QUATERNARY GEOPARK NORTHERN GRANADA VALLEYS - APPLICATION DOSSIER FOR UNESCO GLOBAL GEOPARK - teamsnet
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index A – IDENTIFICATION OF THE AREA D – Economic Activity & Business Plan A1. Name of the proposed Geopark 3 D1. Economic activity in the proposed Geopark 34 A2. Location of the proposed Geopark 4 D1.1. Agriculture and livestock farming 34 A3. Surface area, physical and human geography D1.2. Commercial activity and local products 35 characteristics of the proposed Geopark 5 D1.3. Tourism 36 A31. Area of the proposed Geopark 5 D2. Existing and planned facilities for the proposed A32. Physical Geography 6 Geopark 36 A33. Biodiversity 6 D2.1. Existing facilities and equipment 36 A34. Access 8 D2.2. Planned facilities and equipment 40 D3. Analysis of geotourism potential of the A35.History and Culture 9 proposed Geopark 41 A36. Description of territory. Population and D3.1. Profile of current tourism of the Economic Activity 10 proposed Geopark 41 A4. Organization in charge and management structure of the proposed Geopark 12 D3.2. Ecotourism today 41 D3.3. Strengths and opportunities for A 4.1 Overview 12 ecotourism at the proposed Geopark 42 A 4.2 Management structure 12 D4. Overview and policies for the sustainable A 4.3 Scientific Working Group 14 development 43 A 4.4 Budget 14 D4.1. Geo-tourism and economy 43 A5. Application contact person 15 D4.2. Geo-education 45 B – GEOLOGICAL HERITAGE D4.3. Geo-heritage 46 B1. General geological description of the proposed D5. Policies for, and examples of, community Geopark 16 empowerment (involvement and consultation) B11. Geological Context 17 in the proposed Geopark 47 D6. Policies for, and examples of, public and B12. Geological History 18 stakeholder awareness in the proposed Geopark 48 B13. Characteristics of, and proposed limits E – INTEREST AND ARGUMENTS FOR for, the proposed Geopark 20 BECOMING A UNESCO GLOBAL GEOPARK B2. Listing and description of geological sites within E1. Interest and arguments for becoming a UNESCO the proposed Geopark 21 Global Geopark 49 B3. Details on the interest of these sites in terms of ANNEX 1. Self-Evaluation Document their international, national, regional or local value 25 ANNEX 2. Copy of section B “Geological B4. Listing and description of other sites of natural, Heritage” of the application cultural and intangible heritage interest and ANNEX 3. Explicit endorsement of relevant how they are related to the geological sites local and regional authorities and how they are integrated into the proposed ANNEX 4. A Large scale map of the proposed Geopark 25 Unesco Global Geopark B4.1 The Geopark: A Steppe Landscape 25 ANNEX 5. 1-Page geological and geographic summary B4.2. The Geopark: A Troglodytic Landscape 28 ANNEX 6. Listing and description of B4.3. Archaeology in The Geopark 29 geological sites within the proposed C – GEOCONSERVATION Geopark C1. Current or potential pressure on the proposed ANNEX 7. Master Plan of Quaternary Geopark Geopark 31 Northern Granada Valleys C2. Current status in terms of protection of ANNEX 8. Marketing Plan of Quaternary geological sites within the proposed Geopark 31 Geopark Northern Granada Valleys C3. Data on the management and maintenance of all ANNEX 9. Map of protected and conservation heritage sites (geological and non-geological) 33 Areas ANNEX 10. Bibliography ANNEX 11. Press Clipping ANNEX 12. Organization in charge and management structure
3 A A1 Identification of area Name of the proposed Geopark The name of the proposed Geopark is the Quaternary Geopark Northern Granada Valleys (QGNGV). The Quaternary Geopark Northern Granada Va- lleys to become a member of the Global Geopark Ne- twork covers an exceptional territory in south-east of Spain (Eastern Andalusia). The geology of the Fig. A11 b region has influenced the culture of its inhabitants from prehistory to the present. The geology, geo- morphology, archaeology and culture blend to crea- te an inseparable whole, in an area that has some of the most ancestral traditions and human remains of Continental Europe. (Fig. A11 a,b,c) The area of this project corresponds with the va- lleys created by river erosion during the last half million years. Between approximately 5 million years ago and 0.5 million years ago, this territory was without any drainage exit to the sea (Endorheic stage), which ge- nerated an extraordinary record of continental qua- ternary continental sediments. The following Exorheic period (after a drainage exit to the sea had developed) Fig. A11 a has configured its current geomorphology, characteri- sed by an impressively eroded landscape. The arid na- ture of the region’s weather, with scarce vegetation on the valley slopes, favours observation one of the best quaternaty records of the Continental Europe. These valleys with their spectacular badlands expo- se the most wide-ranging and longest-lasting group of paleontological deposits of Continental European qua- ternary vertebrates. In particular, large vertebrate de- posits have been discovered in Early Pleistocene sedi- ments, with more than 150 sites identified. (Fig.A12-A15) The Quaternary Geopark also tells us about the history thanks to the messages left in rocks from the Mesozoic and Tertiary stages. These rocks have risen to just below the quaternary sediments which can be Fig. A11 c found on the valley floors. It also allows observation Fig A11a. Panoramic view of the municipality of Gorafe, located in the bank of more recent geological deformations of the Betic of the river Gor. © Gorafe Town Hall Range, such as active faults. These faults were res- Fig A11b. Panoramic view of the cave houses excavated from the Quaternary sediment (Gorafe) © EPVFR-IGME ponsible for ancient earthquakes which generated Fig A11c. Archeological site from the Bronze Age (Castellón Alto, Galera). The singular structures called seismites during the Qua- oldest mummified remains in Europe have been found here.©Alberto Tauste ternary stage. Those structures are among the best
