CABO DE GATA; Cliffs of Andalusia
The Cabo de Gata-Níjar Natural Park is the first marine-terrestrial park in Andalusia, Spain.
It is a park of volcanic origin and the largest protected marine-terrestrial area of ecological relevance in the entire Western European Mediterranean.
With one of the most beautiful and ecologically rich coastal strips in the Western Mediterranean and an area of 38,000 hectares, plus a marine strip one mile wide (12,000 hectares), the Cabo de Gata Natural Park has become one of the natural gems for tourism in Almería, Andalusia, and all of Spain.
An incredible natural environment
It is a marvel to contemplate the union between the Cabo de Gata mountain range and the Mediterranean Sea, where coves are created in almost imperceptible corners along with cliffs with insurmountable slopes.
We are facing a coastal landscape in which abrupt cliffs stand out. This unique panoramic view shows us the reef of the Sirens, formed by volcanic rocks that protrude in a peculiar way, and the volcanic dome of Punta Baja.
This reef, which can be observed from the Sirens viewpoint, next to the Cabo de Gata light house, is one of the most emblematic and photographed views of the park. It is located at the exact geographical point of Cabo de Gata, there fore it is the eastern most part of southern Spain.
From the top of the viewpoint, you can observe the steep cliffs of the area and in the background, the water that surrounds the reef is like a crystal that allows us to observe the mosaic of the seabed coloring the sea with turquoise, green, and all shades of blue.
Curiosities of Cabo de Gata
Surely the place owes its name to the presence of monk seals that in habited this reef and that ancient sailors could confuse with sirens. Currently, there is no longer a presence of the semammals on the Cabo de Gata coast.
The formations of the reef that rise above the water level are ancient volcanic chimneys, and they owe their dark color to the material poured by them.
You can access the reef through a small descent and when you get there you will find a fantastic view. At the entrance, we find a stretch of rusty guides for boats and possibly unused, turning to the right and after over coming some medium-sized rock formations (we must wear appropriate foot wear) we arrive at a tiny cove with space for only 4 or 5 towels when the tide is low, when the tide rises the water practically floods the entire space.
In this small cove, we can enjoy the enveloping sensation of the rocky formations of the cliffs, the vision of the capricious shapes that stand out from the water, and the crystal-clear sea full of life, as we are in one of the favorite areas for divers to explore the seabed.
