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Pico de las Nieves
Highest point
Elevation	1,949 m (6,394 ft)
Prominence	1,949 m (6,394 ft)
Listing	Ultra
Coordinates	27°57′43″N 15°34′18″W / 27.96194°N 15.57167°W / 27.96194; -15.57167
Geography
Pico de las NievesLocation in the Canary Islands, on the island of Gran Canaria
Location	Gran Canaria, Canary Islands, Spain
Geology
Mountain type	Stratovolcano

Pico de las Nieves is the highest peak and a stratovolcano on the island of Gran Canaria, Canary Islands, Spain. Its height is 1,949 metres (6,394 ft) above sea level. On its slopes, Canary Islands Pine was reintroduced in the 1950s.

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. 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

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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.

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

1. ^ "Europe: Atlantic Islands - Ultra Prominences" Peaklist.org. Retrieved 2011-12-18.
2. La tecnología destrona al Pico de las Nieves como techo de la isla

v t e Gran Canaria
Category [REDACTED] Commons [REDACTED] Wikivoyage
Governance	Autonomous Community of the Canary Islands Province of Las Palmas Cabildo insular
Municipalities	Agaete Puerto de las Nieves Agüimes Artenara Arucas Firgas Gáldar Ingenio Mogán Arguineguín Puerto de Mogán Puerto Rico Moya Las Palmas San Agustin San Bartolomé de Tirajana Fataga Maspalomas Playa del Inglés Sonnenland San Fernando San Nicolás de Tolentino Sta. Brígida Sta. Lucía de Tirajana Vecindario Sta. María de Guía Tejeda Telde Teror Valleseco Valsequillo Vega de San Mateo
History	Pre-colonial Conquest of the Canary Islands Battle of Las Palmas Timeline of Las Palmas People from Gran Canaria
Nature	Birds Alvania grancanariensis Gran Canaria blue chaffinch Reptiles Gran Canaria giant lizard Gran Canaria skink Mammals Invertebrates Alvania grancanariensis Maspalomas bow-legged grasshopper
Landmarks and attractions	Ancient sites El Maipés Necropolis Four Doors cave site, Telde Painted Cave, Galdar Caves of Valeron Natural sites Bandama Caldera Fuente de los Azulejos Guayadeque ravine Pico de las Nieves Pilancones Roque Nublo General Jardín Botánico Canario Viera y Clavijo Palmitos Park Church of San Juan Bautista (Arucas) Las Palmas Cathedral Maspalomas Dunes Atlantic Center of Modern Art Museo Canario Elder Museum of Science and Technology Temisas Astronomical Observatory Yumbo Centrum
Transport	Air Gran Canaria Airport Public transport Autoridad Única del Transporte de Gran Canaria Global Guaguas Municipales Tren de Gran Canaria (planned) Roads GC1 GC2 GC31 GC4 GC5 Sea Puerto de la Luz Port of Las Nieves Trasmediterránea Fred Olsen Express
Sport	General Sportspeople CB Gran Canaria Gran Canaria FS Maspalomas FS Rally Islas Canarias BM Remudas Real Club Náutico de Gran Canaria Gran Canaria Maratón Football CD Arguineguín Castillo CF UD Gáldar AD Huracán UD Las Palmas UD Las Palmas Atlético UD Las Palmas C CD Maspalomas CF Panadería Pulido Real Sporting San José UD San Fernando UD Tamaraceite UD Telde UD Vecindario UD Villa de Santa Brígida UD Villa de Santa Brígida B CF Unión Viera Universidad de Las Palmas CF Venues Centro Insular de Deportes Estadio Insular Estadio Gran Canaria Estadio Municipal de Vecindario Gran Canaria Arena
Education and science	Hospital Insular Schools in Las Palmas University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria Maspalomas Station
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