Points of interest:

Sierra Nevada constitutes an exceptional refuge for flora and fauna in the European continent due to its strategic location in the west of the Mediterranean, its isolation, the abruptness of the gradients and the variety of ecological microclimates spanning from Mediterranean (to 1,200m) to Alpine (above 2.600 m).

The habitat range covers exposed rocky summits, glacial lakes, sheer sided gorges, mixed oak woods, pine woods and fast rivers with wooded galleries.

This section of the Cordillera Penibética runs parallel to the Mediterranean sea for around 100km. The parks lowest edge begins at 400m with the highest peaks situated to the western part of the sierras. They are Mulhacén 3,482, Veleta 3,392 and Alcazaba 3,366 which are situated in a cluster. This mountain range is comparable with the Alps but positioned in a southerly part of Europe with more than 20 peaks over 3,000m. Mulhacén is the tallest summit in mainland Spain, the highest overall point being mount Teide in the Canary Islands.

Sierra Nevada and the Canary Islands have another similarity in that they carry the highest variety of vegetation in Spain. Sierra Nevada holds 2,100 species and subspecies of recorded flora, 116 of which are threatened and 66 endemic. This amounts to two thirds of the total list for Andalucia and a quarter of the plants listed in Spain.

This is Europe’s most southerly glacial landscape where lichens are the most common vegetation growing on the exposed, poor soils above 2,800m. These peaks were normally covered in snow for much of the year giving a huge temperature range from long frozen winters to Mediterranean summers. The last of the glaciers melted at the end of the 20th century but there are around 50 glacial tarns, the highest one being the Laguna de Altera, at 3,146 m.

In the Sierra Nevada summits (above 2,000 meters) there are pseudo-alpine, humid pastures which are covered in snow for a great part of the year. They represent one of the most fragile and exclusive ecosystems of the massif known as "borreguiles". They contain a great vegetal biodiversity and this is where most of the Nevada endemics can be found. The fragile balance is seriously threatened by the excessive grazing of livestock. These marshy grasslands and peat bogs are also altering with climate changes.

Flora:

Some of the endemic plants of the sierra are the Viola crassiuscula, Aquilegia vulgaris subsp. Nevadensis, Verbascum nevadense, Saxifraga nevadensis, Thymus serpylloides, Antirrhinum rupestre, Linaria glacialis, Biscutella glacialis and the carnivorous Pinguicula nevadensis to mention just a few. Most of the endemics are on the exposed mountain tops.

Narcissus nevadensis (also in nearby Sierra de Baza), Erigeron frigidus, Arenaria nevadensis, Erodium boissieri, Laserpitium longiradium, Trisetum antoni-josephii and Artemisia granatensis are not only endemic but also on the red list of endangered species.

The Iberian mountain pine and broadleaf mixed forests cover approximately 3,482 hectares in Sierra Nevada Park

On lower slopes are groves of oak trees dominated by the evergreen Holm oak (Quercus ilex) with Pyrenean oak (Q. pyrenaica) and Sweet chestnut (Castanea sativa) woodlands.

There are tracts of pine trees (Pinus sylvestris) combined with Savin and Common junipers (Juniperus sabina, J. communis).

Lower valleys have a deciduous mix of Gall oaks (Quercus faginea), Montpellier maple (Acer monspessulanum) and the native Maple (Acer granatense).

Shrubs on the lower open slopes are Prickly junipers (Juniperus oxycedrus), Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna), Lentisc (Pistacia lentiscus), Wild olive trees (Olea europaea sylvestris), Mediterranean daphne (Daphne gnidium), Spanish barberry (Berberis hispanica) and Butcher's broom (Ruscus aculeatus).

The river banks are clothed with Poplar (Populus alba), Alder (Alnus glutinosa), Willow (Salix atrocinerea), Ash (Fraxinus angustifolia) and Elm (Ulmus minor). The Genil river valley is noteworthy for Mediterranean orchids and linarias.

