Which desert lies in Spain's Almeria province?

The desert that lies in Spain’s Almeria province is the Tabernas Desert.

It occupies about 280 square kilometres in southeastern Spain, roughly 30 kilometres north of the provincial capital, Almería. The landscape is characterized by dry ravines, eroded hills, sparse vegetation and badlands. Its location in an interior basin, surrounded by mountains, creates an especially arid local climate despite the region’s Mediterranean setting.

Tabernas is famous beyond geography because its rugged scenery became a major filming location. European productions used it for westerns, including films associated with Sergio Leone, earning the area the nickname “the Hollywood of the West.” Film sets such as Fort Bravo and Mini Hollywood remain tourist attractions.

A common mix-up is to call it Spain’s only desert without qualification. It is often described as Europe’s only desert because much of the area has a true desert climate, although other European regions contain semi-desert landscapes. The desert is also a protected nature reserve, helping preserve its unusual geology and wildlife.