Almería has a Mediterranean climate with warm temperatures, low and unpredictable rainfall, and abundant sunshine, making it suitable for certain types of agriculture. The terrain is varied, with deserts in some areas and forests and water in others. Traditional terraced farming structures called "balates" were built to retain rainfall, irrigate crops, and prevent soil erosion. Different sized plots were used to grow various crops, from vegetables for family use to larger orchards and greenhouse operations for commercial production. Over time, greenhouses were introduced and improved to allow year-round cultivation by controlling the climate, leading to intensive agriculture and the growth of the greenhouse industry in Almería.