Master Index Nearest Caches
El Torcal (Earthcache) by Davy boy (1,5/1)
N36° 57.083 W4° 32.680 (WGS84) UTM 30S E 362469 N 4090594 Use waypoint: GC12DM6 Size:  Not chosen Hidden on 24-4-2007
In Nil, Spain Difficulty:  Terrain: 
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| This cache is set in El Torcal National park which has probably the most important limestone outcrops in Europe. |
El Torcal is a truly amazing place and whilst walking amongst the limestone outcrops you could be on the moon!!
The story of the strange rocks capes - the Sierra del Torcal - began two hundred million years ago when much of the world was ocean and, in this small corner of Spain, the landscape began to change. Violent movements in the earth's crust forced the seabed upwards into strange plate-like rock formation soaring 1,300 meters upwards. As winter followed winter, the wind and rain of centuries chiselled away at these glacial limestone cliffs, carving them into fabulous shapes, some resembling Gothic castles, other mythological beasts.
La Sierra del Torcal is the most geographically arresting of all Spain's national parks, containing within its 17 square kilometres some of the most stunning natural limestone formations in Europe. Dusted with snow in winter, the spring and autumn rains provoke an annual explosion of colourful plant life and the fertile clay soil is pinpointed with lilies, vivid red peonies and 30 varieties of orchid intertwined with hawthorn, ivy and wild pink and yellow rose bushes.
Eagles and griffin vultures circle above El Torcal´s fairytale pinnacles; badgers, polecats and weasels burrow in the undergrowth; lizards and snakes bask in the noonday sun on smooth slabs of rock stacked like dinner plates.
To log this Earthcache as a find post a picture of yourself and your gps at the posted coords and find the answers to these questions then mail me the answers.
- In geological terms what is this type of landscape called?
- There is something special about the roof of the new information center,what is it?
- From the information on your GPS unit, how high are you in meters?
- Which year was El Torcal made a national park?
