Los Acantilados de Maro-Cerro Gordo, Paraje Natural where our naturist beach of Cantarriján is located, are located between the municipalities of Nerja, in Malaga, and Almuñécar, in the province of Granada. They form a large geographical strip that spans about twelve kilometers wide and penetrates a mile into the interior of the sea, entering the earth until delimited with the N-340 road. The entire area is declared as a Protected Special Area of Importance for the Mediterranean (ZEPIM).
It has enormous geological importance, and is formed by a succession of coves framed by steep cliffs, hills and even land grottoes (such as the caves of Nerja) and many others, underwater. The place holds a great environmental value, for its biodiversity, both on land and at sea. Dozens of animal and plant species, converge in this habitat in a unique way. Let's tell you about the main ones you'll find in this area.
The Flora of Cantarriján
Focusing on the surroundings of Cantarriján, we will make a delimitation of it, from the slope of Cerro de la Caleta to the west, to Cerro Gordo to the east, including the stream of Barranco Cantarrijan and access from the N340 to the north, where the vegetation is typically Mediterranean. As for trees, we can see:
Carrasco pines (Pinus halepensis ) and maritime pines (Pinus pinaster), covering almost the entire natural landscape, especially in the surroundings of Cantarriján, several centenary carob trees (Ceratonia siliqua), (one not very large we can find it down the path that goes to the beach, from the N-340, to the right just when taking the first curve) and olive trees (Olea Europa)
Numerous fruit trees, such as chirimoyo, the grain or the nispero, can also be found on the same descent path, and as a testimony of the agricultural settlements that abounded here, who have prospered naturally, without the hand of man.
As for the shrub flora, we can see abundance of Lentiscos (Pistacia lentiscus) a species that, not only has survived the fire that occurred a few years ago, but has repopulated the affected area quickly, and some palms (Chamaerops humilis) the only species of palm native to the Iberian Peninsula, dioecious species, that is, that there are specimens of male flowering and other female , the typical Chumberas (Opuntia ficus-indica). In the rocky area we can find, matagallo, splendour, rosemary and yellow asterisk and by the area of the stream, Jara blanca (Cistus albidus) and Junen de la miera (Juniperus oxycedrus), whose berries are used for the elaboration of gin.
Speaking of flora, it is important to know that we can find two endemic species in danger of extinction, such as the Siempreviva malagueña (Limonium malacitanum) and the white Rosemary (Rosmarinus tomentosus) and two from the western Mediterranean, the Balearic Boj (Balearic Buxus) and the Espino cambron (Maytenus senegalensis)
Under the Sea of Cantarriján we can also find flora, although not very abundant due to illegal trawling. They are three species of marine fanerogams present on the Andalusian coast: La Posidonia oceanica, Cymodocea nodosa, and Zoostera marina. The flowering plants are the plants, with stems, root and leaves, that bloom and are replenished by seeds, but these do so under the sea.
They are of particular importance, as they make up the habitat of other marine species.The Fauna of Cantarriján
A wide variety of fauna populates the surroundings of Cantarriján, much more than we can see with the naked eye. We will highlight here the most important ones.
Among the insects, the low butterfly stands out with two tails. It is endemic to the area and has bright and intense colors.
Undoubtedly, the king of reptiles in Cantarriján is the chameleon, jewel of this natural space, of African origin, and endangered species.
As for mammals, we find the ginette and the moruno hedgehog, difficult to see. The same is not true of squirrels, which can often be found climbing trees.
Although without a doubt, the species that we can see most in Cantarriján is the wild goat, which goes down from the mountains, sometimes finding them on the same path down to the beach and even, when the sun falls and the bathers begin to leave, in the eastern part of the beach.
Itinerant bird nestings are also known, such as patiamarillas gulls, azor, kestrels and pergerine falcons, as well as other species of gulls, terns, robins, common tarabillas, finches and warblers.
More diversity, if possible, we find under the sea. It shows the richness of the place, as the rocky bottoms, cliffs and underwater grottoes give rise to a variety of species not as obvious as terrestrial ones.
The meadows of fanerogams that we have already known, also serve as an ecosystem, as they are vital for the spawning and alloying of many species of fish that populate the seascape of Cantarriján.
Among the most identifiable invertebrates, we find the sponges, the orange coral (vulnerable to extinction), the anemones, the echinomms, molluscs and crustaceans very diverse, such as shrimp, centollo and lobster. We also easily find octopuses among the rocks and even in the sand of the shore. As for fish, the torillos and blénids, the brunette with serpentiform shapes and the grouper are abundant.
In deeper dives, we can find the moonfish (Mola mola) which is the heaviest bony fish in the world, with an average of 1000 kg of weight and with specimens exceeding 3 m in length.Occasionally, the common dolphin and the loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta) are seen when the waters of our nudist beach find calm tides and are deserted by bathers, creating for the privileged who contemplates it, a true visual and almost dreamlike spectacle, very much in line with the special magic and vital energy that Cantarriján possesses.