Las Alpujarras & The Sierra Nevada

Sierra Nevada represents the highest massif in Europe after the Alps, with Mulhacen at 3482m is the highest peak in the Iberian peninsular. The highest peaks can remain snow capped for the much of the year which is unusual seeing as its only 33km from the Mediterranean coast.  The Sierra Nevada, designated Andalucia's second national park in 1999 after Donana. Extends over a range of 2000km2, through the regions of Granada and Almeria.

The climate is classified as Mediterranean, due to a dry period of about two months during the summer but also due to the gain in altitude and the southerly and northerly aspects several mico-climates can be found in the region. These micro climates coupled with altitude and the complex geological history lead to the formation of many different ecosystems and wildlife habitats. 

The habitats found in this diverse region range from sub-desert, flower rich meadows, riverine systems and grazed pastures, oak woodland, pine woodland leading to cold deserts of sub-tundra and alpine like plateaus.  

The stunning botanical biodiversity of the Sierra Nevada which boasts over 2000 species of plant of which over 80 are exlcusive endemic species and over 300 endemic to the Iberian peninsular. Further to this the Sierra Nevada has over 100 endemic species of fauna. Moreover, the isolation of surrounding ecosystems there are undoubtley more species yet to be discovered.

Specialites of the area include :-

Mammals	Birds	Reptiles	Butterlifes	Flowers
Spanish Ibex	Golden Eagle	Spiny-footed Lizard	Apollo(Nevadensis)	Sierra Nevada Gentian
Beech Martin	Bonellis' Eagle	Large Psammodromus	Swallowtail(also Scarce)	Spanish Foxglove
Common Genet	Golden Oriole	Oscellated Lizard	Black-veined White	Star of the Snow
Boar	Alpine Ascentor	Worm Lizard	Desert Orange-tip
Blind Mole	Red-billed Chough	Lataste's Viper	Black Satyr
White-toothed Shrew	Crested Tit	Montpellier Snake	Giant Peacock Moth