Corralejo: Dunes Made of Shells
Canary Islands, Spain
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Dunas de Corralejo
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250
XP
+100 Spain
= 350 total
1 day
Corralejo: Dunes Made of Shells
250 + 100 XP
The Corralejo dunes at the north end of Fuerteventura cover over 2,600 hectares and are the largest dune field in the Canaries, protected as a natural park since 1994. They are not made of eroded rock: the sand is organic, ground down from mollusc shells and the skeletons of other marine organisms, which is why it is so pale. A mobile dune field sits on top of fossil dunes probably of late Pleistocene age, and in places along the coast a fossil beach with marine remains in it comes to the surface.
Required Activities
1
of 5
Walk into the dune field away from the road and work out how far the mobile sand actually travels
2
of 5
Look closely at the sand and work out that it is ground shell rather than ground rock
3
of 5
Find the fossil dunes underneath the mobile field, probably late Pleistocene
4
of 5
Find the fossil beach that outcrops along the coast with marine remains still in it
5
of 5
Look across at Isla de Lobos and work out how the sand gets moved along this coast
Walk into the dune field away from the road and work out how far the mobile sand actually travels
Look closely at the sand and work out that it is ground shell rather than ground rock
Find the fossil dunes underneath the mobile field, probably late Pleistocene
Find the fossil beach that outcrops along the coast with marine remains still in it
Look across at Isla de Lobos and work out how the sand gets moved along this coast
Before you go
No shade or water in the dune field and the wind is constant. Stay off the fenced regeneration areas.
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About Canary Islands
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Challenge Location
XP Breakdown
Challenge XP
250 XP
Spain country bonus
+100 XP
Potential total
350 XP
Country bonus earned on completion of your first challenge in Spain.
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