In the mountain ranges to the south, there are great fogs known as the barbas del Levante (the beards of the east wind).

This assures a natural regeneration of the forest, a good mix of ages, and a high level of floral and animal biodiversity.

This is attested by the presence of archaeological remnants of settlements by Neanderthals dating back more than thirty thousand years, as well as stone implements, engravings, and cave paintings from both the Paleolithic and Neolithic ages.

Each has left its marks on the landscape; there are megalíthic monuments, Iberian, Phoenician, and Roman ruins, Arab strongholds, etc.

Many of the towns that today comprise the park reached their highest state of civilization during the Muslim Nasrid dynasty, when this area was on the western fringe of the Kingdom of Granada.

Today, in this area, many examples of the architecture introduced during the period of Muslim occupation survive; among them are the unique White Towns of Andalusia.

In 1924 the Cueva del Tajo de las Figuras was declared an Artistic Architectonic Monument by the Spanish state.

For several decades, in order that visitors might better able to discern the paintings on the wall, tour guides have repeatedly sprayed water on them.

To support local rice-growing, water from the lagoon and its associated fresh-water wetlands was diverted, and the area dried up almost completely.

Likewise, there is one town in Málaga province, Cortes de la Frontera, that has land within park boundaries.