Basque Coast Geopark
The Earth, like the trunk of an old tree, preservers records of past events. Deciphering your way through the Earth’s history reading the landscapes, rocks and fossils is a fascinating adventure.
The Basque Coast Geopark, a treasure trove of different chapters in the history of the planet and human beings, and other natural and cultural features, takes us on an incredible journey of discovery, a fascinating journey through geological tie and our history.
New worlds are waiting to be discovered in the Basque Coast Geopark, starting with the Flysch and the Karst, followed by its culture and traditions.
What is a Geopark?
Geoparks are areas that are committed to a strategy for sustainable development based on their natural and cultural values. The Basque Coast Geopark, the first in the Basque Country and in the whole of Cantabria, was created to implement these ideas in the towns of Zumaia, Deba and Mutriku.
We, at the Basque Coast Geopark, are working to support and promote the natural environment, in particular our geological environment, but we are also working to promote the culture of our region. We want to preserve all this heritages as a legacy for future generation.
What is Geology Tourism?
The Basque Coast Geopark is a showcase to one of the most wonderful history books ever written.
The pages in our history book were fred under the sea and today, layer by layer form a continuous book of more than 13 kilometers of cliffs, where geologistas can study the records of more than 60milion consecutive years of the Earth’s history. The mass extinction of the dinosaurs at the end of the Cretaceous or the great global warming at the beginning of the Eocene are some of the critical events recorded in the written history in these rocks.
The Coastal Flysch route
After decades of scientific research the flysch on the Geopark Coast has been recognized by the International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS) and UNESCO as one of the planet’s great geological outcrops. We must also mention the spectacular process of erosion that gives rise to shoreline, where we witness a succession of excellent examples of cliffs, significant rock fall, shallow intertidal flats and beautiful sandy beaches to relax and from where we can enjoy the surroundings.
Visitors can enjoy a different selection of land and see tours, alowing them to discover a unique coast.
+ info about the Flysch and the Geopark
The Karst route
Walk through the hidden valley of Olatz, carve out by water erosion and flanked by towering limestone pyramids. Follow the surprising meander of the river and discover the main features created by Karst modeling. This is truly unique authentic landscape. During the walk you will see some exceptional Basque farmhouse, such as Goienetxe, where you will meet the flock and participate in some cheese-making, followed by a cheese tasting with a delicious glass of local txakoli win.
The Basque Coast Geopark stands out as a territory where visitors can enjoy a large number of exciting activities. Check all of them in their official website: Basque Coast Geopark - Flysch & Karst experience
Other interesting links about the Geotourism in the Basque Country
www.geozumaia.net
www.begi-bistan.com
www.algorri.eu
