Veleta, Mountain summit in Sierra Nevada, Spain
Veleta is a mountain in the Sierra Nevada with an elevation of 3,396 meters (11,142 feet) and features Europe's highest paved road climbing from Granada through steep slopes. The IRAM telescope laboratory at 2,920 meters (9,580 feet) operates as a research station used by scientists from across Europe.
The mountain formed through geological processes that shaped the Sierra Nevada over millions of years and has been crossed by people throughout history. Arabic settlement and later Christian conquest defined the region's development for centuries.
The name comes from the Arabic word Balata, meaning cliff, reflecting centuries of Moorish presence in this mountain region. The place draws climbers and researchers who come to experience the extreme elevation and the surrounding landscape.
Access requires warm clothing and proper gear in winter, while summer visits can benefit from shuttle service to the mid-station. Visitors should start early and be prepared for rapid weather shifts that commonly occur at this elevation.
The mountain contained Europe's southernmost glacier until 1913 at 37 degrees North, which then vanished. The former glacier bed today shows how mountain climate has shifted over time.
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