Veleta (Sierra Nevada)
| Veleta | |
|---|---|
 The summit of Veleta | |
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 3,394 m (11,135 ft),[1] 3396 m[2] or 3398 m.[3] |
| Geography | |
| Parent range | Sierra Nevada |
| Climbing | |
| Easiest route | From Granada |
Veleta ("Weather vane") or Pico del Veleta is the third highest peak of the Iberian peninsula and the second highest in the Sierra Nevada. Its height is given variously as 3,394 metres (11,135 ft),[1] 3,396 metres (11,142 ft)[2] and 3,398 metres (11,148 ft).[3]
The mountain can be seen from the city of Granada. Veleta's northern slopes are home to the Sierra Nevada Ski Station. The access road that takes one to approximately 10 metres below the summit is the highest paved road in Europe across the mountains from Granada to the western Alpujarras. This road was built after the creation of the Sierra Nevada National Park in 1999.,[4] the road has been closed to general traffic beyond Hoya de la Mora, just above the ski station. However, the road is still used by ski station employees, national park rangers, cyclists and walkers, and there is also a microbus service[5] that takes hikers up to Posiciones del Veleta, a viewpoint 3,100 metres above sea level. In summer it is a relatively easy walk up to the summit from there.
The Corral de la Veleta or Corral del Veleta glacier, at 37° N the southernmost glacier in Europe, disappeared in 1913.[6]
See also
References
- ^ a b Parque Nacional de Sierra Nevada (Map) (La Alpujarra Marquesado del Zenete ed.). 1:40000. Editorial Penibetica. declination 2005. ISBN 84-933461-9-5.
{{cite map}}: Check date values in:|year=(help) - ^ a b Sierra Nevada La Alpujarra (Map). 1:40000. Mapa Excursionista. Editorial Alpina. 2006-2007 (declination 1999). ISBN 84-8090-255-8.
{{cite map}}: Check date values in:|year=(help) - ^ a b Walmsley, Andy (2006). Walking in the Sierra Nevada (2nd ed.). Milnthorpe, Cumbria: Cicerone. p. 185. ISBN 1-85284-435-3.
- ^ Junta de Andalucia - Sierra Nevada
- ^ Microbus services in the Sierra Nevada
- ^ Veleta or Pico de Veleta - Iberianature
External links
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