Intercontinental Biosphere Reserve of the Mediterranean, Intercontinental biosphere reserve across Strait of Gibraltar, Spain and Morocco.
The Intercontinental Mediterranean Biosphere Reserve is a protected area spanning both sides of the Strait of Gibraltar, covering approximately 1 million hectares. The reserve connects coastal zones, mountain landscapes, forests, and marine environments between Spain and Morocco.
The reserve was established in 2008 as the first cross-border protected area linking European and African ecosystems. This creation marked a milestone in international cooperation for safeguarding shared natural spaces.
Local communities in Andalusia and Morocco's Tingitana Peninsula practice traditional farming and fishing within the reserve, ways of life passed down through generations. These activities shape how the land looks and how people interact with it daily.
The reserve can be accessed through multiple entry points in six provinces, with visitor centers providing information about conservation efforts. Planning ahead at these centers helps visitors understand the different sections and current conditions across the protected area.
The reserve forms where Atlantic and Mediterranean waters meet, creating special microclimates and rare species found nowhere else. This natural border zone between two ocean systems generates habitats that exist in no other location.
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