The Cabo de Gata-Níjar Maritime-Terrestrial Natural Park is a Spanish protected natural area located in the province of Almería, Andalusia. It is the first maritime-terrestrial park in Andalusia, established on December 23, 1987, to conserve its natural ecosystems and scenic values, while also serving educational, cultural, scientific, tourism, recreational, and socioeconomic interests.
It is one of the Spanish natural areas with the greatest number of protected designations, both natural and cultural. These designations are based on its geological, ecological, historical, anthropological, and scenic richness.
It is the driest landscape in Europe and one of the few volcanic landscapes under protection. Its 63 km of coastline boast cliffs and seabeds considered among the highest quality on the Spanish Mediterranean coast.
The park's flora and fauna include a rich array of particularly interesting species, some of which are endemic or have a restricted geographic distribution to nearby areas, are threatened with extinction, are essential for the normal development of ecosystems, or constitute a significant economic resource.
The plant catalog comprises more than 1,000 terrestrial and up to 250 marine species, including some of paramount ecological importance such as Posidonia oceanica. As for the fauna, the park boasts an impressive diversity of terrestrial and marine invertebrates. Among the former are more than twenty endemic species, and among the latter, the vast majority of described taxonomic groups are represented.

The park's geographic location and climatic characteristics mean that marine species that normally inhabit both sides of the virtual boundary formed by ocean currents between Cabo de Gata and North Africa coexist in the protected marine zone, a situation unique to the planet.
Throughout history, humankind has left a rich legacy that allows us to chronologically trace how resources have been used, interacting with nature and shaping the landscape.
These activities, far from altering the environment, have actively contributed in some cases to the conservation and maintenance of ecological balance, with salt production being one of the few examples of harmony between industrial processes and environmental protection.
The social and economic development of the population is linked to environmental conservation, making it necessary to regulate activities carried out in the protected area.
The Cabo de Gata lighthouse and the Sirens' Reef are two of the most iconic landmarks of the province of Almería.