Baetic System facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Baetic System
Mulhacén seen from the Vereda de la Estrella in Sierra Nevada National Park
Highest point
Peak	Mulhacén
Elevation	3,478.6 m (11,413 ft)
Geography
Schematic representation of the Baetic System of mountain ranges
Country	Spain and little bit in Gibraltar (UK)
State/Province	mostly Andalusia, small parts in Murcia, Castile-La Mancha, Valencian Community and Gibraltar (only Rock)
Range coordinates	37°N 5°W / 37°N 5°W / 37; -5
Parent range	Gibraltar Arc
Geology
Orogeny	Alpine Orogeny

Sierra Crestellina, a beautiful mountain near Casares

Map showing the Baetic System in Andalusia

The impressive Tajos del Sabar, close to Alfarnate

The Baetic System (also called the Betic System) is a major group of mountain ranges in Spain. You can find it in the southern and eastern parts of the Iberian Peninsula. People sometimes call it the Baetic Mountains or Cordilleras Béticas in Spanish. Its name comes from an old Roman area called Baetica. This was a province in ancient Hispania (which is now Spain).

Where are the Baetic Mountains?

The Baetic System is made up of many mountain ranges. They stretch from western Andalusia all the way to the Region of Murcia. You can also find parts of them in southern Castile-La Mancha and the Land of Valencia.

To the north, the Baetic Ranges are separated from the Meseta Central and the Sierra Morena by the Guadalquivir river basin. The mountains generally run from southwest to northeast.

The most famous part of the Baetic System is the Sierra Nevada. Here you'll find Mulhacén, which is the highest mountain in mainland Spain. It's also the tallest peak in the whole Iberian Peninsula. The Rock of Gibraltar is also part of this mountain system.

How the Baetic Mountains Formed

The Baetic System is a geological feature that belongs to a larger mountain-building event. This event is called the Gibraltar Arc. It represents the western edge of the Alpine Orogeny, a huge process that created many mountain ranges around the world.

Scientists are still learning exactly how these mountains were formed. But we know that the Rif mountains in Morocco are connected to the Baetic System. The Serra de Tramuntana on the island of Majorca is also an extension of these mountains.

The Gibraltar Arc region follows the coast of Morocco. It then crosses the Strait of Gibraltar and continues east through Spain.

Plants and Animals of the Baetic System

The Baetic System is home to many different types of plants. These include Mediterranean forests, shrublands, oak woodlands, and coniferous forests. The types of plants change depending on the height of the land, the soil, and the shape of the ground.

This area, along with the Rif Mountains in Morocco, is a special place for nature. It's one of the ten biodiversity hotspots in the Mediterranean basin. This means it has a huge variety of plants and animals.

The Baetic mountains have many unique Mediterranean plants. Some of these are relict species. This means they are leftovers from ancient laurel forests that covered the area millions of years ago. Back then, the climate was much wetter.

Parts of the Baetic System

The Baetic System is divided into three main parts:

Penibaetic System

The Penibaetic System contains the highest point in the Iberian Peninsula, the 3,478-meter-high Mulhacén. This peak is located in the Sierra Nevada. Other important ranges and features in this system include:

Subbaetic System

The Subbaetic System is located in the middle of the Baetic System. Its highest point is the Peña de la Cruz in Sierra Arana, which is 2,027 meters high. Some of the ranges here are:

Prebaetic System

The Prebaetic System is the northernmost part of the entire Baetic System. Its highest point is La Sagra, which is 2,382 meters high. This system includes ranges like:

See also

In Spanish: Cordilleras Béticas para niños

• Geography of Spain
• Geology of the Iberian Peninsula
• Baetic Depression
• Tabernas Desert