ALÁJAR

GeoTrail: "Los Molinos Trail"

Walk across the seabed of the ancient Rheic Ocean

As we walk along this trail, we will be captivated by the beauty of this magical path whilst discovering how geology has shaped a landscape of gentle hills and a dense network of rivers that has sustained ecosystems and cultures over the centuries.

In the GeoTrail of Los Molinos (Alájar) walking alongside the Rivera de Alájar to the viewpoint of the same name. On the way there, we will make a series of stops at rock outcrops that will help us understand the key events that took place in the region more than 300 million years ago.

GEOLOGY:

We will walk amongst ancient marine sediments and fragments of oceanic crust belonging to the vanished Rheic Ocean.
We will see for ourselves, the main outcrops along the trail, learning to recognise rock-forming minerals and the effects of metamorphism
We will provide a contextual framework for the rocks, understanding their geological significance as a stronghold and evidence of the Variscan collision that took place between Armorica and Avalonia.
We will examine how the geological record has shaped the present-day landscape (differential erosion, faults, etc.), enabling us to to broaden our perspective and re-evaluate our place in time and on Earth.