4 QUATERNARY GEOPARK NORTHERN GRANADA VALLEYS Fig. A12 Fig. A13 Fig. A15 Fig A12. Palaentology station in Fonelas where fossil remains of macrovertebrates can be seen in situ .© EPVFR-IGME Fig A13. Singular examples of seismites generated by ancient earthquakes (Baza, Castillejar and Galera) © Francisco García Tortosa Fig A14. Landscape reflecting a non-anthropized territory Fig A15. Palaentology site in Orce where fossil remains of mamuts have been discovered ©Alberto Tauste Fig. A14 examples known in the world. In addition, associated A2 Location of the proposed Geopark with these fault zones were formed spectacular struc- The proposed Quaternary Geopark Northern Gra- tures of fibrous gypsum in tectonic joints. (Fig. A13) nada Valleys is located in the south-east of Spain, spe- cifically in the north of the province of Granada, wi- The Geopark project is a perfect complement to thin the region of Andalusia. (Fig. A21) the current group of Iberian Geoparks and will contri- bute in a geological, geomorphological and Palaento- In the western zone the geopark is made up of the logical Quaternary context to the European network territories contained in the fluvial valleys of the rivers: for the first time. The park enables conservation and Guadix, Fardes, Gor, Guadahortuna, Guadiana Menor, exploration of an exceptional Quaternary record, in a Guadalentin and their tributaries (e.g. Arroyo de Hué- territory with some of the most minimal anthropolo- lago). In the eastern zone the geopark is made up of gical alteration in Continental Europe. (Fig. A14) the territories contained in the fluvial valleys of the rivers: Baza, Gállego, Golopón, Cúllar, Castril, Guardal, The people of the Province of Granada, throughout Galera, Orce and Huéscar. (Fig. A22) the 34 municipalities in question, have safeguarded and protected the area for centuries. Now, the area The geographic coordinates ETRS89 (WGS84) of will be available for educational purposes and for so- the meridians and parallels that delimit the proposed ciety as a whole. Geopark are: (Fig. A23)
APPLICATION DOSSIER FOR UNESCO GLOBAL GEOPARK 5 Fig A21. Localization of QGNGV EAST WEST LONGITUDE 2º16’51,74’’W 3º20’41,33’’W SOUTH NORTH LATITUDE 37º15’42,48’’N 37º51’44,65’’N ALTITUDE 534,2 m (Guadiana Menor) 1490,2 m (Jabalcón) Fig A23. Geographic coordinates of QGNGV Fig. A21 Fig A22. Boundary map of the proposed Geopark into Granada province A3 Surface area, physical and human geography characteristics of the proposed Geopark A 3.1 Area of the Proposed Geopark The Quaternary Geopark Northern Granada Va- lleys has a total area of 1,410 km2. This surface area represents 11% of the total of Gra- nada, measuring 67 km from north to south and 88 km from east to west. 80% of the surface area of the propo- sed geopark is occupied by badlands. (Fig. A311) Fig A311. Characteristic landscape of the proposed Geopark.©Alberto Tauste
6 QUATERNARY GEOPARK NORTHERN GRANADA VALLEYS A 3.2 Physical Geography The Quaternary Geopark Northern Granada Va- lleys extends across the central sector of the Baetic Cordillera (S.E. Spain). It is located in a depression that has traditionally been sub-divided into a western sec- tor (Hoya de Guadix) and an eastern sector (Hoya de Baza) although in fact it comprises a single intramon- tane depression which is surrounded by some of the highest mountains of the Iberian Peninsula (Macizo Prebético [2381 m], Sierra Mágina [2187 m], Sierra de Arana-Huétor [1940 m], Sierra Nevada [3484 m], Sie- rra de Baza-Filabres [2271], Sierra de las Estancias-Cu- llar [1471 m], Sierra de Orce-María [1612 m]). Fig A321. Riverine vegetation dominate the landscape along the rivers valleys (Guadiana Menor, Hoya de Guadix) The connection between these mountain ranges and the depression is via a gently sloping glacis with rra Nevada and from the karstic aquifers of the sierras altitudes ranging between the 1150 m at the edge of of Arana and Baza-Filabres in the Hoya de Guadix (ri- the depression and 900 m towards the interior where vers Verde, Fardes and Guadahortuna, and the streams the depression is still preserved. Arroyo de Gor and Arroyo de Baúl) and karstic aquifers of the Macizo Prebético and the sierras of Baza-Fila- The landscapes of the area proposed as Geopark, bres, María and Estancias in the Hoya de Baza (rivers formed where the different watercourses that drain Baza, Gállego, Golopón, Cúllar, Castril, Guardal, Galera, the depression meet the glacis, appear at altitudes Orce and Huéscar). Parts of these waters run into detri- between 900 and 550 m. This network of riverbeds tal aquifers of both river basins that subsequently feed comprises an arid and very rugged landscape with rivers and streams at lower altitudes via springs and badlands as its outstanding feature, and which inclu- also flowing directly into the watercourses. (Fig. A322) des canyons up to 250 m deep, and the fluvial terra- ces of the main rivers form alluvial plains, which are For thousands of years most human activity has been known as vegas in this region. (Fig. A321) centred on the vegas, taking advantage of the river wa- ter to produce irrigated crops. Exploitation of the bad- The climate is strongly influenced by the altitude lands, on the other hand, has been much more limited of the hoyas (river basins) themselves (average annual and erratic, with small irrigated areas related to springs, temperature of 13-16ºC) and by the isolation, impo- and non-irrigated cereals on gently-sloping land, with sed by the surrounding mountains, from the maritime the rest of the territory restricted to extensive lives- thermal influence (continental climate with hot sum- tock farming and the extraction of natural resources mers and very cold winters) and the arrival of autumn (small game, wood, esparto grass and gypsums). and spring rains (semi-arid conditions, with 250-350 mm/year rainfall) (De la Cruz Pardo et al., 2010). A 3.3 Biodiversity The current biodiversity of the proposed Geopark This latter circumstance leads most of the water- is strongly conditioned by both the semi-arid and courses to be seasonal or sporadic, although the most continental nature of its climate and by historical important rivers and streams may be permanent as a processes and geographical factors that have foste- result of collecting water from the surrounding moun- red a very intense relationship with the Maghreb and, tains. This water essentially comes from thawing in Sie- at the regional level, with Mediterranean and riverine forests, the mountain habitats of the surrounding sie- rras and the semi-deserts of Almería. (Fig. A331) This has favoured the development of a very rich biota (at least 1,500 animal species and 1,129 species of flora; Cueto et al., 2014; Garrido-García, in prep.) in- cluding numerous species that are exclusive or almost exclusive to the Geopark, such as the plant Centau- rea saxifraga or the snail Helicella zujarensis (exclusi- ve to Cerro Jabalcón), the plant Limonium alicunense (which only lives in the vicinity of the spa at Alicún), the plants Sonchus crassifolius and Limonium majus and the butterflies Heterogynis andalusica and Eu- chloe bazae (restricted to the saline habitats of Hoya Fig A322. Negratín Reservoir with Cerro Jabalcón.©Alberto Tauste
