Sierra Nevada is a mountain range stretches from Granada to Almeria and is the second highest peak in Europe, the first is the Alps. There are twenty peaks (20) that range from 3,000 meters to 3,500 meters above sea level.
The two highest peaks have an altitude of 3,482 meters and 3,396 meters, the Mulhacen and Pico de Veleta respectively. The peaks could be seen even in Africa that is if the sky is clear. Sierra Nevada became a natural park in 1998.
The integral part of the range is the Cordillera Penebetica, it is a protected area which has 86,208 hectares of rivers, gorges, slopes, glacial lakes and snowy summits and in southern part of the range, Alpujarras, includes the plantation of almond trees and vegetables.
Sierra Nevada has iron mining at Alquife, it is integral for its economy and of Europe’s. Sierra Nevada is a source of agricultural products such as cereals, olives, grapes, almonds, walnuts and apples.
There are tons of activities here in Sierra Nevada to experience different from the usual beaches of the southern Spain. All year round you can go trekking, hiking, climbing and camping except for some parts of the ranges which have harsh weather and some snowfall during winter. Marvel at the parks diversity of vegetation and wildlife.
Two visitors’ centers are designated at the park for visitors to ask for information about the park. The park El Dornajo, you can ask where to stay, go horse back riding and paragliding and where you can rent a bicycle. They have shops that sell cheese, ham and wine and it is locally made. From this park you can see the view of Genil valley and Guenil Sierra. Laujar de Andarax center has displays of the geology, mining and history of the park.
In Monterrey you can go camping, it is on the foothills of Alpujarras. Camping Orgiva, is open all year round for campers, has bungalows, farmhouses and cabins for rent. Camping de la Alpujarra, has swimming pools and the highest camping site is Camping Trevelez which is only open from March to November.
If you are up for walks or there is the Vía Verde of the Sierra Nevada, used to be a railway but now it is a six (6) kilometers track for walking and a fifteen (15) kilometers for cycling, this is at Guejar-Sierra. There is the Sendero Siete Lagunas, an eight (8) kilometers walk to see the siete lagunas or the seven lakes. The seven lakes are in between the Mulhacen and Alcazaba and the walk starts in Trevelez.
Sierra Nevada is also known as the southern winter getaway in southern Spain, the World Alpine Ski Championships was held here in 1996, with an altitude of 3,500 meters above sea level. You can snowboard and ski during winter season, the village is with an altitude of 2,100 meters. Pradollano, is the resort which offers ski courses and it has chairlifts that can take you there. They also have night skiing but it depends also of the weather.
They have schools and certified instructors to teach you skiing or snowboarding. Snow rangers are also visible on the resort; it is for them to check the slopes before opening. There is also cross country skiing and trekking. The resort is only forty five minutes (45) away from Granada City. The skiing season depends on the snowfall, it starts by November to March and the peak season is December to February.
