Cabo de Gata
The arid beauty of Cabo de Gata, in Almeria, has inspired works by Lorca and the spaghetti westerns of Sergio Leone – and has one of Spain’s least-developed coasts. Cabo de Gata Natural Park in the southeastern corner of Spain is Andalusia’s largest protected coastal area, a wild and isolated landscape. Spain’s southeast coast, where the park is situated, is a region in mainland Europe with a hot desert climate. The eponymous mountain range of the Sierra del Cabo de Gata, with its highest peak El Fraile, form a volcanic rock formation with sharp peaks and crags in red and ochre hues. It falls steeply to the Mediterranean Sea, creating jagged 100-metre (330 ft) high cliffs riven by gullies, creating hidden coves and white, sandy beaches. Offshore are numerous tiny rocky islands and extensive coral reefs teeming with marine life. Its climate is dry, with rainfall below 160 mm (6.3 in) a year and average yearly temperatures above 19C (66F). In 1997, it was designated as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.
Region: Andalucía
City: Carboneras
Distance: 33 km
Elevation Gain: 414 m
Elevation Loss: 446 m
Difficulty: 237 (Easy)
FIETS Index: 0.26 FIETS
Avg Grade: 1 %
Max cat climb: 3
Min elevation: 4 m
Max elevation: 261 m
Ride Category: Rollers