APPLICATION DOSSIER FOR UNESCO GLOBAL GEOPARK 7 tomentosa, Gypsophyla strutium, Ononis tridentata, Suaeda vera and Arthrocnemum macrostachyum). Another variant is located over carbonate conglome- rates and rocky substrata, which favour the develop- ment of the only natural forests in the Geopark, made up of Aleppo pine (Pinus halepensis) accompanied by juniper trees (Juniperus oxycedrus) and kermes oaks (Quercus coccifera) and, more rarely, savins (Juniperus thurifera, Juniperus phoenicea) and holm oaks (Quer- cus rotundifolia). These pine forests have spread artifi- cially through afforestation, which has altered areas of semi-desert. Finally, diverse forms of riverine vegeta- Fig A331. General view of the semi-desert vegetation that grows on the tion appear in the alluvial plains. (Fig. A334) gypsum marls of the Hoya de Baza (Barranco del Espartal). ©Jose Ant. Garrido de Baza) and the plant Arenaria arcuatociliata (more The fauna has been the subject of numerous studies widely distributed in the river basins) (Ruiz Ruiz et al., (see, as a summary, Megías et al., 2011; Valera et al., 2009; De la Cruz Pardo et al., 2010; Blanca et al., 2011; 2011). A great variety of insects live in the semi-desert. Garrido-García, 2016). (Fig. A332) Of particular environmental importance are the beet- les of the Tenebrionidae, Meloidae, Scarabaeidae and The biota also includes very endangered species Chrysomelidae families, and also ants, grasshoppers which, after becoming extinct in the rest of their na- and butterflies, with more than 200 recorded noctur- tural range, have their last refuges in this territory nal species and locations where at least 30 diurnal spe- (e.g. the snail Orculella aragonica and the plant Cly- cies coexist. Of special interest among the vertebrates peola eryocarpa). Furthermore, it also provides a ha- are those associated with crags (mountain goats, the bitat for numerous Endangered and Critically Endan- densest European populations of red-billed choughs gered species. In addition to the above-mentioned L. and black wheatears, and very important populations majus, C. eryocarpa, C. saxifraga and O. aragonica, of golden eagles, Bonelli’s eagles, peregrine falcons, ea- this territory is home to part of the lastest populations gle owls and jackdaws, and a growing presence of gri- of the plants Astragalus oxyglottis, Carum foetidum, ffon vultures). And beyond the cliffs, the semi-deserts Cochlearia glastifolia, Erodium cazorlanum, Haplo- are breeding and feeding areas for significant popula- phyllum bastetanum, Limonium minus, Plantago ma- tions of larks (crested and thekla larks, greater and les- rítima, Senecio auricula and Vella pseudocytisus, the ser short-toed larks, calandra larks), rollers, black-ea- freshwater crayfish Austropotamobius pallipes, the red wheatears, corn buntings, European bee-eaters, butterfly Plebejus pylaon and the mayfly Torleya naza- red-legged partridges and trumpeter finches. rita (De la Cruz Pardo et al., 2010). (Fig. A333) Moreover, the semi-deserts are a very important The area has very diverse vegetation cover, which component of the environmental mechanism that ena- includes 30 habitats included in the Habitats Directi- bles the survival of birds at the regional level as it serves ve 92/43/EEC, and among which can be found some of as a winter refuge for species that raise their young in the best European examples of Iberian gypsophile plant the nearby mountains, such as the black redstart, the communities (habitat 1520) and halo-nitrophilous leaf warbler and the Eurasian skylark. Overall, these rich scrubs (habitat 1430) (De la Cruz Pardo et al., 2010). bird communities have led to a significant part of the Geopark being considered as an Important Bird Area at The landscape is dominated by semi-desert, which both national and European level (Infante et al., 2011). is the most characteristic habitat of the Geopark and is populated by esparto grasses, albardines and diver- The fluvial valleys constitute another decisive ele- se scrub species (Retama sphaerocarpa, Genista scor- ment in the existence of such rich fauna in the Geo- pius, Genista pumila, Astragalus clusianus, Rosmarinus park, as they allow animals that live nearby to enter officinalis, Salsola oppositifolia, Salsola vermiculata, the geopark territory. These include animals that live Atriplex halimus, Hammada articulata, Suaeda vera, in the woodlands of the surrounding sierras (birds Helianthemum almeriense, Helianthemum syriacum, of the forest, wild boar and genets), those that live Ephedra fragilis and Rhamnus lycioides). in aquatic habitats (aquatic birds and invertebrates, fish, amphibians, otters and Mediterranean water A variant of these habitats appears on the gypsum shrews) and humid grasslands (southern water vole deposits from the Plio-Pleistocene in the Hoya de Baza and Cabrera’s vole). The river valleys also provide or from the Triassic in the Hoya de Gaudix, with albar- food for species that take refuge in the neighbouring dines and gypsophile-halophilous scrubs (Gypsophyla badlands (badgers, foxes, beech martins and several
8 QUATERNARY GEOPARK NORTHERN GRANADA VALLEYS species of bats). Finally, there are areas where rab- The main road connection is the A-92 motorway, bits flourish, which enable the presence of specialised which provides first-class access to the region. The predators such as the wild cat, and also the Iberian rest of the territory is accessible via regional roads, lynx. The latter were plentiful in the area until the which extend to the south in the direction of Puerto de 1970s and are starting to be spotted occasionally la Ragua (GR-5104 and GR-5200) and to the north (A- nowadays. (Fig. A335) 325, A315, A-326, A317 GR- 5103 and GR-6100/01), towards the province of Jaen, with the A330 towards The importance of biodiversity in this territory is Murcia and the A334 towards Almeria. reflected in the existence of a large number of protec- ted natural areas (See B4). Furthermore, there is also a railway network run- ning through the region, which connects the main ur- A 3.4 Access ban areas with Almeria, Granada and Málaga. (Fig. 341) The proposed area is accessible by different mo- Road travel time from the main cities. Fig. A341. des of transport (plane, train, bus and car). Flights to the airports of Granada (65 km), Almeria (100 km) and Murcia (120km) mean that the most important cities in the south-east of Spain can easily be rea- GRANADA MURCIA ched by air. This means that a wide offer of both 45 min 2h 15 min national and international flights is guaranteed. The distance to the Malaga- Costa del Sol international airport is 185 km. (4th airport in Spain: 16 million passengers in 2016). MALAGA ALMERIA 2h 15 min 1h 10 min Fig. A332 Fig. A335 Fig. A334 Fig A332. The Heterogynis andalusica butterfly lives only in the semi-desert of Hoya de Baza. © Jose Ant. Garrido Fig A333. After being extinct in other areas Clypeola eryocarpa only survives in the semi-desert of the Geopark. Fig A334. On the limestone conglomerates and rocky substrate grow the only natural forests of the Geopark, dominated by the pines (Canyon of Arroyo de Baúl)© Jose Antonio Garrido. Fig A335. Rivers and associated irrigation systems allow the presence in the Geopark of aquatic fauna, such Fig. A333 as gallinetas (Gallinula chloropus).© Jose Antonio Garrido
