Maspalomas Dunes, Nature reserve in Maspalomas, Gran Canaria, Spain.

Maspalomas Dunes is a 404-hectare nature reserve in San Bartolomé de Tirajana on Gran Canaria's south coast, protected since 1987. The sand was blown inland from the exposed marine shelf during the last ice age. The reserve includes a salt pan and a palm grove near the Maspalomas pond, where the Gran Canaria giant lizard (Gallotia stehlini) lives.

The dunes developed during the last ice age when winds carried sand from an exposed seafloor to Gran Canaria's southern coast. This natural process shaped the landscape over thousands of years into its current form.

The dunes were among the finalists in the 12 Treasures of Spain competition, a public vote on the country's most valued places. The Maspalomas lighthouse stands at the southern end of the reserve, and the adjoining beach and palm grove near the Maspalomas pond are where most visitors combine a walk on the sand with a swim.

Visitors can walk through the reserve on about 8 kilometers of marked paths equipped with information boards and protective barriers. Staying on these routes helps protect the fragile habitats and ensures a safe, enjoyable visit.

The dunes were among the contenders in the 12 Treasures of Spain competition, a nationwide vote for the country's most valued sites. The sand itself came from a marine shelf laid dry during the last ice age and blown ashore by the wind.