When we talk about the volcanoes From the Iberian Peninsula our minds escape to the island territories of Tenerife. But did you know that there is an area on the peninsula where we can travel more than 40 dormant volcanoesDespite being a small region full of volcanoes, La Garrotxa is relatively little known. Do you want to explore it with Fotogario?
It's true. Few people know that La Garrotxa It is one of the most impressive volcanic areas in Europe. More than 40 volcanoes are spread across a region of approximately 120 square kilometers. The first volcanoes emerged 700,000 years ago, although the youngest are no more than 14,000 years old. Their birth was the result of a period of easing tension between the African and European tectonic plates. But what does that mean?
When two tectonic plates collide, one of them rises above the other and forms mountain ranges such as the Pyrenees. After the collision, the plates usually separate with a rebound effect, causing a distension or rift. This is actually a valley, a kind of fissure in the Earth's crust (a fault) through which magma escapes.
In the case of La Garrotxa, after several measurements it is estimated that the lithosphere (the Earth's surface) has a thickness of only 15 km, when the continental average is usually about 120 km.
Such a thin plate is prone to gaps and fractures with every tectonic movement. This is why La Garrotxa is not only an area of volcanoes but also of frequent earthquakes. earthquakesBut don't worry, it seems we're talking about Mordor...nothing could be further from the truth. La Garrotxa is one of the best regions for hiking, cycling, and other sports. It's also one of the most fertile regions, rich in flora and fauna.
Saint Margaret It is the most famous and visited volcano in the region. And it is precisely because of the hermitage that we can find inside its crater. The volcano is completely covered in vegetation and at first glance is indistinguishable from a mountain. However, when we climb it and enter its interior, we realize that it is a circular mountain with a sunken peak... it is something curious that shocks our brain, until we understand that we are inside a dormant volcano.
In any case, if you want to climb Santa Margarita be prepared for a earring of those heart attack It seems we'll never reach the summit. Seeing a dirt trail more than 301 meters high and seemingly endlessly sloping upwards can discourage many, but it's worth the effort. Plus, if you do it early in the morning and during the low season (winter), I guarantee you'll be able to visit the volcano. COMPLETELY ALONEA luxury that few have had 😉
He Croscat It's another of those mythical volcanoes that we have to visit in La Garrotxa. And that's not even close to Santa Margarita. Quite the opposite, it has become a open-air museum dedicated to the over-exploitation and pollution to which we subject our environment.
In fact, it was the contamination of the aquifers near the Croscat that motivated its protection and the creation of the La Garrotxa Natural Park in the late 1970s.
Croscat and other volcanoes in the region were exploited to extract clay, the volcanic material known as lapilli. Lapilli was used as a component of various cement mixtures and other construction materials. The waste and debris were left in piles around volcanic quarries.
What no one initially thought was that the volcanic material was very brittle and extremely porous... in other words, any waste seeped into the volcanic rock, contaminating the area's aquifers. Little by little, the region's inhabitants became aware of how dangerous this was for the crops, animals, and humans who drew on these aquifers. And in the late 1970s, an "eco" movement demanded that both Croscat and the other volcanoes cease to be exploited and that the area be protected by creating a natural park.
The visit to the volcanoes can be complemented with tourism by small groups. charming townsVillages with medieval architecture, built on volcanic lava flows, and rich cuisine. The region leaves no one indifferent. Besalú, Sant Joan de les Fonts, Castellfullit de la Roca... there are many places to get lost or find yourself.
The region of La Garrotxa and its volcanoes have a lot to offer. The weekend I spent among its mounds was too short for me. I'm sure I'll be back soon to explore some of the volcanoes I haven't yet seen. For now, given the spectacular nature of the area, I'm content with being able to see the video that I recorded "from a bird's eye view" walking among volcanoes.
A hug, friends.
