How to get by car to Pico Veleta-IRAM Observatory in Andalusia?

Observatorio del Pico Veleta is a high mountain observatory at an elevation of 2.856m (9,370ft) above sea level, located in the region of Andalusia, in Spain. It’s one of the highest roads in Europe.

Observatorio del Pico Veleta-IRAM

 

Where is Pico Veleta-IRAM Observatory?

The observatory is located in the province of Granada, in the southern part of the country.

What’s Pico Veleta-IRAM Observatory?

The observatory is operated by the Institute for Radio Astronomy in the Millimeter Range (IRAM). The IRAM 30m telescope is one of today's largest and most sensitive millimeter telescopes.

Is the road to Pico Veleta-IRAM Observatory paved?

The road to the summit, located in the Sierra Nevada mountain range, is fully paved. It’s called Camino del Iram. Built in 1980, it’s usually closed to private vehicles. It’s one of the highest roads in the country.

How long is the road to Pico Veleta-IRAM Observatory?

Starting from Estación de esquí Sierra Nevada, the road is 2.4km (1.49 miles) long. Over this distance, the elevation gain is 197m and the average gradient is 8.20%.
Pic: Eduardo Sánchez

 

 

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