Group+C+(Sierra+Nevada)

The Sierra Nevada Mountain Range was declared a National Park in 1999. It straddles the border of Granada and Almería. These mountains are a large tourist attraction form many different reasons including its unique variety of animal and plant species and its variety of activities for people to do.

The mountains of the Sierra Nevada are actually just a continuation of the RIF Mountains in Morocco, and were formed by the collision of African and Eurasian tectonic plates in the Tertiary Period. The mountains themselves are made up mostly of metamorphic rocks, eg Gneiss, Micaschist, there are also mica-schists but there as well are extensive dolomite (limestone) ridges. Many of the rocks are mixed, due to the faulting and folding levels during the compression of the plates.



The fauna of the Sierra Nevadas are distinctive to the area. Because of its location, there are some species, such as the Spanish Ibex, that not only represent the area but also are found in very few other places. Ibex are similar to mountain goats and can climb cliffs that are almost vertical. Some other animals that can be found in the Sierra Nevadas are rabbits, foxes, wild cats, and birds of prey such as the Golden Eagle. Reptiles and amphibians are also quite abundant in the Sierra Nevadas. Some of them will sit out and sunbath on the rocks while others are a little more inconspicuous. Some of the different species are the Common Midwife Toad, and the Snub-nosed viper. Another group of animals that must be mentioned are the insects that inhabit the Sierra Nevadas. Because of the weather, most of them stay on the ground and don’t fly. Twenty of the species of butterflies that inhabit this national park are only found there. An example of these are the Sierra Nevada Blue Butterfly. A few other insects you can find here are caterpillars, dragonflies, and beetles.



 The flora of this area is just as interesting as the fauna. Because of climate changes that happened during the Ice Age, different species of plants took refuge in the mountains. Now there are 2,100 different kinds of plants that live in the Nevadas. This is more than live in a ll of the British Isles. Depending on the altitude, you will find different kinds of plants. For example at 700 meters and below, rosemary and juniper grow. 700-1,300 meters you will find plants such as fig and olive trees, and wild thyme and lavender. Higher than 1,900 meters you will find the hardy plants that can survive the harsh conditions such as Scots Pines and the Snow Star (which is only found in the Sierra Nevadas.). Other flowers that flourish at these high altitudes are the Sierra Nevada Violet and the Crocus Nudiflorus. 

Tourism in the Sierra Nevada includes a wide range of activities, accommodations and sightseeing, including skiing, snowboarding, sledding, hiking and more. The mountains offer the highest ski station in Spain, with 75 pistes some at over 2,500 meters. Skiing is available from mid November through late April, and the mountain provides you with all the necessary equipment needed to ski or snowboard. Within Pradollano (the main village in the mountains) you will find, restaurants, shops, hotels and resorts and holiday apartments. It is a short bus ride from Borreguiles where you many take ski lessons, rent equipment and pick up the main chair lift. Visitors also have many options of sightseeing while in the mountains, hiking, biking, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, ski touring, mountaineering, etc. These are available to people of all skill levels and provide a new exciting and fun way to tour these beautiful mountains.



Work Cited:

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Pictures:

Combat by Jeff Pang  Half Spring half winter by Jennie Palermo  Crocus Nudiflorus by Joan Simon Skiing by Jennie Palermo

Tasks

1) Special Characteristics of flora and fauna, limited and controlled economic activity, educational approach to organized tours.

2) Imperical Heron-- las tablas de Damiel Grizzly Bear-- Picos de Europa Osprey-- Picos de Europa Dolphin-- Doñana Deer-- Doñana Chamois-- Ordesa y Monte Perdido Iberian Lynx-- Doñana and the Sierra Nevadas Flamingos-- Doñana Bearded Vulture-- Ordesa y Monte Perdido Black Vulture-- Cabañeros

3) Flor de las Nieves-- Ordesa y Monte Perdido Taginaste Rojo-- Teide Abeto-Aigües Tortes y Lago San Mauricio Haya- Picos de Europa Alcornoque-Doñana Pino Canario-- Caldersa de Taburiente Vegetación palustre-- Tablas de Daimiel Lauisilva-- Garajonay

4)

Year 1918/1995-- Picos de Europa 1918-- Ordesa y Monte Perdido 1954-- Caldera de Taburiente 1954-- El Teide 1955-- Aigües Tortes y Largo de San Mauricio 1969-- Doñana 1973-- Las Tablas de Daimiel 1995-- Cabañeros 1999-- Sierra Nevada

Size 86.208-- Sierra Nevada 64.660-- Picos de Europa 54.252-- Doñana 39.687-- Cabañeros 22.396-- Aigües Tortes y Lago de San Mauricio 15.907-- Ordesa y Monte Perdido 13.571-- El Teide 4.690-- Caldera de Taburiente 1.812-- Las Tablas de Daimiel