This protected space needs no introduction. These are some of the protection figures that safeguard that this idyllic natural landscape, and it can be preserved for future generations.
The extensive area of ​​26,000 hectares that includes the coast and mountains of Cabo de Gata and an enormous coastal strip of Níjar were declared a Natural Park on December 23, 1987.
In 1989, the territory of the Natural Park was expanded in 1994 with the inclusion of much of the municipality of Carboneras. Currently its extension is 38,000 land hectares, and 12,000 marine.
In 1995, the marine reserve of maritime-fishing interest was established on the outer waters of the Cabo de Gata-Níjar Natural Park, which was declared in 1987 with a marine part of one mile along the entire coastline.
The resulting marine space (12,012 ha), which includes six integral reserve areas (2,395 ha), forms a complex protected space with the largest protected waterfront in Spain (63 km).
In 1997, the Park was declared by UNESCO "Biosphere Reserve" , also obtaining the names of "Special Protection Area for Birds" (ZEPA), "RAMSA Zone", "Place of Community Interest" and, very recently , “Zone of Special Interest of the Mediterranean” (ZEPIM).
In 2006, the EU definitively approved the Places of Community Interest that become part of the Natura 2000 Network. The Cabo de Gata Park is one of the SCIs included and with all its extension with the following data: ES0000046 - Cabo de Gata-Níjar - 49,547.10 hectares
Being the most important fossil volcanic complex and the driest landscape of the Iberian peninsula in 2007, the Park was declared by UNESCO "UNESCO World Geopark".
More similar to North Africa, it is a unique site in Europe.
These characteristics make it a place with an extraordinary personality.