SIERRA NEVADA AND SURROUNDING AREAS

Sierra Nevada:

The Sierra Nevada region borders the Alpujarra and Marquesado del Zenete. The Sierra Nevada National Park is home to the highest peaks of the Iberian Peninsula. From the heights of the Veleta and Mulhacén peaks, you can contemplate the Mediterranean Sea. Sierra Nevada is an alpine natural paradise in the heart of Andalusia, with mild summers and cold winters. Between the snow-capped peaks, rivers and forests we find villages full of charm, between the monumental city of Granada and the imposing massif of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. The villages, immersed in the natural environment and preserving all the flavors of local traditions, exude silence; they are ideal places to enjoy peace and quiet. Many of these towns date back to Islamic times when they were devoted to agriculture and silk production. The Muslim footprint can be seen in the network of canals that collect melt water from the peaks of the Sierra Nevada to transport it to the lower villages. Because of its abundant native fauna and flora, Sierra Nevada was declared a biosphere reserve, later a natural park and finally a national park. It is one of the best ski resorts in Europe.

Flora and Fauna:

The flora or vegetation in Sierra Nevada National Park varies greatly as you climb the hills and mountains: from the richly forested lower slopes to the fragrant herbs and flowering shrubs of the mid-mountain ranges, the alpine meadows at about 2,000 meters and the sparser scrub of the high mountain areas. The highest peak of the Sierra Nevada and of the Iberian Peninsula is Mount Mulhacén, which is 3480 meters high. Regarding the fauna or animals of the Sierra Nevada, there are about 80 different animal species with the most notable being the mountain goat. Of course, there are many small ground animals such as lizards and rabbits and we can see a wide variety of beautiful bird species.

TRADITIONS:

There are more than 20 towns and villages in the area, each with its own unique history, traditions and culture that visitors can experience throughout the year, especially in the Alpujarra. From north to south and east to west, beauty spreads everywhere; the beauty of the natural landscape is complemented by that of the man-made environment. In many of these towns and villages there are also small local museums where local history is displayed. There are countless semi-hidden spaces, nooks and crannies in the Alpujarra where tradition, customs and culture have been preserved; especially through the many local fairs and markets. Although this is one of the quieter corners of Spain, the towns of Alpujarra experience a significant increase in population during the summer months thanks to the number of visitors. This has contributed to the slow but steady development of a variety of resources and facilities to serve and entertain visitors to the region.

GEOLOGY:

The core of the Sierra Nevada is formed by Paleozoic rocks, mainly shale, with low hardness. Geologically, there are four zones:

• The central part, the area of the main elevations of Sierra Nevada, with the typical slate or metamorphic slates.

• Around the central part is another area of varied rock: quartz, garnet, amphibolite, serpentine, gneiss, marble, some quite metamorphosed volcanic rocks and formations of the Triassic phyllite "launa," rock used as a covering on many of the typical roofs in the area.

• The "outer" zone is formed by a belt of Dolomites and Triassic limestone, and as a more characteristic example we have the Trevenque peak (2,079 m.) And the Alayos de Dílar (1,982 m.)

• Finally, tertiary lands extend into the surrounding area: clayey and conglomerate extensions.

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