El Club · Lucainena de las Torres

The Sorbas Gypsum Karst is a 2,317.78-hectare natural area located in the municipality of Sorbas, Almería, known for being one of the most developed and significant gypsum karsts in the world. Its semi-desert landscape has been shaped by the millennia-long action of rainwater on the gypsum deposits of the Sorbas Depression, creating an underground network of more than 1,000 interconnected cavities, arranged across up to seven superimposed levels. This system includes surface sinkholes and a spectacular array of gypsum speleothems: stalactites, stalagmites, columns, corals, and gypsum balls, some of which are forms found exclusively in this karst. The Cueva del Agua, with a total length of 8,500 meters, is the most extensive cave in Andalusia and the largest gypsum cave in Spain. From the visitor point, one can see an arid landscape with sparse thyme vegetation, where the Aguas River cuts through the karst, forming deep canyons with vertical walls that are home to rock-dwelling plants. At the eastern end of the desert corridor, the Los Molinos springs of the Aguas River create a wetland of great ecological importance, unique in this arid environment. The fauna includes the leprous turtle and the Moorish tortoise—a species listed as endangered—as well as various bat species of Community interest. The area was designated a Natural Site in 1989, a Special Protection Area for Birds (SPA) in 2002, and a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) in 2016, becoming part of the Natura 2000 Network. It represents the finest example of gypsum karstification in Spain and one of the most significant worldwide, featuring unique surface landforms such as the tumuli. The best time to visit is during spring or fall, when temperatures are more moderate and the vegetation is at its most biologically active.

The Lucainena de las Torres Greenway is a 5.5-km linear nature trail that follows the old route of the iron mining railroad, built in the late 19th century and decommissioned in 1942, which connected the Lucainena mines with the Aguamarga loading dock in Cabo de Gata. The trail consists of compacted earth, with a 2-meter-wide paved section for cyclists and a 1-meter-wide gravel section for hikers, and is characterized by a gentle, steady descent from an elevation of 550 m at the station to 410 m at its end, with a cumulative elevation gain of 140 m for the round trip. The landscape is arid and evocative, dominated by the foothills of the Sierra de Alhamilla, dry ravines, and sparse vegetation that includes fig trees, oleanders, and almond trees on scattered plots, offering a transition between the Tabernero Desert and the barren mountains of the Almería interior. From the observation point, especially along the section between kilometers 3 and 4.8, the track becomes a panoramic overlook of the Lucainena ravine, where historic ruins can be seen, such as the watermill at Cortijo de las Tejas, the disused aqueduct, and the spectacular Molinillo Bridge, along with tunnels carved into the rock that bear witness to the railway engineering of the era. The route is suitable for everyone, including people with limited mobility, wheelchair users, and those with strollers, thanks to its low difficulty level and even surface. Its historical significance is remarkable, as it served as the transport route for the iron ore that drove the local economy for more than 60 years, and today it is designated as a “Natural Trail” within Andalusia’s Greenways network, with plans to extend it toward Aguamarga in the Cabo de Gata-Níjar Natural Park. The best time to visit is during spring (March through May) or fall (September through November), when temperatures are moderate and the vegetation is at its most vibrant, avoiding the intense summer heat. The route offers an immersive experience of Almería’s industrial history and semi-arid landscape, ideal for leisurely hikes, bike rides, or educational tours about mining and railroads in southern Spain.