The Penibaetic System (Spanish: Sistema PenibéticoorCordillera Penibética[1]) is the southernmost of the three systems of mountain ranges of the Baetic System in the southern Iberian Peninsula. It includes the highest point in the peninsula, 3,478 m high Mulhacén in the Sierra Nevada.[2]
| Penibaetic System | |
|---|---|
| Sistema Penibético | |
| |
| Highest point | |
| Peak | Mulhacén |
| Elevation | 3,479 m (11,414 ft) |
| Dimensions | |
| Length | 505 km (314 mi) ENE/WSW |
| Width | 63 km (39 mi) NNW/SSE |
| Geography | |
  Penibaetic System | |
| Country | Spain |
| Range coordinates | 37°5′0″N 3°4′0″W / 37.08333°N 3.06667°W / 37.08333; -3.06667 |
| Parent range | Baetic System |
| Geology | |
| Orogeny | Alpine orogeny |
| Age of rock | Cenozoic |
| Type of rock | Limestone |
The Penibaetic System runs along the south coast of Andalusia, from the province of Cádiz, across the province of Granada, into the Region of Murcia until reaching the Campo de Cartagena. Along its northern side, across the intermontane basins known as the Hoya de Baza and the Hoya de Guadix, runs the Subbaetic System.
The Intrabaetic Basin (Spanish: Surco Intrabético), a discontinuous series of valleys, separates the Cordillera Penibética from the Cordillera Subbética in the north.[3]
The main mountain ranges that make up the Penibaetic complex are, from west to east, the Serranía de Ronda, the Sierra de Grazalema, the Sierra de Tejeda, Sierra de Almijara,[4] the Sierra Nevada, the Sierra de la Contraviesa, the Sierra de Gádor, the Sierra de Baza, and the Sierra de los Filabres. The following list includes lesser ranges: