Spain is a hugely popular destination with UK tourists, attracting over 17 million visitors from the British Isles last year.

With its mix of sun, beaches and iconic cities it is not hard to see why Spain ranks as one of the favourite European destinations for Brits.

Yet melting ice caps and rising sea levels due to global warming could soon have a profound impact and transform the country.

New forecasts from NASA predict that the sea level in Spain will rise by a whopping 49 centimetres on average by the beginning of the next century.

Some of the worst affected areas will be coastal resorts, where sea level rises will be above average.

Huelva will experience sea level rises of 69 centimetres by 2100, while in Tarifa there will be a 64 centimetre increase.

Meanwhile, Malaga can expect sea level rises measuring 61 centimetres by the turn of the next century

Even perhaps the most famous city in Spain will not be spared the consequences of a warming climate.

Barcelona is forecast to experience sea level rises of 13 centimetres by 2030, 43 centimetres by 2070 and 75 centimetres by 2100 if everything continues as at present.

By 2150 it will reach 126 centimetres.

The sea level projections are based on data collected by satellites and ground-based instruments, as well as computer analysis and simulations.

The threat from global warming is not just in the distant future. As summers get hotter and extreme heat becomes a more regular phenomenon, then tourist numbers are expected to plummet.

A 2023 study by the European Commission into the effects of rising temperatures found Spain to be one of the EU countries hardest hit.

According to the report’s estimates, in an extreme scenario with temperature gains of 4C, the Region of Murcia and the Balearic Islands would see inbound tourism fall by more than 5 percent over the year as a whole.

Spain experienced major heatwaves in 2022 resulting in a huge spike of deaths.

The record-breaking heatwaves caused more than 350 deaths from heatstroke and dehydration and were a decisive factor in a 20.5 percent increase in mortality, according to official data.