El Club · Lucainena de las Torres

The Karst of the Sorbas Gypsum Karst is a karst landscape of gypsum of great geomorphological interest, formed by the prolonged action of water on gypsum deposits. In this area more than 600 caves and numerous forms of subway and surface modeling have been described, such as dolines, canyons and geodes, associated with a very unique relief of the southeast of Almería. Although the name of the resource is associated with Lucainena de las Torres, official sources place the Paraje Natural Karst en Yesos de Sorbas in the municipality of Sorbas, in the province of Almería, within a sub-desert area of strong geological and biological value. Therefore, it is convenient to pay attention to the specific location provided to avoid confusion with other nearby enclaves or similar tourist denominations. What can be seen during the visit is a white and cut out territory, with cavities, galleries and gypsum outcrops where the crystalline formations and the contrast between the arid exterior and the subterranean world stand out. It is of special interest because of the rarity of the gypsum karst, considered one of the most remarkable examples of this type in Spain. Its environmental relevance is reinforced by its protection as a Natural Site since 1989 and by its subsequent declaration as a Natura 2000 Network area in the form of a ZEC. In addition, the sources describe it as an enclave of reference for speleology and landscape interpretation, with a very high scientific and informative value.

The Greenway of Lucainena de las Torres is an itinerary of active tourism and nature traced on the old platform of the mining railroad that linked the Sierra de Alhamilla with Agua Amarga. The section runs from the town of Lucainena de las Torres to the Puente del Saltador, in Rambla Honda, with a length of about 5 to 5.5 km in the most consolidated visitable route. The road surface is comfortable and the route is considered suitable for hikers and cyclists, with accessible use in a large part of its route. The route crosses an arid landscape, very representative of the southeast of Almería, in the foothills of Sierra Alhamilla, with wadis, gentle hills and Mediterranean vegetation adapted to the scarcity of water. Along the way we can recognize elements linked to the mining history and the rural landscape, such as the old station, the Medicinal Baths, the Noria del Saltador, remains of railway infrastructure, a tunnel excavated in the rock and the Molinillo bridge. Its main interest lies in the combination of industrial heritage and natural landscape, in addition to its function as a resource for local development and public use in the municipality. The sources consulted point out that it is part of the recovery project of the old mining route and that there is the aspiration to extend the itinerary to Agua Amarga, next to the Cabo de Gata-Níjar Natural Park. It is located in a village included among the "Most Beautiful Villages of Spain", which reinforces its tourist and patrimonial relevance.