and Geognostical Constitution of Spain. 269 



nected in its longitudinal direction than the chain of the IVre- 

 nees. The eastern part of it, whose majestic pyramidic sum- 

 raits are seen from the high table land of Madrid, rises 7700 

 feet above the level of the sea. Another mountain chain ranges 

 between the Tagus and theGuadiana, under the names Monies 

 de Consueffra, Sierra de Vevenes, Montanas de Toledo, Sierra 

 de Guadelupe, and continues onwards to Portugal, A more 

 simple chain than this is the moderately high Sierra Morena, 

 which, beginning on the eastern boundary of Mancha, continues 

 onward between the Guadiana and the Guadalquiver. Its 

 northern foot is much higher than its southern. We rise gra- 

 dually to the road which leads from Madrid towards Andalusia 

 to a pass 2255 feet above the level of the sea. The acclivity is 

 steeper on the south side. 



The most southern chain of mountains, which, in its direc- 

 tion, corresponds to the south coast of Spain, or rather ranges 

 along in the direction of the coast, is distinguished by its form 

 and height. Both in its exterior and interior, it is more com- 

 plicated in its structure than the other Spanish ranges of moun- 

 tains, because there are in it many high ridges which run pa- 

 rallel, and thus longitudinal valleys are formed. This moun- 

 tain range has not an uninterrupted course ; on the con- 

 trary, the eastern part of it, whose principal mountain ridge 

 is named Sierra Nevada, is separated from the western, named 

 the Sierra de Ronda. The first, the Sierra Nevada, is par- 

 ticularly distinguished by its extent and height. Its principal 

 mountain ridge overtops the highest sumiTiits of the Pyre- 

 nees ; for, according to the measurements of Dom. Simon 

 Rojas Clementi, the highest summit, Cumbre de Mulhacen, is 

 11,105 feet above the level of the sea ; hence, notwithstandino- 

 its southern situation, it rises above the snow line, which there 

 attains a height of 8600 feet above the sea. The northern foot 

 of the Sierra Nevada is bounded partly by the table land of 

 Guadiz and Granada, of which the latter is 2000 feet above the 

 sea. The southern acclivity of the ridge which runs parallel 

 with the central chain, sinks, on the contrary, very rapidly into 

 the sea. Tiie most easterly of these is the Sierra de Aljamilla ; 

 then follows the Sierra de Gador, rich in ores ; and to these the 

 Contraviesa, the Sierra de Lujar, and the Sierra de las Alnii- 

 jaras. These ridges do not form an uninterrupted series ; or 