APPLICATION DOSSIER FOR UNESCO GLOBAL GEOPARK 9 A 3.5 History and Culture The transition from Antiquity to the Middle Ages was The unique physical conditions of this territory recorded by the testimonies of early Christianity, which have influenced its history, along with successive wa- was represented by the bishop of Guadix at the Synod ves of occupation and organisation from prehistoric of Elvira in the 4th century. times up to the present day. These special physical and geological conditions provide the proposed Geo- From 711 onwards, the Muslim presence left an in- park with an extraordinary heritage value, where the delible mark in places that have maintained toponyms, archaeological and palaeontological sites are crucial physical features and traditions, with the style of urban to understanding the human settlement processes in architecture being especially characteristic (Fig. A353). the European continent. The Alcazabas (citadels) of Guadix and Baza were erec- ted in the central point of a territory in which castles The strong personality of the groups that inhabi- such as those at Bácor, Castril, Freila, Zújar, Aldeire and ted these lands, manifest in the clear awareness of Lanteira, and the series of watchtowers that marked the existence of life after death, was projected by out the territory where it was most rugged, are current- the megalithic groups at Gor and Gorafe. In the same ly the best reflection of medieval organisation. way, the sites at Cerro de la Virgen (Orce), El Malagón (Cúllar) and Castellón Alto (Galera) provide evidence At the end of the medieval period, and determined of communities that were located in characteristic se- to put an end to the presence of al-Andalus once and ttlements at altitude, ordered with an incipient sen- for all, the Catholic Kings intensified the incorporation se of urban planning. Antiquity was characterised by of the regions of Huéscar, Baza and Guadix into their the presence of the Argaric culture in the south-east kingdom during the third phase of the Granada War, of the Iberian peninsula. Meanwhile, the start of the from 1487 to 1489, this last year corresponding to orientalisation of these lands was embodied in the the toughest campaign of the conflict. The Castilian Iberian necropolis at Tútugi, where a monument was Crown then introduced the main institutions of politi- erected to the cult of death, and at Cerro del Santua- cal, military and religious control, through the exten- rio, in Baza, where the discovery of female images of sive jurisdiction of a Crown official known as corregi- the funerary cult reaffirm this close relationship with dor, and the restoration of the former episcopal see. the territory, from a clearly symbolic perspective with a strong magical and religious component. These institutions were responsible for implemen- ting a policy of religious and cultural assimilation of the During Roman times, the historian Titus Livius, and majority Morisco population, to the point where they also Strabo and Pliny, provided information on the provoked the rebellion of 1568 which had tragic con- Bastetania, whose eponymous city would be Basti sequences for these regions. The Church promoted (Baza), located at Cerro Cepero. a development of the arts at its service, which made this region one of the wealthiest dioceses in terms of This region was divided into different areas, in a way movable heritage. Gaudix cathedral and the collegiate that was directly dependent on each of the oppida -Tútu- church at Baza, along with outstanding examples of gi (Galera), Arkilakis (Puebla de Don Fadrique), El Fo- late Gothic, Renaissance and Mudéjar religious archi- rruchu (Villanueva de las Torres), Basti (Baza) and Acci tecture in the province, are the most obvious exam- (Guadix)-. These functioned as micro-states in which all ples of the Church's rich patrimony. (Fig. A351) (Fig.A352) activities related to the exploitation and management of resources depended directly on the aristocracy. There was a need to christianise that had an urban and architectural dimension, as well as favouring the The period of territorial expansion, based on mecha- appearance of cults and ritualisation in the new settings. nisms of agricultural colonisation, was during the 4th Some of these celebrations had their origins in the north century BC, with fortifications at Las Angosturas de of the peninsula, such as the case of the Saints Alodía Gor, Cerro de los Almendros and Fuente Amarga in Hués- car and Los Castellones in Laborcilla. Some centres disappeared as a consequence of the Second Punic War, while others survived and allied themselves with Roman power. Later, the substitution of the Via Heraclea by the Via Augusta isolated the re- gion of Huéscar from the commercial developments that led many areas to prosper, especially the Giulia Gemella Acci colony (Now Guadix), where toponyms such as Purullena, Exfiliana, Graena, Freila and Galera Fig A353. The Arab baths of Baza date back to the 13th century (Almohad make the scale of the settlement quite clear. period). @Provincial Council of Tourism
10 QUATERNARY GEOPARK NORTHERN GRANADA VALLEYS and Nunilón in Puebla de Don Fadrique and Huéscar, Baza, Guadix, Huescar and Montes. All the emplo- and the case of the Virgen de la Piedad, linking the ci- yers' associations of the region are also participating ties of Baza and Guadix since the late 15th century in a in the project. Both the Regional Government (Junta festival called the Fiesta de Cascamorras, which was de- de Andalucia) and the Provincial Government (Dipu- clared to be of International Tourist Interest in August tación Provincial de Granada) are part of the Quater- 2013. Moreover, there are also festivities such as those nary Geopark Northern Granada Valleys. of Moors and Christians, with unique features wherever they are held (Zújar, Benamaurel, Cúllar and Aldeire), Population and Demographic Evolution. along with Holy Week celebrations in every one of the The population of the municipalities that make up towns and villages in the north-east of Granada. the proposed Geopark stands at 92,973 inhabitants. The main cities of Guadix and Baza concentrate more The 18th and 19th centuries saw some attempts than 40% of the inhabitants of the territory. The rest of at modernisation, and the amount of land being used the population is distributed in municipalities, which, was increased. Today there are industrial complexes in many cases, do not exceed 2,000 inhabitants. that are silent witnesses, although there are some at- tempts to revive them. New factories, railway infras- It is therefore a fundamentally rural area – 93 % of tructures and agricultural holdings that are added to the population live in areas with less than 50 inhabi- existing ones make up an important industrial heritage, tants per square kilometre - with population centres to which must be added the mining tradition as one of huddled in the spectacular steppe-like and arid lands- the most extraordinary values and best-defined signs cape of the north of Granada. (Fig. 361 ) of collective identity. The population structure is characterised by age- These special cultural features have developed diffe- ing above the provincial and regional average and rent kinds of modern habitat, such as the Moorish moun- a continuously declining birth rate. It is important tain house, the Castilian house, the farmhouse and the to note the feminisation of the territory, especially cave, in extraordinary typological density and exempla- among the older age groups.