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ABOUT THE ALMERIA PROVINCE

In the far southeastern corner of the Iberian peninsula is this sun-baked province, with the highest hours of sunshine and lowest rainfall in Europe. Given Almeria´s climate, it´s no surprise that much of the province is comprised of semi-arid desert-like landscape. Due to the dry weather, much of this area is a sparsely populated wilderness.

Almeria´s skies are also the clearest in Europe, meaning that Europe´s most powerful telescope has been installed here, near Gergal. With an annual average of 3,000 hours of sunshine, it is also home to Europe´s largest solar energy plant, the Solar Platform of Almeria (PSA), an EU solar energy research centre. Even if you´re not allowed in, you can peer over the wire fence and marvel at the rows of futuristic heliostats reflecting the sun´s rays into the towering solar oven and many other devices for turning the sun´s energy into electricity.

This hot climate and the natural protective barrier of the Sierra de Gádor also means that Almeria is one of the most productive agricultural zones in Europe, with more than 10,000ha of land cultivated commercially for fruit, vegetables and flowers. Although bringing new wealth to an area of Spain that used to be economically depressed, this intensive agriculture means that a good chunk of the coastal territory is under wraps, swathed in field after field of plastic greenhouses.

Fortunately, an equally sizeable area has so far escaped being swamped by invernaderos (greenhouses) by virtue of its protected status as one Andalucia´s most outstanding wildlife areas and its largest coastal reserve, the Cabo de Gata-Níjar Natural Park.

COSTA ALMERIA

The Costa Almeria is as varied as any of the Spanish Coasts. The coast is completely unspoilt. To the east of Almeria we find the rugged and desolate coast of the Cabo de Gata - Nijar natural park. This is an arid desert landscape and the annual rainfall here is less than 200mm. It is sparsely populated, few villages and a very low population density. Visitors feel a sense of exploration here as many of the coves can only be reached on foot. This area is particularly popular with nature lovers and back-packers. The most popular coastal village is San José.

West of Almeria is the highly developed tourist resorts of Roquetas de Mar and Aguadulce. These have all the facilities of any modern resort to support the package holiday market.

At the north of the Costa de Almeria is the naturist beaches of Vera, a number of new complexes are being constructed here. A little further south is Mojacar which successfully combines the popular beach holiday with the hillside white village that tourist love to explore.

Almeria City is worth a visit with the Alcazaba castle overlooking the metropolis.

To the west we find the developing complex of Almerimar with Marinas, golf, hotels and many other facilities.

The old fishing port town of Adra lies further west. In spite of the interesting castle and assorted archeological remains, it is often missed by tourists traveling along the coastal motorway to or from the Costa Tropical.