Can you see Morocco from Nerja? The myth, the photos and the views

It's a question that has been buzzing along the southern Spanish coast for years. Can you see Morocco from Nerja? Not as a metaphor, not as a feeling - but literally. With the naked eye.

Some people swear they do. Other people call it a mirage, or simply: wishful thinking. Time to find out. With photos, reactions, graphs and a panorama tool that looks up to 300 kilometers. Because sometimes the truth just lies on the horizon.

What do the people themselves say?

We asked the question in a local Facebook group. Within no time the responses poured in. Some down-to-earth, others almost poetic.

• "Yes you can, on a clear day you can see the silhouette." - Chloe
• "From Capistrano, when the sun is just setting, you can see dark mountains." - Yvonne
• "My grandmother used to say, in good weather you see Morocco." - Kim
• "I photographed it, every year from the same point." - Millow

Frigiliana was also mentioned as a place where in clear weather you can see a shadow in the distance. Others even saw lights on the other side. And that is remarkable, since the distance from Nerja to Morocco is about 130 to 180 kilometers.

And what does science say?

If you are at sea level, because of the curvature of the earth, you can only see about 5 kilometers far. So no, from the beach you can't see Africa.

But the higher you stand, the further you can see. And if you then also look at something that is itself high - like the Rif mountains in Morocco, which rise above 2,000 meters - a visual crossroads is created.

• In Cómpeta (about 700 meters altitude), the mountains are sometimes seen.
• There are also reports from Capistrano or Frigiliana.
• Pico del Cielo (1508 meters) is the highest point near Nerja.

According to some residents, on exceptionally clear days you can see the silhouette of the Rif Mountains there. Not the coast, but the peaks. And that matters.

The panorama generator does not lie

With a panorama tool we tested it. From a point at an altitude of 462 meters near Nerja, with a view of 300 kilometers, several mountain peaks in Morocco were made visible.

• Location: Nerja (36.78754, -3.87509)
• Viewpoint height: 462 meters
• Range: up to 300 km
• Visible peaks: Jebel el Kkra, Jebel Djenidoki, Jebel Afastal
• Farthest summit: 226 km

According to the simulator: yes, you can see the mountains of Africa. Not daily, but it is possible.

So, can you really see Morocco from Nerja?

• Not from the beach.
• Well from higher places like Cómpeta or Capistrano.
• Only on extremely clear days, often in winter.

What you see then is not a city or coastline, but a vague silhouette. A dark gray line above the sea, just visible, just tangible.

And those who have seen it once will not soon forget it.

Have you seen it?

Or do you have a photo you think: is this Morocco? Let us know. We'd love to add your experience to this story.

Because sometimes ... a horizon is more than a line.