El Torcal de Antequera

Historia

El Torcal de Antequera is a nature reserve in the Sierra del Torcal mountain range located south of the city of Antequera, in the province of Málaga off the A45 road in Andalusia, Spain. It is known for its unusual landforms, and is one of the most impressive karst landscapes in Europe. The area was designated a Natural Site of National Interest in July 1929, and a Natural Park Reserve of about 17 square kilometres was created in October 1978.GeologyThe Sierra del Torcal is a small mountain range separating the cities of Antequera and Málaga. It has four geological sections: Sierra Pelada, Torcal Alto, Torcal Bajo and Tajos and Laderas. The highest point in El Torcal is Camorro de las Siete Mesas in the Torcal Alto.The Jurassic age limestone is about 150 million years old and was laid down in a marine corridor that extended from the Gulf of Cádiz to Alicante between the present Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea. These seabeds were uplifted to an elevation of over 1300 meters during the Tertiary era, resulting in a modest mountain range of flat-lying limestone, which is rare in Andalucia. Later, a series of fractures, cracks and faults at right-angles were exploited by erosion and produced the alleys between large blocks of limestone visible today. The blocks themselves have been subjected to both dissolution by water and freeze-thaw splitting action which, working on the limestone’s horizontal beds, resulted in the various shapes visible today, many of which resemble, and have been named after, everyday objects such as the Sphinx, the Jug, the Camel, the Screw, etc. Other flat surfaces have been karstified into rugged, rocky lands where travel on foot is difficult.

"El Paraje Natural Torcal de Antequera es un espacio natural protegido de gran valor paisajístico. Está abierto las 24 horas, pero hay restricción de acceso a vehículos en fin de semana y festivo.Por otro lado, en el Paraje Natural Torcal de Antequera se encuentran el Centro de Visitantes Torcal Alto y el Restaurante Torcal Alto, que abren todos los días de 10h a 17h horario de invierno o de 10h a 19h horario de verano. Aquí se ofrece información al visitante, visitas guiadas y otro tipo de servicios souvenirs, cafetería-restaurante, aseos públicos, etc..Más información: [email protected]"