(Fig.362) riness. Furthermore, the rich catalogue of constructions linked to the traditional agricultural economy should not The evolution of the population shows a depopula- be overlooked, and others related to the culture of wa- tion trend with an ongoing process of population loss in ter. These are testimonies that have endured and reflect the territory. The emigration of young inhabitants and different historical periods and the social, cultural and women who seek educational and employment oppor- economic conditions that typify them. tunities in other areas is the main factor.In recent years, however, these trends have started to be curbed with A 3.6 Description of territory. the arrival of foreigners who choose to reside in the area. Population and Economic Activity. The proposed Geopark involves the participation According to demographic data, the territory's po- of 34 town and village councils, which belong to 4 ad- pulation declined by 10.04 % in the period 1999-2016, ministrative districts within the province of Granada: in contrast with the results in the province and the re- gion, where there was an increase in the population over the same period. More specifically, the most sig- nificant loss of inhabitants (8.2%) has occurred in the last decade (2005-2016). Economic Activity The proposed territory largely depends on rain-fed agriculture (15% of the local population work in agri- culture), based on the cultivation of cereal, legumes, vines, olives and almonds. This activity accounts for Fig A351. Guadix Cathedral ©Provincial Council of Tourism most of the surface area and working population of the proposed Geopark. (see d1) Livestock farming is focused on raising Segura breed of sheep, perfectly adapted to the tough con- ditions of the area. (Fig. 363) Some very high quality products made in the territory are guaranteed by protected designation of ori- Fig A352. Convent of Santo Domingo.One of the finest examples of Mudejar gin (PDO) and protected geographical indication (PGI). coffered ceilings in Guadix.@Provincial Council of Tourism
APPLICATION DOSSIER FOR UNESCO GLOBAL GEOPARK 11 Ceramics in Guadix and Purullena is one of the outstanding craft activities in the area. Equally im- portant, however, is artisanal work with wood, espar- to grass and the preparation of cured meats. Histo- rically, mining has been very important in the area. have great potential and are trying to take advanta- 0-10 hab/km2 ge of the exceptional nature of the territory and the 10-20 hab/km2 wide range of possibilities for cultural and sustainable 20-30 hab/km2 tourism. The Tourism Observatory of Granada recor- 30-40 hab/km2 ded a total of 1,131,296 visitors for the period 2011 40-60 hab/km2 to 2017, showing an increase of 74.52%, with people >60 hab/km2 mainly attracted by the archaeological and palaeon- tological resources, nature and the landscape, and also the cultural legacy of the different civilisations that have populated the territory of the proposed Geopark. (Fig. A365) Número de visitantes/año 250.000 200.000 150.000 100.000 Fig A361. Map of population 50.000 density of municipalities affected by the delimitation 0 of the proposed Geopark. 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 (2016)@INE,SIMA / IAEC. DIPGRA Fig A365. Evolution of the number of tourist @Provincial Council of Tourism. PROPOSED GRANADA ANDALUSIA SPAIN GEOPARK PROVINCE REGION POPULATION DENSITY (HAB/KM2) 32 72 96 92 DEMOGRAPHIC DEVELOPMENT (1999-2016) -10.40 +12,6 +15,8 +15,8 POPULATION AGES 0-16 (%OF TOTAL) 14,9 17,5 18,3 16,1 POPULATION AGES 65 AND ABOVE (%OF TOTAL) 21,8 17,2 16,3 19,7 Fig A362. Demographic Data 2016 ©INE,SIMA / IAEC. DIPGRA Fig A363. Products made in the territory guaranteed by protected designation of origin (PDO) and protected geographical indication (PGI).
12 QUATERNARY GEOPARK NORTHERN GRANADA VALLEYS A4 Organization in charge and management structure of the proposed Geopark A 4.1 Overview The proposed Quaternary Geopark Northern Gra- rities), Consortiums, Groups of Local Development, nada Valleys is a local development initiative at su- Citizenship and Civil Society, Economic Sectors and pra-municipal level, based on the exceptional value Collaborating Scientific Institutions (Geological and of the geological heritage and the cultural and natural Mining Institute of Spain, University of Granada, Uni- resources of the area, and undertaken using a me- versity of Jaén). The organisation and coordination of thodology of cooperation and participation of all the the territorial agents has been carried out through the agents of the local population. The territory has been creation of Working Groups representative of all sec- working on the project even before 2002, and during tors that affect the future geopark. (Fig. A412) this time, it has received increasing institutional, eco- nomic and social support. (Fig. 411) A 4.2 Management structure Responsibility for the management and coordi- The proposed Geopark is the result of a formal, pu- nation of the proposed Geopark lies with the Qua- blic process organised to promote the participation ternary Geopark Northern Granada Valleys Project and collaboration of all the territorial agents involved: Coordinating Committee, made up of representati- Provincial Council of Granada, Regional Government ves of the institutional, socio-economic and scientific of Andalusia, Town and Village Councils and Local En- agents involved in the project, through an agreement tities, Mancomunidades (Associations of Local Autho- signed on 07 November 2017. PROMOTER GROUP Provincial Council of Granada Rural Development Association of Guadix Association of Rural Development Groups of the Altiplano Apromontes Consortium for the Development of los Montes Orientales SOCIO - ECONOMIC WORKING GROUP Employers’ Association of the Altiplano Intersectoral Employers’ Association of Guadix, Employers’ Association of the District of Huéscar Altiplano Tourism Association Hotel and Tourism Association of the District of Guadix SCIENTIFIC WORKING GROUP Andalusian Cave Association INSTITUTIONAL WORKING GROUP Association for Sustainable tourism of EPVRF-IGME the Altiplanicies Granadinas, University of Granada Association of Local Authorities of the Winegrowers “Altiplano Sierra Nevada” University of Jaen District of Baza Association University of Alicante Association of Local Authorities of the “Artesanos Guadix” Association University of Sevilla District of Guadix Baza Trade Association Univesity of Murcia Association of Local Authorities of the “Andalucía Emprende” Andalusian CEP Guadix District of Huéscar Public Foundation MNCN-CSIC Regional Goverment-Junta de Andalucía AEQUEA University of Granada. Fig A412. Structure and members of the Working Groups
