GEOLOGY
The oldest exposed land on the Iberian Peninsula
The oldest exposed land on the Iberian Peninsula
Galicia (and part of northern Portugal) emerged more than 300 million years ago as a result of tectonic uplift (the Variscan Orogeny), while the rest of the Iberian Peninsula remained submerged. And it emerged right here. The best way to understand this is to visit the Courel Fold, especially the section at Campodola Leixazós, a geological site of international significance protected as a Natural Monument.
The Courel Mountains are recognized by UNESCO as a Global Geopark, underscoring the extraordinary importance of their geological heritage. Spanning 578 square kilometers, this area is a true geological wonder, and the key feature that sets this Geopark apart within the Global Network is the thread that connects humanity’s relationship with the Paleozoic era. Spain is the country with the second-highest number of Geoparks (18), and this is undoubtedly one you won’t want to miss. To make it easy for you, the three municipalities that make up the Geopark—Folgoso do Courel, Quiroga, and Ribas de Sil, all in the south of the province of Lugo—feature a comprehensive network of overlooks, trails, and museums.
Other types of erosion in later periods gradually shaped the rest of the landscape that visitors’ astonished eyes can behold today in these mountains of Ourense and Lugo. The famous Sil Canyon is one of its most spectacular sights.
The Sil Gorge is of tectonic-erosional origin and was formed about 60 million years ago by the uplift of the Alpine Orogeny. You’ll learn how, long ago, the Sil was not a tributary of the Miño but flowed directly into the sea; you’ll discover that there were fossil lagoons in the Sil Valley and see how erosion carved (and continues to carve) the mighty canyon we see today.