Live 90 min. from Sierra Nevada´s ski slopes.

The 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 Tertiary Period (65 to 1.8 million years ago) from the collision of the African and Eurasian continental plates.

Geography

Central to the mountain range is a ridge running broadly west-south-west – east-north-east. For a substantial distance, the watershed stays consistently above 3000 m (9842 ft.).

On the southern side of the range, several long but 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.

Gallery

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  Sierra Nevada – view from Granada city

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  Alcazaba mountain

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  Landscape south of Pitres

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  Stone bridge over Rio Poqueira, Sierra Nevada

Las Alpujarras, Granada

Location of las Alpujarras in Andalusia

A typical Alpujarran village, Busquístar.

A street corner in Trevélez showing traditional architecture and door curtain

La Alpujarra (sometimes Las Alpujarras) is a landlocked historical region in Southern Spain, which stretches south from the Sierra Nevada mountains near Granada in the autonomous community of Andalusia. The western part of the region lies in the province of Granada and the eastern part in the province of Almería. In older sources the name is sometimes spelled Alpuxarras.

Geography

This mountainous region consists principally of valleys which descend at right angles from the ridges of the Sierra Nevada on the north, to the Sierras Almijara, Contraviesa and Gádor, which separate it from the Mediterranean Sea, to the south.

The region is one of great natural beauty. Because of a warm southerly climate combined with a reliable supply of water for irrigation from the rivers running off the Sierra Nevada, the valleys of the western Alpujarras are among the most fertile in Spain, though the steepness of the terrain means that they can only be cultivated in small fields, so that many modern agricultural techniques are impractical. They contain a rich abundance of fruit trees, especially grape vines, oranges, lemons, persimmons, figs and almonds. The eastern Alpujarra, in the province of Almería, is more arid, but still highly attractive.

The largest villages in the district are Lanjarón, with its ruined castle and chalybeate baths, Órgiva, Ugíjar, Laujar, Berja. All are situated at a considerable elevation, and Trevélez, whose main church is at 1,476 metres (4,843 ft) above sea level, is the highest recognised town in Spain. The three white villages in the gorge of the Rio Poqueira, Pampaneira, Bubión and Capileira, have become recognised tourist destinations; however, there are many other equally traditional villages of similar appearance, for example those in the La Taha municipality to the east of the Poqueira gorge. The steepness of the land means that the houses in the villages seem to be piled on top of another, and their characteristic flat roofs, distinctive roofed chimneys, and balconies (tináos) extending across the steep narrow streets give them a unique and picturesque appearance.

Among the agricultural specialities of the region is a variety of air-cured ham, especially associated with Trevélez. In general, however, the impossibility of mechanising agriculture in such a district means that it is not competitive under modern conditions, and the growth area of the economy is tourism. The district is served by bus services from Granada, and can be reached in a few hours from the international airport at Málaga. The GR 7 (E4) “Mediterranean Arc” European long-distance footpath passes through the region.

Chris Stewart’s best seller Driving Over Lemons is set in La Alpujarra. Gerald Brenan described his seven year stay in the region in the 1920s in South From Granada.

Axarquía, Málaga

La Maroma

La Maroma
View of la Maroma in the winter
Elevation	2,066 m (6,778 ft)
Location
La Maroma Axarquía,  Andalusia
Range	Cordillera Penibética
Coordinates	36°54′07″N 04°02′40″WCoordinates: 36°54′07″N 04°02′40″W
Climbing
Easiest route	From the Área Recreativa de El Alcázar, Alcaucín

La Maroma, also known as Tejeda,^[1] at 2066 m of altitude, is the highest peak of the Sierra Tejeda, Cordillera Penibética, Spain. The summit located in the region of Axarquía in the border of the provinces of Granada and Málaga.

The name La Maroma (“The Rope”) originated in a rope used to descend to an ancient ice house located close to the summit. This mountain is in the Sierra Tejeda, Almijara and Alhama Nature Reserve.^[2]

References

1. ^ Tejeda es el pico más alto de la provincia de Málaga
2. ^ Parque Natural de las Sierras de Tejeda, Almijara y Alhama

• Tejeda (La Maroma), 2.068 m

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