Desfiladero de los Gaitanes, Natural gorge in Malaga Province, Spain.
Desfiladero de los Gaitanes is a limestone canyon in Málaga Province where the Guadalhorce River winds through narrow, steep gorges. At some points the ravine narrows to less than 10 meters across, while the rock walls soar up to 400 meters high.
The gorge formed over millions of years as the river carved through soft limestone, creating this dramatic formation. In the 16th century the area served as a hideout for the Gaitanes, an infamous outlaw band.
The name comes from the Gaitanes, a band of outlaws from the 16th century who hid in these remote hills. Today, visitors passing through experience a landscape shaped by centuries of human stories and local legends.
The site is accessible on foot with hiking trails and viewpoints that run along the gorge. The best time to explore is in spring or autumn when temperatures are mild and the risk of flooding is low.
The sheer rock faces are nesting sites for bearded eagles, golden eagles, and peregrine falcons that circle overhead daily. Visitors can watch these raptors perform their flying maneuvers, especially from the higher viewpoints.
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