Maroulas Quarry EarthCache

At the given coordinates, you are standing above the Maroulas Quarry in the wonderful mountains of Crete. Please be aware, that you can get here by 8km hike from Platanias, or by car. Do not forget to bring plenty of water!

If you like the cache, please give us a favorite point!

On the very spot of the planet that you are now sunbathing, there was a deep sea at the time of creation. 25 million years ago at the beginning of the Miocene epoch, an incredibly powerful tectonic upheaval lifted the bottom of the sea to the surface and, thus, was born - literally from the waves - Aegeis Land, although no human was then available to call it by that name.


What was then available included huge elephants, deer, hippopotami, cave dwelling bears and various other beasts roaming undisturbed wherever they pleased. This Aegeis Land was not flat but full of jagged ranges and high peaks. The mountains of Crete were so formed (albeit not in the present shape) 25 million years ago.


The village of Maroulas was formed around 800 years ago, and since then the people have been working on the mountains to get stone from it. The quarry where you are standing now was being used to build the houses of Maroulas, because of its useful limestone.

Standing here, you will notice the special color of the limestone used in the quarry. Feel free to inspect it closer and enjoy the spectaculous view!
(Source: www.road.gr)

Now the questions:

1. Describe the special color of the limestone used in the quarry!

2. Tell us the colors of the pebbles around you.

3. Look at the surrounding mountains. What is special about their surface?

Optional: Make a nice foto of yourself or the place and upload it with your log!

Feel free to log without waiting for our reply. We will help you if the answers are not right! Our Profile!