apr precipitation mm = 53.8
|May precipitation mm = 53.6
|Jun precipitation mm = 29.7
|Jul precipitation mm = 6.1
|Aug precipitation mm = 11.7
|Sep precipitation mm = 33.7
|Oct precipitation mm = 69.0
|Nov precipitation mm = 85.2
|Dec precipitation mm = 93.1
|year precipitation mm = 692.0
|source 1 = Phytosociological Research Center<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ucm.es/info/cif/station/es-prad2.htm |title=Datos climátológicos de Sierra Nevada |publisher=Phytosociological Research Center |language=es |access-date=2011-07-02 |archive-date=2012-10-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121010050952/http://www.ucm.es/info/cif/station/es-prad2.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>
|date=6 December 2015
|source 2 = Worldwide Bioclimatic Classification System ([[Complutense University of Madrid]])<ref>{{cite web |url=https://webs.ucm.es/info/cif/plot/es-prad2.htm |title=Diagramas Climáticos de Pradollano |publisher=S.Rivas-Martínez, Centro de Investigaciones Fitosociológicas, Madrid. |language=es |date=23 June 2020 |access-date=23 June 2020 |archive-date=26 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200626075212/https://webs.ucm.es/info/cif/plot/es-prad2.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>}}

==Sport==
* [[Sierra Nevada Ski Station]]

== In Media ==
The British Electronic-Duo [[The KLF]] filmed a portion of their unreleased 1989 Road Film "[[The KLF films|The White Room]]" around and on Sierra Nevada.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-12-29 |title=Other Creative Exploits |url=http://klf.de/home/faqs/other-creative-exploits/faq-category/klf-1988/ |access-date=2025-01-27 |website=KLF ONLINE |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Citation |last=Butt |first=Bill |title=The White Room |type=Drama |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0098641/ |access-date=2025-01-27 |others=Bill Drummond, Jimi Cauty, David Franks |publisher=KLF Communications}}</ref>

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:Avenida de la Constitución (Granada).jpg|Sierra Nevada—view from [[Granada]] city
File:JDCANO ALCAZABA.JPG|[[Alcazaba (Sierra Nevada)|Alcazaba mountain]]
File:Landschaft in der Sierra Nevada06.jpg|Landscape south of Pitres
File:Rio Poqueira01.jpg|Stone bridge over Rio Poqueira, Sierra Nevada
File:Sierra Nevada Borreguiles 6.jpg|The [[Sierra Nevada Ski Station]]
File:The IRAM 30-meter telescope.jpg|[[IRAM 30m telescope|Sierra Nevada Radiotelescope]]
File:Observatorio de Calar Alto, en Gérgal (Almería).jpg|[[Calar Alto Observatory]]
</gallery>

== See also ==
* [[Alpujarras]]
* [[Baetic System]]
* [[Sierra Nevada National Park (Spain)|Sierra Nevada National Park]]
* [[The KLF]]

==Notes==
{{Reflist|group=note}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

===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|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)

===Further reading===
* {{cite web |url=http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Newsroom/NewImages/images.php3?img_id=17169 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061001040747/http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Newsroom/NewImages/images.php3?img_id=17169 |url-status=dead |archive-date=1 October 2006 |title=Sierra Nevada, Spain |publisher=[[NASA Earth Observatory]] |access-date=28 April 2006}}

== External links ==
{{commons category-inline|Sierra Nevada (Spain)}}
{{NIE Poster|year=1905|Sierra Nevada (Spain)}}
* [https://maps.google.com/maps?q=Granada,+Spain&ll=37.058465,-3.183975&spn=0.395104,0.726677&t=h&hl=en Google Maps] - Satellite Photo
* {{in lang|es}} [http://www.cetursa.com/ Sierra Nevada Ski Resort] - official site
* [http://www.cetursa.com/En%20pista/Plano%20de%20pistas%20interactivo/ Sierra Nevada ski resort] - trail map
* [http://www.maps.data-spain.com/autonomous_communities/andalucia/ Maps of Sierra Nevada]
* [http://www.nevasport.com/nevablogs/d/la-xvii-semana-deportiva-en-sierra-nevada/1402 nevasport.com] - XVII sport week - Old Pictures
* {{in lang|es}} [http://www.juntadeandalucia.es/medioambiente/servtc5/ventana/mostrarFicha.do?idEspacio=7418 Natural Park Sierra Nevada]
* {{in lang|es}} [http://www.juntadeandalucia.es/medioambiente/servtc5/ventana/mostrarFicha.do?idEquipamiento=22107 Sulayr]

{{Ski Spain}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Sierra Nevada (Spain)| ]]
[[Category:Mountain ranges of Andalusia|Nevada]]
[[Category:Landforms of the Province of Granada]]
[[Category:Geography of the Province of Almería]]
[[Category:Penibaetic System]]
[[Category:Biosphere reserves of Spain]]