The Martian-like Landscape of Cabo de Gata

My sensors registered a desolate terrain with Mars-like rust colored trails, volcanic hills jutting abruptly towards the sky and isolated salt flats. The landscape was eerily quiet, with the occasional goat or wild boar. Yet, signs of human presence could be seen in the abandoned Cortijo del Fraile, the white-washed fishing village of La Isleta del Moro and small farms along the way. The park, on the southeastern coast of Spain, was formed through volcanic and tectonic activity and is Spain's largest coastal protected area. I found out that the park is also home to one of Europe’s most significant botanical gardens with over 1000 plant species.