EL GOLFO'S STEEP WALL (ISLA EL HIERRO)
This Earthcache guides you from almost the bottom of the El Golfo-valley to its rim (Mirador de Jinama, headkoordinates) or vice versa climbing up the caldera wall through different zones of vegetation.
It is a walk of about 3,5kms with a difference of 900 meters in alitude (one way).
Remember to take good walking boots, enough water and sun protection.
If you are unfortunately not abel to do this recommended walk, we give you an opportunity to log this cache by car (see below).
Geology:
El Hierro is 2 million years old and therefore the youngest of the canary islands and like the others born by volcanic activity. But incontradiction to the other canary islands seems El Hierro to be still in the assembling state (Highlights of the latest eruptions were about 12000 years ago, the youngest eruptions endured from 4000 B.C. into the first millenium A.C.. The last eruption was in 1793 (Lomo Negro at Playa Verodal).)
The magma ripped open the bottom of the sea in the form of a „Y“. You can still see this Y in the shape of El Hierro.
Along the axis of the Y the island was formed little by little. The lava generated by the eruptions covered mainly the coast regions in the south and west, in parts the north. It flowed down the old flanks and extended the area of the island.
During the medial period of eruption the El Golfo valley was born. In one theory it is part of a hugh giant caldera, which half sank into the sea with a crash. If you stand at the bottom of the valley looking against the hugh crater walls in front of you will believe this theory instantly.
According to another theory the valley developed through erosion of the volcan which growed too big and broke down by ist own weight. Only the steep walls remained - mistaken to be the rest of the rim of a giant caldera. This walls are older than the rocks in the bottom of the valley, which were rebuilt after the crash by an undersea volcano.
No matter which theory is right, the crash caused without much doubt a tsunami. There exist the theory that this flood was responsibel for the shape of the carribean islands.
Your way:
For this cache you can walk from Frontera to the Mirador de Jinama or vice versa. In literature you will find suggestions to do this walk as part of a round trip (Frontera – Mirador de Jinama – La Pena – Las Puntas – Frontera) but this will exent the walk to about 17 kms. We went up and down the same path (ca. 7 kms).
You can park your car at the Plaza of Frontera (waypoint P1). We parked at P2 (that saved ourself 100 meters of altitude and we could not see that this was illegal, please contact us, if you find out it is…).
Take the path starting at R1, which crosses the street soon two times (R2), than you can’t miss the trail up to the Mirador de Jinama. Just follow the path.
To log this cache as a found
You have to
1.) upload a picture of you or your GPSr at the Mirador de Jinama under the bended branch at the start of the trail down (re-allowed by GC since June 2019).
2.) Contact us via GC and send us the awnsers to the following questions:
a) According to your GPSr: what is the difference in altitude between the Plaza (waypoint P1) and the Mirador (headkoors)
b) At the mirador there is a spring with water-tap. At the right side of it, there is a stump with a number (meter). Tell me what number is facing the spring).
c) Tell me the numbers of „official“ view points and picknick regions on the trail.
Alternative:
If you are unfortunately not able to walk or if you have younger children with you, you can log this cache under this conditions:
1.) upload a picture of you at the Mirador de Jinama under the bended branch at the start of the trail down (optional since 1.1.2011).
2.) Contact us via GC and send us the awnsers to the following questions:
a) According to your GPSr: what is the difference in altitude between the Plaza (waypoint P1) and the Mirador (headkoors)
b) At the mirador there is a spring with water-tap. At the right side of it, there is a stump with a number (meter). Tell me what number is facing the spring).
c) Go by car from waypoint P1 to the Mirador de Jimana or vice versa. It is only 900 meters air line. Tell me the incredible number of kilometers you have to go by car!
Logs without the required awnsers to the three questiones will be deleted without comments. Do not wait for log-permission, just log your found directly after sending the mail; we will contact you if there is something wrong.
Quelle: http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/El_Hierro
