La Peña Amaya – La Muela (The Molar Tooth) EarthCache
La Peña Amaya – La Muela (The Molar Tooth)
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Difficulty:
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La Peña Amaya is a huge piece of limestone rock. One of the upper
peaks strongly resembles a Molar Tooth as its name La Muela (The
Molar) suggests.
La Peña Amaya sits just behind (and completely dwarfs) the small
village of Amaya in Castilla y Leon, Spain. It’s possible to drive
up to a car park that is near the top or the rock (which can be
found at N42 39.035 W004 10.780), and then hike around the upper
part of the rock. The views from the top are spectacular and you
can see all around for tens of miles across the plains that are
predominantly used for farming.
The top of La Peña Amaya is split into two separate peaks known as
El Castillo (The Castle) and La Muela (The Molar – as in a tooth).
Climbing El Castillo does not need specialist climbing equipment if
the weather is good – but you should certainly plan to take wet
weather gear, warm clothing as well as food and drink.
The limestone rocks that make this geological structure are from
the Mesozoic Era (Jurassic and Cretaceous periods). To give some
understanding of what this means, the Mesozoic era lasted
approximately 180 million years. Starting around 251 million years
ago (Mya) and finishing when the Cenozoic era began 65 Mya. The
Mesozoic era is split up into three geologic periods. These being:
. The Triassic Period which started 251.0 Mya and finished 199.6
Mya
. The Jurassic Period which started 199.6 Mya and finished 145.5
Mya
. The Cretaceous Period which started 145.5 Mya and finished 65.5
Mya
From this, it can bee seen the rocks making up La Peña Amaya are
between 199.6 Million Years Old and 65.5 Million Years Old. These
rocks were created in the continental platforms of Cretaceous
Oceans.
The structure of the Peña Amaya consists of a set of parallel folds
that are on a NW-SE axis. They have eroded such that the present
day shape is directly related to the hardness of the rocks
materials. The higher parts of La Peña Amaya (the Moors) are made
up of harder limestone rock, while the lower, softer layers of rock
have been shaped by river erosion. This has resulted in a series of
horizontal platforms, all aligned in parallel. These platforms
alternate with sunken valleys made of the same material. A complex
web of geological faults affects the whole structure and mark its
boundaries, especially on the SW edge. The local Spanish name for
these rock structures is "loras".
To hike to the correct location:
Assuming you start at the Car Park (N42 39.035 W004 10.780), hike
upwards. When you see El Castillo in front of you (you can’t miss
it, it’s the tallest piece of limestone in front of you), you can
hike either side of it. You will (after a while) get to a gap,
between El Castillo and La Muela. Hike up to this point. Look for
the Cave at (N42 39.124 W004 09.915) which is possible to enter if
you wish. Assuming you are leaving the cave, you will pretty much
be forced to go out to your left. You will then see a path go
upwards fairly soon after you exit the cave. Take this path and
hike to the viewpoint of (N42 39.105
W004 10.054) from where you can log this cache.
To log this cache (in English),
please do the following:
(1) - From the Viewpoint (N42
39.105 W004 10.054), please take a picture of La Muela (The Molar
Tooth) with your GPS in the shot (see my sample picture for what
you should expect to see)
(2) – Measure the height above sea-level that you are standing
using your GPS
(3) Describe the terrain at the top of El Castillo (where you are
standing), for example, is it sandy/rocky/grassy/lots of trees and
plants growing there?
Please send me the details to answers (2) and (3) before you log
the cache, but do not mention the answers in your log. Don’t forget
to post your photo with your log.
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En Español
Camina al mirador en (N42 39.105
W004 10.054) desde donde podrás completar el log de este
cache
Para crear el log de este cache necesitas hacer lo
siguiente:
(1) – Desde el mirador haz una foto de La Muela con tu GPS en la
foto (mira mi foto como ejemplo de lo que puedes ver)
(2) – Registra la altura sobre el nivel del mar del punto en el
que te encuentras, según tu GPS
(3) – Describe el terreno en lo alto de El Castillo (donde estás
en el mirador), por ejemplo, es arenoso/rocoso/hay hierba/hay
muchos árboles u otra vegetación que crece alrededor?
A small part of La Peña Amaya behind the village of Amaya
La Muela (The Molar Tooth) - La Peña Amaya
A little non-geological history:- The steep walls of La Peña Amaya
have made it a natural hill fort, and it has been used for this
purpose since the Bronze Age and remained impregnable until the
Romans under the Emperor Caesar Augustus attacked it with 7 legions
of men (70,000 men). The Romans and then the Visigoths enhanced the
fortifications. In the 9th Century the rock was again reconquered
and further fortified. These fortifications were so good, that the
rock was never reconquered, despite numerous attacks from the Arabs
who attacked using 1000s of men on horseback. By the 17th Century,
the Castle was no longer required for defense and was abandoned. By
the 20th Century is had become little more than a pile of stones.
The foundations of the village protected by this castle are easy to
see from the top of El Castillo. The rock of La Peña Amaya is so
huge, that we kept a watch as we drove away, and it was still
clearly visible 59Km away (as the Crow flies).Optional Extras:
Whilst you are up El Castillo, don’t forget walk around and look
down for the foundations of the old village that are on the lower
expanse of the rock below you (but still higher than the car park).
There are also great views of Amaya Village and the surrounding
plains. You’ll probably get to see the odd Vulture or two soaring
around you as well.If you are fit, you should be able to go from
the car park to the cache site and back in an hour, but I would
schedule more time so you can enjoy the scenery.
COunter added 09th Jan 2010
Additional Hints
(No hints available.)