Sierra Nevada Georaphy & Climate

In recent years the farming and ranching has promotedtourism in Granada.The ski resort has gained great popularity and prestige.

The high number ofhours of sunshine and good temperatures, even in winter, have attracted fans ofwinter sports.

The southern slopes of Sierra Nevada,along with the valley and the Sierra Guadalfeo of Contraviesa form the regionof the Alpujarras, an area with scattered settlements and abundant features andproperty, is now protected as historical heritage (historic site of theAlpujarra) and is a major tourist development.

The traditional activity of the people livingaround the Sierra Nevada has historically beenagriculture and livestock. The abundance of water, especially in the westernpart of the massif, has facilities for traditional agriculture, which has evenbeen established in areas above 2,000 m in the south face (thanks to the kindof weather), though the mechanization was totally impossible because of thecomplicated topography. In the summer herders have historically used the“Borreguiles” as a grazing area.

The scale determines the altitudinal increase of heat as itrises, causing major thermal oscillations: Under Trevelez (1500 m) the averageannual temperature varies between 16° and 12° C from 1500 m; the Port Ragua(2000 m), between 8° and 12º C; between 4º and 8º C in the youth hostel (2000m) in Pradollano (2500 m); and from 3000 m is below 0º C.

The north side is cooler than the south side because of itsreduced exposure to sunlight and northern winds. The temperature is too low onthe winter nights, with an average of –10º C.

Climate

According to the list of national parks of the Ministry ofEnvironment of Spain, Sierra Nevada is the most representative of Mediterraneanecosystems of high mountains. Therefore, the most characteristic features ofthe climate of the Sierra Nevada can beidentified: their relative dryness (due to the west-east wind direction andprevailing winds from the west) and the intense sunlight of the Mediterraneanarea.

The conditions that determine the diverse climate inthe Sierra Nevada are important altitudinalrange, latitude, topography, and complex terrain.

Its position and presence in the southern zone of theMediterranean influence causes dryness in summer (May-October). Rainfall isminimal, while in winter the rainfall is almost exclusively in the form of snowfrom a certain altitude (approximately 2000 m).

The winds help to determine a maximum fall on the south side(southwest winds) and spring up on the northern slope, most influential in the North Atlantic (with winds of north and northwest).

This highlights the unique microclimate that is created ineach of the valleys, rivers, and ravines. In the aforementioned heat it playsan important role.