Snowy Mountains

Snowy Mountains
The Snowies
Mountain ranges surrounding Mount Kosciuszko.
Highest point
Peak	Mount Kosciuszko
Elevation	2,228 m (7,310 ft)
Coordinates	36°27′S 148°16′E / 36.450°S 148.267°E / -36.450; 148.267
Geography
Worldwind image of Snowy Mountains
Country	Australia
State	NSW
Range coordinates	36°30′S 148°20′E / 36.500°S 148.333°E / -36.500; 148.333
Parent range	Australian Alps

The Snowy Mountains, known informally as "The Snowies", is an IBRA subregion in southern New South Wales, Australia, and is the tallest mountain range in mainland Australia, being part of the continent's Great Dividing Range cordillera system. It makes up the northeastern half of the Australian Alps (the other half being the Victorian Alps) and contains Australia's five tallest peaks, all of which are above 2,100 m (6,890 ft), including the tallest Mount Kosciuszko, which reaches to a height of 2,228 m (7,310 ft) above sea level. The offshore Tasmanian highlands makes up the only other major alpine region present in the whole of Australia.

The Snowy Mountains experience large natural snowfalls for several months of the year; with significant accumulation during May, June, July, August, September and October with the snow cover usually melting by November (although it can occasionally persist through high summer and the next autumn). It is considered to be one of the centres of the Australian ski industry during the winter months, with all four snow resorts in New South Wales being located in the region.^[1] The range is host to the mountain plum-pine, a low-lying type of conifer.

The Alpine Way and Snowy Mountains Highway are the major roads through the Snowy Mountains region.