Region: Andalucia
Province: Almeria
Declared a Natural Park: 1987
Park surface area: 46.000 hectares (34,000 terrestrial and 12,000 marine)Points of interest: An arid part of the Iberian Peninsular that is molded from volcanic rock giving rise to a demanding habitat for both plants and animals. Domed rock formations adorn the beaches and abrupt cliffs form tiny coves. The deficiencies in the soil have created an area of low growing, drought resistant vegetation.
This combination has lead to limited numbers of inhabitants who could survive off the salt works or fishing, allowing the area to remain relatively untouched.
The 300 hectares of salt pans are used by numerous species of birds resting on their migrational route as well the breeding and resident species. Flora:
Dwarf fan palm is well adapted to the harsh demands. Not only is the area arid but also the rock is of volcanic origin, creating jagged cliffs as it enters the sea. A pink flowered snap dragon (antirrhinum charidemi) is endemic to the park and dianthus (dianthus charidemi) can only found in a few localized area.Wild olive trees, Lentisc and Kermes oaks are common vegetation in the scrub zones. Saltwort, common reeds and glasswort grow in sandy, saline areas. Fauna:
Grey and Purple heron, Cranes, Storks, Black-winged stilts, Oystercatchers and Avocets can all be observed at the Salinas (salt flats separated from the sea by a sand bar), as well as thousands of Flamingos. There are many transitions as ducks over winter here while spring and autumn bring thousands of birds resting during migration.
Sea birds include yellow-legged gulls, razorbills, shags, Terns, Cory’s and Balearic shearwaters.
The rare Dupont's lark (Chersophilus duponti) lives on the steppe where there are also little bustards.
Italian wall lizards (Podarcis sicula) are the most unusual of the 15 or so reptiles. Others include ocellated lizards (Timon lepidus / Lacerta lepida), grass snakes (Natrix natrix) and Lataste's viper (Vipera latasti).
The marine reserve protects the Mediterranean moray (Muraena helena), garfish (Belone belone), cuttlefish (Sepia officinalis), and flying gurnard (Dactylopterus volitans) as well as a multitude of crustaceans, molluscs and fish. Also in the area:
Numerous archaeological remains from Paleolithic and Neolithic times are to be found in the park. San Miguel de Cabo de Gata contains interesting Roman and Arab archaeological sites. You can visit a cave called Cueva Ambrosio and the fort on top of the hill named Cerro de las Canteras. Also cave paintings can be seen in the Cueva de los Letreros near Velez-Blanco.
Information/Visitors Centers:
Los Amoladeras, between Retamar and San Miguel de Cabo de Gata on the AL822 at Km 7.
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