Nature and Wildlife
The diversity of natural areas gives the Almería region a distinctive
character and special charm which draws tourist from many parts of the
world,
perhaps to visit the unspoilt beaches of Cabo de Gata-Nijar, go
trekking on the
Sierra Nevada
, or watch Spanish imperial eagles from the
rocky and rugged miradors.The wide range of nautral areas, each with
their own unique characteristics, is one of the main attractions of the
province of Almeria.
In addition to the extensive Natural Parks of Sierra Nevada, Cabo de Gata-Nijar and Sierra Maria-Los Vélez, there are also spectacular natural areas in Almeria's Alpujarra. Examples of these include the Sierra of Las Estancias, Gádor, and Los Filabres, which is considered the natural lung of Almería and contains the Astronomical Observatory of Calar Alto. The Peñón del Negro, The Arroyo Verruga Shelter, and the Mirador of Las Víboras offer great views of the pinewoods over which fly numerous of birds of prey like the impressive Spanish imperial and booted eagles.
Cabrera-Bédar stretches along the coast with its extensive woods of holm oaks, cork trees and pines, a habitat where visitors can spot one of the last remaining examples of an endangered species: the spur thighed tortoise. Bird lovers will undoubtedly enjoy the wetlands which are formed both by the estuary of the river Antas and the salt flats of Guardias Viejas.
Punta Entinas – Sabinal
Immediately to
the east of Almerimar is a 15 km strip of
protected coast, the wildlife area of Punta Entinas – Sabinal. The
1,960ha
natural area is made up of sand dunes, beach and the raised beach
of Los Alcores, immediately north
of Punta Entinas. The dunes are interspersed with a series of
freshwater and
saline lakes. Some of the latter lakes are abandoned salt pans, the
Cerrillos-Salinas Viejas.Declared a special protected zone for birds, more than 150 species have been recorded in this wetland part of the area, including waders, flamingos and the rare Audouin's gull. Even in the height of summer the beach is often deserted and its isolation makes it an ideal spot for birdwatching.
Parque Natural Cabo de Gata-Nijar
Around an hour’s
drive from Almerimar, to the east of Almeria,
is the large unspoilt area of Cabo de Gata. Declared a Biosphere
Reserve, the
Park's 38,000 hectares of land and 12,000 hectares of sea are one of
south-eastern Spain's
most valuable protected spaces. It covers a wide variety of habitats,
including
beaches, sand dunes, cliffs, salt pans and wet lands. The naturalist
can find
large numbers of birds, plants, lizards, as well as a wide variety of
marine
species. There are many trails for walkers, but even without venturing
far from
the car, a drive to the Cabo de Gata lighthouse is a dramatic
experience. On
the east facing coast a little further north, there are many quiet
beaches and
coves.
Paraje Natural Desierto de Tabernas
Sandwiched between the mountains of the Sierra Nevada, Gador, Filabres and Alhamilla is one of the most dramatic landscapes in Spain, the desolate Desierto (desert) de Tabernas.Film makers have long been attracted to its landscape, with its similar appearance to the North American Wild West, and so the desert has been the scene of many a spaghetti western. Visit Mini-Hollywood 7km south of Tabernas, where many westerns were filmed.Parque Nacional Sierra Nevada
The Sierra Nevada National
Park is an uninhabited rugged
wilderness with
snow on its peaks for most of the year. It also has Europe's
most southerly ski resort and has some superb climbing and
mountaineering
opportunities. There are over 20 peaks more than 3,000m, which makes it
the
second highest mountain range in Europe
after the Alps.
The two highest peaks in the Iberian Peninsula
are in
the park, the Mulhacén at 3,482m, closely followed by the Pico del
Veleta, at
3,396m. On a clear day these mountains can be seen from as far away as
Africa.In the west of the park is Solynieve, Europe's southernmost ski resort, where the ski season generally runs from November to April. Apart from skiers and snowboarders at the resort, the park is popular with hikers, climbers and birdwatchers. The ski slopes are approximately 2 hours from Almerimar.