Vélez's district is located in the most northern end in the county of Almería, limiting to the northeast with the Murcia county and to the west with the county of Granada. It is formed of four municipalities; Chirivel, María, Vélez Blanco and Vélez Rubio that occupy approximately 115.000 hectares. Here we can find the biggest and most important Mediterranean forest in Almería. The territory is furrowed by a series of mountainous formations from east to west and intersected by sedimentary basins that form corridors like  Chirivel or  Vélez Rubio.

The climate of the region is Mediterranean, although the more continental of the Almeria mountains, the temperatures fluctuate between the -18º and 40º C, while the annual precipitations keep between the 353 and the 486 l/m² and they are distributed between autumn and winter.

© Photograph: Cinema Sur

Ecological value: The variety, extension and grade of conservation of the present ecosystems in the district favour the presence of a good number of birds.

Fauna diversity: 100 birds of the 524 birds that are describe on the publication Birds in Europe (Birdlife 2004) can be observed in the district.

Natural Protected Sites: Maria-Los Vélez Natural Park (declared SAC and Site of Community Interest).