The local branch of Podemos in Salobreña has tabled a motion to have the Tajo de los Vados declared a Monumento Natural de Andalucía.

Podemos did this in collaboration with the ecologist group, Guadalfeo-Ecologistas en Acción, as the canyon (which the N-323 runs through from the coast to Vélez de Benaudalla) ticks all the boxes required to qualify as such.

The Tajos los Vados, which straddle four municipal boundaries, amongst them Salobreña, fits the requirement, for example, that geological formations must possess, “notoria singularidad, rareza o belleza, que merecen ser objeto de una protección especial;” i.e., it must be singularly beautiful. The canyon can only be described as spectacular.

The motion, if approved, would mean that the Town Hall has to submit a technical report before the Delegación Provincial de Medio Ambiente, which is the first, crucial step in the process and will terminate, if successful, before the Environmental Depart of the Junta de Andalucía for final approval.

Party Spokeswoman, María Jesús Castaño, said that other requirements are that it has clear visible limits; be less than 10 hectares in area and has an important cultural and educational value.

Editorial comment: there is no doubt that the canyon is breathtaking as you stare up the sheer sides of the cliff walls. The only downside could be that present access is in someway limited to it by virtue of its new possible status.

(News: Salobreña, Costa Tropical, Granada, Andalucia – Photo of climbers: manawa)