The Barrancos de Gebas; Sierra Espuña

The lunar badlands of Gebas and the reservoir of Algeciras

The village of Gebas is located in the Sierra Espuña and is popular with daytrippers and walkers, due partly to the cooling pine forests which surround it, but also to the lunar landscapes of the Badlands, which are popular with those seeking spectacular views, as well as with walkers.

The lunar landscape of Gebas is unique within the Region of Murcia, with the undulating areas of cultivation and plunging chasms of light chalk creating a stark contrast of light and shade in the bright sunshine.

The ravine, the “Barranco de Gebas”, was declared a protected natural landscape in 1995. It consists of clay and marl which have been eroded by the action of water over millions of years, and there are also halomorphic soils which are the result of the salination of the bottom of the water channels.

The relief of this zone, which occupies an area of some 2,000 hectares between the mountains of Sierra Espuña, La Muela and El Cura, is characterized by gullies, ravines and canyons, which create what is popularly known as a moonscape. Vegetation is limited to grasses and populations of gypsum vegetation, and every year clumps of thero brachypodietea appear, but in general this is a harsh habitat for plant and animal life and the fauna consists only of a few rodents and other small mammals.

Apart from its unusual geomorphology, the area also includes the Algeciras reservoir (embalse de Algeciras), which supplies water to Gebas and various other local villages.

It's a unique and exciting landscape, providing a total contrast to the green of the Sierra Espuña above it, and is well worth visiting.

Useful numbers in Gebas

Hotel and Restaurant La Mariposa: 968 631 008.

Restaurante El Mirador de Gebas: 968 633 644.

Rural lodgings Las Golondrinas, three independent rural houses for rent: 968 636 205.

Rural lodgings Casa de las Palmeras: 968 639 330.

Rural lodgings El lebrillo y La Tinaja Tel 968 631 293.

Mirador de Gebas, the viewing platform

To see "the badlands" (as they are known locally) from above, the best spot to head for is the Mirador of Gebas, which is a viewing platform looking out over the spectacular landscape. To access the Mirador from Alhama (a distance of about 10 kilometers), drive past the few houses which constitute the village and at the far end of the built-up area village is a right hand turn on a bend, alongside the Restaurante Mirador de Gebas, signposted for the social centre and church.

After a short distance, there is a left fork which leads down towards the cemetery. There is a signpost from the road, but then the road forks and there are no signposts. The right hand fork leads to the cemetery, which also has good views, but the left hand option heads to the viewing point, which is a good kilometre further along the road.

There is plenty of parking, and a steepish little path down to the Mirador, so wear flat shoes if you´re intending to visit: this is not the best place to take those with limited mobility, although the views from the carpark are also quite impressive.

It's an astonishing sight. The sandy grey ravines of the barrancos stretch out towards the reservoir, where the startling jade waters of the Embalse de Algeciras stand out in the distance.

For those who enjoy walking and are quite fit, there is a 4km walk down from the viewing point and around the reservoir, but be warned: this is a steep route and although it is described as being of "medium difficulty" it is really only for those who don´t mind a lot of ups and downs, and certainly not for the faint-hearted!.

It is possible to drive down into the badlands by simply turning off the road leading to the viewing point, but this is real off-road driving and the road can be washed away by heavy rain, making it very unnerving. It should certainly not be attempted by any car without four wheel drive, or by cautious drivers!

For those wishing to explore the area in depth on eaccommodation option is the English-owned family-run Mariposa Hotel. From here there are well-priced quad tours down into the Barrancos and to the reservoir, and English-speaking guides can also be arranged for trips down into the badlands.

For more local information, including news and forthcoming events, visit the home page of Alhama Today.