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Granada Geopark

Coordinates: 37°36′31″N 2°48′20″W / 37.60864°N 2.80556°W / 37.60864; -2.80556
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Granada Geopark (Spanish: Geoparque de Granada) is a geopark in Andalusia, Spain which was designated in 2020.[1] It is spread over 47 municipalities of a sparsely populated region. The three principal towns are Huéscar, Baza and Guadix. It includes 72 Lugares de Interés Geológico or LIGs, the Spanish term for geosites.

Geology

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The Geopark is notable as a geological record of the Quaternary period.[1] Most of the territory was shaped by an extensive river system that had no outlet to the sea and drained its waters into a large lake.

A number of the geosites are of paleontological interest.

Tourism

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The Geopark aims to promote tourism with a responsible attitude to the environment. The Geopark has promoted a 143 km trekking route, the "First Settlers Great Path", starting and finishing in Huéscar.[2] The name refers to the settlement of Early humans in the area, as evidenced by the geosites of Orce in particular.

Replica of a milk tooth more than a million years old from Barranco León, Orce

Cave houses are typical of the district. Guadix is claimed to have the largest number of cave homes in Europe.[3] Some of them are let to tourists as a casa rural.

Astronomy is another activity which can be enjoyed in the geopark, thanks to the dark skies.[4]

References

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  1. ^ a b "UNESCO designates 15 new Geoparks in Asia, Europe, and Latin America". Retrieved 8 August 2023.
  2. ^ "First settlers great path". geoparquedegranada. Retrieved 9 August 2023.
  3. ^ Fox, E (2016). "The cave dwellers of southern Spain". BBC Travel. Retrieved 9 August 2023.
  4. ^ Los Coloraos Astronomic Complex
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37°36′31″N 2°48′20″W / 37.60864°N 2.80556°W / 37.60864; -2.80556