Almadén de la Plata rock formations
In the heart of the Sierra Norte Nature Reserve you will find Almadén de la Plata, a small municipality with just over a thousand inhabitants that attracts the attention of lovers of geotourism in the province. Extraordinary geological footprints, together with numerous hiking trails, make this town an ideal destination for getaways and excursions.
Millions of years ago, the mountain range that we know today as Sierra Morena was subjected to significant volcanic activity. As a result of that process, all along the mountain range numerous outcrops of igneous intrusions appeared. These consist of rocks formed by the slow cooling of large masses of magma at a certain depth.
The one known as Berrocal Granite, to the southeast of Almadén, is an excellent example of the bovin weathering granite. This is the process that gave rise to a very characteristic landscape that can be visited in the estate that has the same name, public mountain location where there is a Visitor Centre in which you can appreciate the forest and natural wealth of the area.
There is an abundance of different animal species with special mention for the deer, making this area ideal for enjoying the rutting during the mating season.
The Visitor Centre has an unusual exhibit consisting of an example a fossilised trunk whose characteristics and exceptional state of conservation make it unique in Spain.
In El Berrocal there are also stunning features, such as El Chorro, a narrow rocky gorge through which the Arroyo de la Calzadilla flows. All along the route this three-kilometre route you can see beautiful little waterfalls in which huge bowls of stone remain embedded. A perfect place to stop and rest while listening to the water bubbling and the birds singing.
The Viar River, a tributary of the Guadalquivir that flows through several neighbouring towns, joins the spectacle of the stone with a deep fault, a trip back into its geological history that enables you to see ancient volcanic lava flowss.
