Walking in

Cabo de Gata-Níjar Natural Park (36°47′00″N 02°06′00″W) is a natural park in southeastern Spain, near the city of Almería. It is the largest terrestrial-maritime reserve in the European Western Mediterranean Sea, covering 380 km2 of land and 120 km² of the sea. The park includes the mountain range of Sierra de Cabo de Gata, the highest peak of which is Pico del Fraile (493m). The geology is of volcanic origin and is centred around the Cabo de Gata headland. The climate here is semi-arid to the extent of being the driest location in Europe. In 1997 it was designated as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. In 2001 it was included among the Specially Protected Areas of Mediterranean Importance.

There are over 1,000 plants recorded in the reserve, some of which are endemic to the park, including the pink snapdragon (Antirrhinum charidemi), known to the locals as the Dragoncillo del Cabo. The majority of the species are adapted for the semi-arid conditions: the European fan palm (Chamaerops humilis), Europe's only native palm, supplements the meagre groundwater supplies with dew and airborne moisture. Iberia's largest population of jujube (Ziziphus zizyphus), a thorny shrub, populates the steppe. The scrubland is composed of olive trees (Olea europaea), mastic (Pistacia lentiscus), Kermes oaks (Quercus coccifera), esparto grass (Stipa tenacissima), thyme (Thymus) and rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis). Around the salt flats, which are the subject of this walk,  are colonies of saltworts, common reeds (Phragmites australis) and glasswort (Salicornia fruticosa). In the coastal waters are extensive beds of seagrass (Posidonia oceanica), which is endemic to the Mediterranean, and 260 species of seaweed.

There is a lot of fauna here too with over 1000 species recorded, the majority of which are birds. The EEC has designated the park a Special Protection Area for bird-life. The salt flats provide an important habitat for both the resident population as well as the thousands of migrating birds that stop on their journey between Europe and Africa. Species found around the salt flats include flamingos (Phoenicopterus roseus), grey heron (Ardea cinerea), purple heron (Ardea purpurea), storks, cranes, avocets, oystercatchers, plovers, and many other waders and ducks. Many species of lark live on the steppe, including the rare Dupont's lark (Chersophilus duponti) and there are also little bustards (Tetrax tetrax) and stone curlews (Burhinus oedicnemus). Sea birds include yellow-legged gulls (Larus michahellis), terns, razorbills (Alca torda), shags, the occasional puffin (Fratercula arctica) and Cory's (Calonectris diomedea) and Balearic shearwaters (Puffinus mauretanicus). The wealth of animal life provides prey for a number of raptors including ospreys (Pandion haliaetus), peregrine falcons (Falco peregrinus), kestrels (Falco tinnunculus) and eagles. Approximately 15 species of reptile are found in the park, including Italian wall lizards (Podarcis sicula), ocellated lizards (Timon lepidus), grass snakes (Natrix natrix) and Lataste's viper (Vipera latastei). Among the mammals in the park are common genets (Genetta genetta), wild boar (Sus scrofa), the garden dormouse (Eliomys quercinus) and the least weasel (Mustela nivalis).

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