La Maroma covered in snow

The latest episode of meteorological instability has left the summit of La Maroma covered in snow

As we enter spring, it is normal to enjoy sunny days, sea breezes from the Mediterranean and sporadically some rain, but for more than ten days we have had squalls that have momentarily alleviated the situation of our countryside, so thirsty for water due to its characteristic tropical fruit trees.

Last Tuesday dawned La Maroma, with its 2,068 metres of altitude covered with snow from 1,700 metres above sea level, offering a more wintry picture than that of mid-April.

La Maroma is really called La Tejeda

There are several controversies surrounding this mountain, one of the most famous is its name, but also its altitude and its belonging to Malaga are very popular topics in the forums of the Axarquia.


The roof of Malaga is therefore not in the Sierra de las Nieves, but in La Maroma and the National Geographic Centre has ratified that it belongs to the province of Malaga.

maroma highest peak in malaga

La Maroma, at 2,068 metres above sea level, is the highest point in the province of Malaga. However, this imposing limestone mass, which rises grandiosely to form the natural border between the Axarquia and the Poniente region of Granada, is not officially called La Maroma, but rather La Tejeda.


The natives called 'La Maroma' to the colossal chasm or well from where the snow makers extracted the snow, located very close to the summit, using 'maromas' or ropes from the sea, coming from the nearby port of Caleta de Vélez.



The mountain was known by the name of the 'maromas' or thick ropes that were used to descend to the well and obtain the precious snow, which was used to store foodstuffs for a long time, until electricity was created and the use of refrigerators became widespread only 50 years ago.

Defining Maroma: the origin of its name

An inventory drawn up by the Regional Ministry of the Environment in 2008 contains historical references, such as that of Charles Edmond Boissier, after his botanical trip to southern Spain in 1935, in which he refers to the "prominent and unique Tejeda". Furthermore, in his book 'Historia de la revolución y Castigo de los Moriscos del reino de Granada', Luis del Mármol y Carvajal refers to the mountains of Bentomiz and Tejeda, and at no time does he mention a peak called Maroma.

tejeda mountains

Coastal mountain region:

The relief of the province of Malaga is very characteristic, as it combines in a very narrow strip of space a steep slope facing the Mediterranean coast. It is curious that some people even think that the most prominent peak in the province is El Torrecilla, located in the natural park of the Sierra de las Nieves and which is 1,919 metres high, mistakenly understanding that the peak of La Tejeda is within the province of Granada, when in any case it is part of Malaga, as it is within the natural park of the Sierras Tejeda, Almijara and Alhama, an area that is distributed between the two provinces, covering well over 42,000 hectares.

On the other hand, the National Geographic Institute has ratified, in its most recent synopsis of geodesic vertices, dated 1 December, that the one located on the Tejeda mountain is 2,068 metres high and is exactly in the municipality of Canillas de Aceituno, within the natural park.

Its peak is a dominating watchtower to the west with sensational panoramic views over both shores of the Mediterranean, where a stone monolith stands 4.2 metres high and one metre wide, which has been installed there since 20 October 1984.

Tejeda Spain:

The name La Tejeda is due to the several yew trees that once populated the sierra and of which today only a small yew tree remains in several areas, as it was completely deforested over the centuries that it was used as fuel for the sugar cane factories that ran on charcoal on the coast. The peak of La Tejeda is also called Mojón de los tres términos, as the municipalities of Alhama de Granada, and Canillas de Aceituno and Sedella in the province of Malaga meet at this point.

Secret in the mountains

Its natural wealth is unquestionable. The fauna is one of its main attractions, given that in recent years the groups of mountain goats have recovered in an extraordinary way and there are already around 2,000 specimens that are estimated to inhabit the Malaga slope alone.


Huge eagles, peregrine falcons, nightjars, wheatears and goshawks are just some of the birds that can be seen in these mountains. As far as the flora is concerned, there is a predominance of pine groves and various species such as the fan palm, the "cambrón", the "bayón", the "cenizo" and the "mostajo", as well as some holm oak forests.



La Maroma, or La Tejeda, is therefore a real screen against the cold winds that could blow into the valley of Vélez-Málaga and other nearby towns such as Algarrobo. The roof of the province has an incredible north face, located in the province of Granada, which is much less affected by the sun than the southern slope, and is home to sensational flora and fauna, as well as to crops typical of shady locations, such as those of the fertile fertile plain of Zafarraya.

Mountain scenery

Although the drought of recent years has meant that the image of the snow-capped peaks of Malaga is becoming less and less frequent, there are always several days throughout the year, mainly in January, February and March, when it is possible to enjoy this image from the coast of Malaga.

On the northern slope, which is accessed via the Boquete de Zafarraya, the snow is much more abundant. The rains of the last few days have not yet made it possible to enjoy the sight of La Tejeda or the snow-capped Maroma. We will have to continue to wait.

The picture, very exceptional for this time of the year, is also the first huge snowfall recorded in the region in the entire hydrological year, which began last October, and which was incredibly dry until mid-March.

Axarquia today: importance of this snow for avocados and mangoes

Apart from the rainfall, the reservoir of La Viñuela, which supplies the Axarquia, was only able to recover 4 hectometres in the last month, standing on Tuesday with 27.47 cubic hectometres, at 16.71% of its capacity, half of what it had just a year ago, when it stored 53.44 hectometres. Irrigators saw their allocation from the dam reduced from 2,000 to 1,500 cubic metres per hectare, when a year ago they received 3,000.

These snows will certainly give a boost to the subtropical crops in the southern part of the Maroma, but if it does not continue to rain, it will not be able to compensate for the dry winter we have experienced and avocado plants may be in danger.

The eastern region is awaiting the connection of two wells on the river Chíllar, in Nerja, which will provide some three cubic hectometres a year to supply the eastern region of La Axarquía, and the transfer of a similar amount from the larger town, which began last December. This week the transfer of water from La Concepción to the Axarquía to supply the people has also started.

The optimisation of the Churriana bypass will allow 100 litres per second to be diverted, although this has not prevented the outflow of water into the dam on the western Costa del Sol, which is full.