Which mountain range in southern Spain is the highest on the Iberian Peninsula?

The mountain range in southern Spain that contains the highest peak on the Iberian Peninsula is the Sierra Nevada. Its summit, Mulhacén, rises to about 3,479 metres in Andalusia, making it higher than the Pyrenees' highest peak, Aneto.

Sierra Nevada forms part of the larger Baetic Cordillera and lies mainly in Granada and Almería provinces, close to the Mediterranean coast. Its name means “snowy mountain range,” a fitting description because its highest slopes can retain snow even though the surrounding region has a warm Mediterranean climate.

The range is also notable for its unusual combination of alpine terrain and southern-European plant life. Sierra Nevada National Park protects much of the massif and includes numerous peaks above 3,000 metres. A common mix-up is confusing the highest point of the Iberian Peninsula with Spain’s highest point overall: Teide, on Tenerife in the Canary Islands, is higher, but the Canaries are outside the Iberian Peninsula.