Traditionally, Pico de las Nieves has been considered the highest peak on the island of Gran Canaria; however, this is uncertain since Morro de la Agujereada stands at 1,956 metres (6,417 ft), which would make it higher than Pico de las Nieves.[2] The two mountains stand next to each other.
Gran Canaria has the highest elevation of the province of Las Palmas and the third highest in the Canary Islands. Of the other Canary Islands, only Tenerife and La Palma have higher peaks.
The name means 'peak of the snows' in Spanish and refers to the fact that several covered pits (neveras in Spanish) for holding snow were built directly into the mountainsides. (An alternative theory states that the name came about as the mountain had the highest frequency of snowfalls on the island.) The first of the neveras was constructed in 1694 by order of the Catholic Church. The snow was collected by laborers using wooden shovels and wicker baskets, making real mountains of snow. The snow was placed into the pits by the "paleros" in rows, and packed in rectangular boxes of wood or cork separated by layers of straw.
There were many blocks of ice, called "sabanada", which in June would be carried in panniers of straw covered with blankets to the ice cream shop in the Cathedral of Las Palmas (the capital of the island) on horseback, which took five or six hours. The snow was used for alleviating disease, to lower the temperature in the epidemics of yellow fever and cholera, as well as an anti-inflammatory and analgesic. It was also used for cooling water or beverages for the upper class. Water from the pools was used for irrigation purposes.
Sights
Most of the highest plateau is occupied by a military base, including a large ball-shaped radar. Civilian visitors are allowed to enter a platform somewhat below the base, from which half of the island as well as Tenerife's Pico del Teide is visible, in case of good weather. The most distinctive feature is the Roque Nublo monolith, the second highest peak of the island.
pico, nieves, second, highest, peak, island, gran, canaria, canary, islands, spain, height, metres, above, level, volcanic, origin, stratovolcano, slopes, canary, islands, pine, reintroduced, 1950s, citation, needed, highest, pointelevation1, prominence1, list. Pico de las Nieves is the second highest peak on the island of Gran Canaria Canary Islands Spain Its height is 1 949 metres 6 394 ft above sea level It is of volcanic origin stratovolcano On its slopes Canary Islands Pine was reintroduced in the 1950s citation needed Pico de las NievesHighest pointElevation1 949 m 6 394 ft 1 Prominence1 949 m 6 394 ft 1 ListingUltraCoordinates27 57 43 N 15 34 18 W 27 96194 N 15 57167 W 27 96194 15 57167 Coordinates 27 57 43 N 15 34 18 W 27 96194 N 15 57167 W 27 96194 15 57167 1 GeographyPico de las NievesLocation in the Canary Islands on the island of Gran CanariaLocationGran Canaria Canary Islands SpainGeologyMountain typeStratovolcanoTraditionally Pico de las Nieves has been considered the highest peak on the island of Gran Canaria however this is uncertain since Morro de la Agujereada stands at 1 956 metres 6 417 ft which would make it higher than Pico de las Nieves 2 The two mountains stand next to each other Gran Canaria has the highest elevation of the province of Las Palmas and the third highest in the Canary Islands Of the other Canary Islands only Tenerife and La Palma have higher peaks Name EditThis section does not cite any sources Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed September 2019 Learn how and when to remove this template message The name means peak of the snows in Spanish and refers to the fact that several covered pits neveras in Spanish for holding snow were built directly into the mountainsides An alternative theory states that the name came about as the mountain had the highest frequency of snowfalls on the island The first of the neveras was constructed in 1694 by order of the Catholic Church The snow was collected by laborers using wooden shovels and wicker baskets making real mountains of snow The snow was placed into the pits by the paleros in rows and packed in rectangular boxes of wood or cork separated by layers of straw There were many blocks of ice called sabanada which in June would be carried in panniers of straw covered with blankets to the ice cream shop in the Cathedral of Las Palmas the capital of the island on horseback which took five or six hours The snow was used for alleviating disease to lower the temperature in the epidemics of yellow fever and cholera as well as an anti inflammatory and analgesic It was also used for cooling water or beverages for the upper class Water from the pools was used for irrigation purposes Sights EditMost of the highest plateau is occupied by a military base including a large ball shaped radar Civilian visitors are allowed to enter a platform somewhat below the base from which half of the island as well as Tenerife s Pico del Teide is visible in case of good weather The most distinctive feature is the Roque Nublo monolith the second highest peak of the island The peak could be accessed by a car as there is a road used by the army The peak is located between the municipalities of Tejeda Vega de San Mateo and San Bartolome de Tirajana References Edit a b c Europe Atlantic Islands Ultra Prominences Peaklist org Retrieved 2011 12 18 La tecnologia destrona al Pico de las Nieves como techo de la isla This Canary Islands location article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Pico de las Nieves amp oldid 1041406246, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
