Cabo de Gata-Nijar Biosphere Reserve

UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, inscribed 1997, in Spain. This biosphere reserve is located in the extreme south-east of the Iberian Peninsula, in the most arid part of Europe. It includes a marine zone to a depth of 60 m. Volcanic rocks characterise the landscape, and Mediterranean plant communities such as cornical (Periploca laevigata), tomillares in the Labiatae family, and halophytic matorral adapted to drought have high floristic diversity. These communities are considered a priority for conservation at European and Mediterranean levels.