The Ciudad Encantada: A Cretaceous Seabed, Weathered
Castilla-La Mancha, Spain
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Ciudad Encantada
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250
XP
+100 Spain
= 350 total
1 day
The Ciudad Encantada: A Cretaceous Seabed, Weathered
250 + 100 XP
Ninety million years ago this was the floor of the Tethys sea. The alpine orogeny at the end of the Cretaceous lifted it out of the water, and karst weathering since has cut the limestone into freestanding blocks, mushrooms, corridors and arches at 1,500 metres among pine forest near Valdecabras. It was declared a Natural Site of National Interest on 11 June 1929 and now sits inside the Serranía de Cuenca natural park. The land is private and there is a modest entry charge, which is worth knowing before you drive out.
Required Activities
1
of 5
Walk the circuit and work out that every shape in it was cut by water out of a seabed
2
of 5
Work out the sequence: Tethys seafloor 90 million years ago, lifted by the alpine orogeny, then karst weathering ever since
3
of 5
Find the fossils in the rock, which are the direct evidence of what this was
4
of 5
Work out why it was protected as early as 11 June 1929, which is very early for a Spanish natural site
5
of 5
Go on into the wider Serranía de Cuenca and find the Ventano del Diablo over the Júcar gorge
Walk the circuit and work out that every shape in it was cut by water out of a seabed
Work out the sequence: Tethys seafloor 90 million years ago, lifted by the alpine orogeny, then karst weathering ever since
Find the fossils in the rock, which are the direct evidence of what this was
Work out why it was protected as early as 11 June 1929, which is very early for a Spanish natural site
Go on into the wider Serranía de Cuenca and find the Ventano del Diablo over the Júcar gorge
Before you go
The site is on private land with a paid entry. At 1,500m it is cold and can hold snow in winter.
Finding nearby campsites...
About Castilla-La Mancha
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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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