APPLICATION DOSSIER FOR UNESCO GLOBAL GEOPARK 13 ACTIVITY FUNDING PROGRAMME/SPONSOR 2002 Environmental knowledge programme for schools: “Know Your Region and Discover Your Past” (2003-2006) 25.000,00 € LEADER PLUS/Others 2004 Tourist Usage of the Cultural Georesources of the District of Guadix Plan 43.384,00 € LEADER PLUS 2006 Seminars on touristic use of geodiversity €18,000.00 LEADER PLUS 2006 Exhibition: “Human Beings and the Environment: Prehistoric Fauna” District of Huéscar Tourism Plan 2007 Report: “Scientific and Technical Proposal of the European Geopark Declaration” 29.928,00 € PRODER-A Paleontological heritage exhibition of the District of Guadix 7.000,00 € Joint cooperation action “Geodiversity: A Solution for Sustainable Rural Development (2007-2013) Participation in Workshop on Geopark Interpretation Methods in County Kerry (Ireland) 20.000,00 € LEADER PLUS Study visit to the Haute Provence Geopark (France) Attendance at the First Seminar on the Subbetic Geopark (European Geopark Week) in Cabra (Córdoba, Spain) 2008 Attendance at the 3rd International UNESCO Conference on Geoparks in Osnabrück (Germany) Tourist Usage of the Cultural Georesources of the High Plain of Granada Plan 44.892,00 € LEADER PLUS Joint cooperation action “Geodiversity: A Solution for Sustainable Rural Development (2007-2013) 200.000,00 € Geotourism itinerary “Geology in the District of Guadix 2011. The most dynamic landscape in Europe”. 2009 Organisartion of Annual SEQS Conference 2009 “The Quaternary in the South of Spain: A Bridge Between Africa and the Alpine Domain” Department for Culture of the 200.000,00 € Joint cooperation action “Geodiversity: A Solution for Sustainable Rural Development (2007-2013) Regional Government of Andalusia Study visit to the Sobrarbe Geopark (Spain) 2011 Geotourism itinerary “Geology in the District of Guadix 2011. The most dynamic landscape in Europe”. FEDER Candidacy Report of the European Quaternary Geopark EPFVRF/IGME 2012 Geoemployment Project: Geodiversity as a Source of Employment (2011-2013) Ministry for Agriculture, Food and Study visit Management and Organisation of the Cabo de Gata-Níjar Geopark (Spain) 100.000,00 € the Environment Study visit to Management and Organisation of the Basque Coast Geopark (Spain) 2013 Geoemployment Project: Geodiversity as a Source of Employment (2011-2013) Ministry for Agriculture, Food and Participation in the 10th Meeting of the Commission on Geological Heritage of the Geological Society of Spain 50.000,00 € the Environment Participation in the First International Geotourism Conference in Cabra (Córdoba, Spain) 2015 Technical analysis of the viability of the UNESCO Global Geopark Project Candidacy Identification of the Sites of Geological Interest. Identification and mapping of existing structures and resources. 135.000,00 € Provincial Council of Granada Design of the QGNGV Communication Plan and Social Networks Project Sponsorship Dossier of the QGNGV project Design of the Participation Plan of the QGNGV project 2016 Creation of working groups for candidacy: Promotional, Scientific, Institutional, Socio-economic and Communication groups. Preparatory work meetings: Spanish National Geoparks Committee, Molina de Aragón-Alto Tajo Geopark. Candidacy presentation seminar with the town councils involved in the project and the Regional Government of Andalusia (Delegation of the Government and Department for the Environment and Organisation of the 135.000,00 € Provincial Council of Granada territory). Meetings with the Employers’ Associations of the 4 districts. Meetings with the presidents of the Local Authorities and Regional Delegation from the Department for the Environment and Organisation of the territory. 2017 Study visit to the Villuercas Ibores Jara Geopark with a delegation of 14 territorial representatives of the 4 districts. Seminars: “Geoparks and Geodiversity and Sustainable Development of the Quaternary Geopark Northern Granada Valleys Project”. (1 seminar on Exchange of Experiences with Spanish Geoparks, 1 seminar on guided tours to the QGNGVproject) Round table with the directors of other Geoparks in Spain. (Villuercas, Costa Vasca and Molina Alto Tajo) Presentation and dissemination of the project to the Turkish Development Agency. Publication of the Official Gazette of the Province of Granada dated 27 March 2017 for the public knowledge of the North Granada Valleys Quaternary Geopark” project. Presentation of the Geopark project to the Spanish Commission for Cooperation with UNESCO requesting its support. Meeting with the Guadalinfo Centres of the territory for the dissemination activities planning Meeting with the heads of the teaching schools of the territory for Education Programme First week of QGNGV project activities: 650 attendees. Description of the week’s activities: Flamenco and Territory. (400 attendees) .Guided tours to resources and exhibition centres (100 attendees). Astronomical Observation: (100 people). Scientific Committee Meeting (22 scientists). Guided tours to geological resources for key stakeholders in the territory: (25 people) Social network campaign to support the candidacy on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. 135.000,00 € Provincial Council of Granada Signature of collaboration protocol for the creation of the North Granada Valleys Quaternary Geopark. Collaboration protocol for the creation of the North Granada Valleys Quaternary Geopark. Geologist of the Geopark collaboration agreement (Between the Granada High Plains Association and the University of Jaén) Design of the QGNGV Strategy and Master Plan Business support campaign for the Geopark project Geopark audiovisual campaign Presentation of QGNGV candidacy at the Annual Meeting of the European Network of Geoparks (the Azores, Portugal) Design of the Marketing plan of the project. Training in the methodology for the creation of tourism products for enterprises in the territory. Presentation of candidacy at the National Ecotourism Conference (Guadalupe, Cáceres) November 2017 Training Course of Education Programme "Didactic possibilities of QGNGV" International Seminar: " Sustainable Tourism and Geoparks" ( Sevilla) November 2017. Simbolic Act in order to supporting the QGNGV candidature Fig A411. Overvieew and main actions carried out in the proposed Geopark.
