Description:
The Natural Park of Sierra Nevada, in the southeast of the Iberian Peninsula, in Andalusia, extends to an area of 169.200 hectares and offers an unusual variety of landscapes and climates, from snow-capped peaks of more than 3000 meters to fertile valleys and plains with Mediterranean crops, which house the most important botanical diversity of Europe, a variety of biological species, 50 beautiful villages and a ski resort. In 1994-1995 a number of facilities as an infrastructure for public use were built in the park, such as the Refugio Postero Alto, the Refugio Hotel de Nevada, the Refugio del Ubeine, the Information Point Puerto de la Ragua and the Visitors Center del Dornajo. The fundamental characteristics of those facilities are their adaption to the environment, the use of local materials and the traditional architecture. The aim was to value the natural and architectural heritage of the park, the protection and improvement of the environment and the use of alternative energy.