Matalascañas Explained

Matalascañas
Pushpin Map:Spain Andalusia
Pushpin Map Caption:Location in Andalusia
Pushpin Map1:Spain
Pushpin Map Caption1:Location in Spain
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name: Spain
Subdivision Type1:Autonomous community
Subdivision Type2:Province
Subdivision Name2:Huelva
Subdivision Type3:Comarca
Subdivision Name3:Huelva
Subdivision Type4:District
Subdivision Name4:Almonte
Coordinates:36.9933°N -6.5433°W
Elevation M:20
Population Total:785
Population As Of:2012
Population Demonym:Matalascañense/Almonteno(a)
Blank Name Sec1:Official language(s)
Timezone:CET
Utc Offset:+1
Timezone Dst:CEST
Utc Offset Dst:+2
Postal Code Type:Postal code
Postal Code:21760
Area Code Type:Dialing code
Area Code:959

Matalascañas (pronounced as /es/; local dialect: [matalaʰ'kaɲa]) is the name of a beach and resort within the Municipality of Almonte, Province of Huelva, in southern Spain. It is known for having an ancient upside down tower on the sandcalled Torre la Higuera, one of the seven defense towers built by Phillip II in the 16th century to protect the coast from incursions by Turkish and North African corsairs. This locale was still called by the tower's name until the 1970s. The Matalascañas coast line is surrounded by Doñana National Park (also called the Coto de Doñana), and was segregated from it in 1961 to allow the development of a beach-side tourist village. There were environmental protests about this development in the National park. Later, a proposed additional development at La Donana was stopped *. The beach itself is 7 kilometres long with an average width of 80 metres. You can walk unimpeded for several kilometres and even continue into the pristine beaches of Doñana National Park along the Gulf of Cádiz. The mild Mediterranean climate, fine golden sand of the beachfront, mobile dunes, and clean water attract tourists throughout the year; the summer nightlife is attractive to young people.

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