14 QUATERNARY GEOPARK NORTHERN GRANADA VALLEYS The Coordinating Committee is a participatory A 4.3 Scientific Working Group management structure comprising 1 representative The proposed Geopark has a consolidated scien- of each signatory, except in the case of the Associa- tific working group, comprising researchers of re- tions of Local Authorities of Baza, Guadix and Hués- nowned prestige and with substantial experience in car which will be represented by 2 people for each on projects and scientific research in the area. This wor- the aforementioned associations. The Coordinating king group's task is to advise, coordinate and promo- Committee has the assistance of the Technical Com- te measures related to the research, analysis, study, mittee and the Scientific, Socio-economic and Institu- dissemination and scientific knowledge linked to the tional Working Groups. (Fig. A421) project. It has been operating since 2015 and has par- ticipated actively in the proposal to define the scope The President of the Provincial Council of Granada of this project and the scientific studies that confirm occupies the presidency of the Coordinating Commi- the exceptional nature of the territory. ( Fig. A431) ttee. Furthermore, the Provincial Council of Granada will provide the technical secretariat of this commit- A 4.4 Budget tee. Rural Development Groups, as territorial manage- The planned financing and investment conform to ment authorities of development programmes in the the following lines of funding. (See annex 7): area, are responsible for running the Geopark project. • Action Plans for Local Development Strategies for LEADER rural areas Guadix, Altiplano and Montes, In this regard, the Quaternary Geopark Northern envisaged for the 2016-2022 period. Granada Valleys Project Strategy has been designed • UNESCO Geopark plan of the Provincial Council of (See annex 7), which includes the steps that the sig- Granada. natories are going to take in accordance with their • Actions and investment underway and/or program- own lines of action and financial frameworks, via med by different departments of the Provincial the complementarity and synergies between plan- Council of Granada (Tourism, Culture, Sports, Local ned actions. Development and Public Works and Highways) in the area of the Geopark. COORDINATING COMMITTEE Provincial Council of Granada Quaternary Geopark Northern Rural Development Association of Guadix Granada Valleys Project Association of Rural Development Groups of the Altiplano Apromontes Consortium for the Development of los Montes Orientales Geological and Mining Institute of Spain (IGME) University of Granada University of Jaen Association of Local Authorities of the District of Baza Association of Local Authorities of the District of Guadix Association of Local Authorities of the District of Huéscar Employers’ Association of the Altiplano Intersectoral Employers’ Association of Guadix, Employers’ Association of the District of Huéscar PRESIDENCY Altiplano Tourism Association Hotel and Tourism Association of the District of Guadix Provincial Council of Granada Andalusian Cave Association Association for Sustainable Tourism of the Altiplanicies Granadinas MANAGEMENT QUATERNARY GEOPARK NORTHERN GRANADA Rural Development Association VALLEYS PROJECT STRATEGY SECRETARY´S OFFICE Provincial Council of Granada Education Sustainable Tourism Scientific Programme Development Programmes Programme Fig A421. Structure and members of the Quaternary Geopark Northern Granada Valleys Project Coordinating Committee.
APPLICATION DOSSIER FOR UNESCO GLOBAL GEOPARK 15 HUMAN RESOURCES WORK STRUCTURE AREA NAME PROFESSIONAL FIELD ENTITY TIME QGNGV Antonio Manager of Association of Rural Development PART TIME Román Groups of the Altiplano Juan Jose Manager of Rural Development Association of PART TIME Manrique Guadix Raquel Local and Tourist Project Officer of Rural Development PART TIME MANAGEMENT MANAGEMENT Jiménez Development Association of Guadix Project Officer of Association of Rural AND LOCAL Enrique Muriel Development Groups of the Altiplano DEVELOPMENT Torcuato Manager of Consortium for the Development PART TIME Cabrerizo of Los Montes Orientales Myriam Prieto Head of Development Service DIPGRA PART TIME Local Development Diego Garcia Project Officer DIPGRA FULL TIME Financial SECRETARY OFFICE Nieves Molina Project Officer DIPGRA FULL TIME Management Fco. Juan Geological Sciences Departament of Geology. University of Jaen PART TIME GEOLOGIST García-Tortosa University of Jaen SCIENTIFIC Geological and SCIENTIFIC EARTH SCIENCES Alfonso Coordinator of "Valle del Río Fardes" Mining Institute of PART TIME WORKING GROUP Arribas Paleontological Station. Spain, (IGME) COORDINATOR Fig A431. Members of the Scientific Working Group SCIENTIFIC WORKING GROUP AREA OF KNOWLEGMRE INSTITUTION Coordinator Mr. Alfonso Arribas Herrera Quaternary Palaeontology EPVRF-IGME Geologist of proposed Geopark Mr. Francisco Juan García Tortosa Geodynamic University of Jaén Members Mr. Pedro Alfaro García Tectonic University of Alicante Mr. Juan Arroyo Marín Botany University of Sevilla Mr. José Sebastián Carrión García Botany and Quaternary Palaeoecology University of Murcia Mrs. Concepción Fernández Leyva Mineralogy IGME Mr. José Antonio Garrido García Zoology EPVRF IGME Mr. Román Hernández Manchado Geoscientific Information Systems IGME Mr. Antonio López Marcos Archeology Guadix Mr. Carlos Lorenzo Carnicero Geographic information systems IGME Mrs. Elvira Martín Suárez Stratigraphy and Palaeontology University of Granada Mr. Domingo Molina Hernández Teaching CEP Guadix Mr. Jorge Morales Romero Palaeontology of mammals MNCN-CSIC Mr. José Antonio Peña Ruano Geophysical prospecting University of Granada Mr. Francisco J. Rodríguez Tovar Stratigraphy and Paleontology University of Granada Mrs. Ana Rodrigo y Sanz Teaching IGME Mr. Juan Carlos Rubio Campos Geology IGME Mr. Carlos Sanz de Galdeano Equiza Dynamics of the Lithosphere UGR CSIC Mr. Pablo G. Silva Barroso Palaeosismology AEQUA Mr. Jesús Miguel Soria Mingorance Stratigraphy and Marine sedimentology University of Alicante Mrs. Juana Vegas Salamanca Geological Heritage IGME Mr. César Viseras Alarcón Stratigraphy and continental sedimentology University of Granada A5 Application contact person Presidency Antonio Román Jose Entrena Avila Manager Altiplano de Granada Rural Development Group President of the Provincial Council of Granada Mayor, 2 18830 Huéscar – Granada C/Periodista Barrios Talavera 1. 18014 Granada (España) Teléf.: 0034 958742314 www.dipgra.es antonio@altiplanogranada.org www.altiplanogranada.org Management Juan José Manrique López Secretary's Office Manager Guadix Rural Development Group Myriam Prieto Labra Ctra. Murcia, s/n "Antigua Azucarera" Head of Development Service 18500 - GUADIX (Granada) Diputación de Granada Tel: 0034 958 66 50 70 - 0034 958 66 10 48 Av. Andalucia s.n. 18015 Granada (España) juanjo@comarcadeguadix.com mprieto@dipgra.es www.comarcadeguadix.com 0034 958247867
