Pico del Veleta
| Pico del Veleta | ||
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 Pico del Veleta from the north |
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| height | 3396 msnm | |
| location | Andalusia , Spain | |
| Mountains | Sierra Nevada | |
| Coordinates | 37 ° 3 '22 " N , 3 ° 21' 56" W | |
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| Normal way | from the north | |
The Pico del Veleta is at 3396 msnm the second highest mountain in the Sierra Nevada and the third highest in all of Spain .
Access
The highest road in Europe leading to the summit is a specialty . It is used as a challenge for cyclists and as a test track by car manufacturers. The likelihood of encountering Erlkönige on the pass is quite high. Shortly before the summit, a path branches off to the highest mountain in the Sierra Nevada, the Mulhacén ( 3482 m ).
The road to Pico del Veleta begins in the lower valley near the town of Cenes de la Vega . The administration and information center of the nature and national park is located at an altitude of around 1600 m. The road joins the "Sierra Nevada Ski Station" around 900 m higher. In 2550 m finally the road to motorized traffic is for a turnpike without special permission not passable. The highest hotel in Spain ( 2550 msnm ) is located at this height , souvenir shops and small snack shops are located in a parking lot below.
Cyclists are allowed to use the further street layout. In winter, the summit can also be reached by ski lifts, which also start from the ski station.
Below the summit there was the southernmost glacier in Europe, Corral de la Veleta, which disappeared in the middle of the 20th century .
Nearby is a radio telescope with a dish of 30 m diameter of the IRAM .
Flora and fauna
Information material about the flora (such as thistles) and the fauna (such as snakes) are available both in the National Park House and in a hut next to the barrier. Some areas of the mountain are designated as nature reserves and not accessible to tourists. Particularly impressive are the large herds of ibex ibex that inhabit the barren slate slopes from around 2900 meters above sea level and are in no way bothered by hikers and cyclists.
