Due to its extraordinary geographical location, Algeciras is the most prominent coastal enclave along the Straits of Gibraltar.
Algeciras boasts 23 kilometres of coastline from the mouth of the Palmones River to the Tolmo inlet. A large part of this area suffers from severe atmospheric and marine pollution due to the bay’s industrial concentration, although an Industrial Waste Correction Plan was put in place in 1990.
In terms of the interior land mass, the most elevated point is found in the La Luna Mountain Range at an altitude of 788 m which later descends through hills and hillocks towards the Bay. With regard to its hydrographical network it is composed of the Miel River and the Marchenilla brook.
With geological constitution and evolution similar to that of the rest of Gibraltar, its structure is a consequence of the emergence of secondary and tertiary sedimentary rock, which were folded and later eroded during the Alpine Orogeny by river, wind and rain action. Its fundamental materials are limestone and sandstone.