The climate in the Axarquía-Costa del Sol is basically Mediterranean with mild winters and hot dry summers. At certain times of the year there is torrential rain coinciding with the equinox. The special climate of this eastern region of the Province of Malaga is due to its geographical situation, protected from the cold north winds by the Sierras de Alhama, Tejeda and Almijara. Its sub-tropical latitude is one of the main reasons why it enjoys 3.000 hours of sun a year. The temperature influence of the Mediterranean sea means that the temperatures do not vary very much, both the ambient temperatures and the sea water temperatures are pleasant all the year round. The Axarquía rises from sea level in the south, to heights of around 2.000 metres in the north. There are three different climates although there is not much difference between them. The coastal areas between Malaga and Nerja have an exceptional climate with average temperatures of between 10ºC in January and 25ºC in August. In the inland valleys the climate is slightly different. The winters are colder and the summers are hotter. The villages that are higher than 900 metres have cooler winters with temperatures around 10ºC or even a little lower and the summers are not as hot as on the coast.