The oak, chestnut and pine forests give way to the rolling hills of land cultivated with almond trees, citrus groves and vineyards

Fauna:

The easiest of the mammals to spot is the numerous Spanish ibex. Other mammals which are nocturnal or secretive include Wild boar, Fox, Badger, Wild cat, Weasel, Beech marten, Genet, Garden dormice and Wood Mouse (Apodemus sylvaticus). This is the southern most situation for the Snow vole (Microtus nivalis).

The birdlife is varied with species inhabiting the high points being Alpine accentor, Red-billed chough, Northern wheatear, Black redstart, Rock thrush and Rock bunting with Ring ouzel occasionally seen.

Raptors include Golden, Booted and Bonelli's eagles, Peregrine, Kestrel, Sparrowhawk, Goshawk and Griffon vulture.

The areas of Junipers are frequented by Linnet, Black-eared wheatear, Thekla lark, Crested lark, Ortolan bunting with Red-legged partridge in the grassy areas.

Woodland areas contain birds such as Short-toed treecreeper, Iberian green woodpecker, Wood pigeon, Turtle dove, Coal tit, Great tit, Firecrest, Goldfinch, Jay, Hoopoe with Golden oriole, Wren and Daubenton's bat (Myotis daubentonii) plus a selection of warblers near the water courses.

The rivers contain trout and attract various amphibians and reptiles. The Betic midwife toad (Alytes dickhilleni) is on the Red List, marked as vulnerable. It is a species that is restricted to the mountains of southeastern Spain. Others include Common toad (Bufo bufo), Iberian green frog (Rana perezi), Spanish painted frog (Discoglossus jeanneae), Natterjack toad (Bufo calamita), Fire salamander (Salamandra salamandra), Ladder snake (Elaphe scalaris), Southern smooth snake (Coronella girondica), Horseshoe whip snake (Coluber hippocrepis), Ocellated lizard (Lacerta lepida nevadensis), Iberian wall lizard (Podarcis hispanica), Large psammodromus (Psammodromus algirus), Spiny-footed lizard (Acanthodactylus erythrurus) and Bedriaga’s skink (Chalcides bedriagai).

Sierra Nevada park has 120 butterfly species recorded with some endemic to the area such as the Nevada blue (Polyommatus/ Plebicula golgus) which flies above 2,400m altitude, Apollo (Parnassius apollo nevadensis), Heath fritillary (Mellicta athalia subsp nevadensis), Niobe fritillary (Fabriciana niobe altonevadensis), Idas blue (Lycaeides/Plebejus idas subsp nevadensis), Purple- shot copper (Lycaena alciphron granadensis), Safflower skipper (Pyrgus carthami nevadensis) and Dappled white (Euchloe tagis granadensis).

The Nevada grayling (Pseudochazara hippolyte) also occurs in nearby Sierra de los Filabres, Sierra Maria (Almeria) and Sierra de Espuña (Murcia).

There are some butterflies which occur in this park and also in the Pyrenees such as Spanish Brassy Ringlet (Erebia hispania) and Glandon blue (Agriades glandon).

The Sierra Nevada has 78 endemic vertebrate species mostly butterflies, beetles and grasshoppers such as the Eumigus rubioi.

Also in the area:

El Jardín Botánico de la Cortijuela is a botanic garden which covers 12.4 hectares and is run by a Junta de Andalucía, and the University of Granada. It is in the area of Trevenque and aims to protect, conserve, propagate and investigate plants within the sierra concentrating on the endemics. It is situated at an altitude of 1600 m.

Information/Visitors Centers:

In the western part of the park “El Dornajo” at Km 23 on the A395 road.

In the eastern part of the park “Láujar de Andarax” is on the C332 at Km 1.

Also in the east is the Puerto de la Ragua information point on the A337 at Km 11.6 by a picnic area of the same name.

In the Alpujarras there is an information point in Pampaneira village. Also Tourist offices in Granada and Almeria.