16 QUATERNARY GEOPARK NORTHERN GRANADA VALLEYS B B1 Geological Heritage General geological description of the proposed Geopark The Quaternary is the geological time period in the tioned endorheic stage, for approximately 5 million history of the Earth that covers the last two and a half years. Its mouth was basically located to the north million years of evolution of the planet and the life on of the Jabalcon mountain and was conditioned over it (from 2.58 million years ago to the present). time by the evolution of the Baza fault (located to the east of Jabalcon mountain. This active Baza fault is The Quaternary Geopark Northern Granada Va- responsible for the subsidence of the eastern sector. lleys (QGNGV) is a geological and natural area that The rocks deposited by this river and lake contain nu- contains evidence of the geological history of a river merous vertebrate fossil sites that inform us about and a lake, which were active between 5.3 million the biological and environmental evolution during years and, approximately, 500,000 years ago during the Pliocene and the Pleistocene.; their records of an endorheic stage. Later, its sediments gradually the Early Pleistocene (basal Quaternary) are unique eroded during a new exorheic stage that continues in the European context. today, which has shaped the current structure of the Geopark, characterised by tens of thousands of bad- Approximately 500,000 years ago, when the lands- lands. The most recent geological history of this area cape of the whole basin was dominated by a large glacis to the north of the province of Granada is recorded in created by the filling of the depressed areas and the ero- the Pliocene and Pleistocene rocks (from 5.3 million sion of the internal reliefs of the basin, the region beca- years ago to the Present), which cover a Mesozoic ba- me exorheic. The basin was captured by a tributary of sement constituted by Triassic, Jurassic, Cretaceous the Guadalquivir River, the Guadiana Menor River. Sin- rocks and Neogene marine sedimentary rocks. ce then, the Fardes and Guadiana Menor rivers and their many tributaries have been actively eroding the rocks, The protagonists of its continental geological history mainly detrital (in the western sector) or chemical (in are, essentially, a river (the paleo Fardes) and a lake (the the eastern sector), creating a vast and marvellously Baza paleolake), whose legacy is recorded in the exposed preserved landscape of badlands mainly of Plio-Pleisto- rocks in the present-day river valleys of North Granada. cene rocks, with a scarce anthropic influence. From 5.3 million years ago, the paleoriver (western Comprises an area in which that river and lake evol- sector) and the paleolake (Eastern sector) gradually filled ved geologically (an area in which its geological and this large intramontane depression to the north of Gra- paleobiological evolution can be read) and delimited nada, predominantly with fluvial sediments in the wes- by the geographical extension of its physical develo- tern sector – “Hoya de Guadix” - (associated temporally pment over time, only accessible via the most recent and spatially with alluvial fan, palustrine and lacustrine Quaternary fluvial system. deposits), and with lacustrine sediments in the eastern sector – “Hoya de Baza” - (also associated temporally It is the geological history of a river (western sec- and spatially with alluvial fan and palustrine deposits). tor) and a lake (eastern sector). A river and a lake that during part of their sedimentary stage left stone evi- This dynamic generated an exposed and accessi- dence of the ecosystems of the old Quaternary. During ble succession of quaternary sediments (mainly Early the fluvial erosion stage of the modern Quaternary, Pleistocene) with an average thickness of 100 m in the rivers have exposed rocks that reveal the geologi- the western sector, and even thicker in the eastern cal history of the last 250 million years. There is a sig- sector due to a higher subsidence (with a potential nificant impact on the landscape by sedimentary rocks thickness of Quaternary rocks of several hundred of the last 5 million years (old river plains and lacus- metres). The source of this old paleoriver, the Fardes, trine shores inhabited by a spectacular array of large was the same as today, in the surrounding Sierra de mammals), exposed by the current river valleys. In ad- Huétor, flowing into the lake in the eastern sector, dition, we can also observe marine rocks from former which constituted its base level during the aforemen- deltas and reefs of 8 million years ago (when the Atlan-
APPLICATION DOSSIER FOR UNESCO GLOBAL GEOPARK 17 tic Ocean communicated with the Mediterranean Sea The Internal Betic Zone, unlike the External Zone, is via a marine corridor known as the North Betic Strait), constituted by Palaozoic rocks and a Mesozoic and Ter- marine rocks from the Palaeogene, and abyssal marine tiary sedimentary cover. The Internal Zone is divided into deposits from the Cretaceous and on shallow shelves several tectonically overlapping complexes, which from from the Jurassic (from the Tethys Sea), in the long top to bottom are the Malaguide-Dorsal, without alpine Mesozoic era during which, in this part of the planet, metamorphism, the Alpujarride and the Nevado-Filabri- rifting of tectonic plates was occurring, the most di- de, both with alpine metamorphism. Most of the sedi- rect evidence of this being huge extensions of basaltic ments that gave rise to the rocks of the Malaguide, Dor- pillow lavas, which today make up mountains. sal and Alpujarride were deposited far from their current position, towards the east and south-east, in some cases B1.1.Geological Context several hundred kilometres away, and were tectonically The proposed Geopark is located in the central sec- displaced to their present position. (Fig. B112). tor of the Betic Cordillera, which occupies the south and south-east of the Iberian peninsula, covering an The Malaguide complex is formed by a Paleozoic area approximately 600 km long and 200 km wide. basement and a Mesozoic and Tertiary cover with The Betic Cordillera may be divided into several large predominantly red Triassic detrital sediments, over geological domains, including the External Betic Zone which appear dolostones and limestones, from the and the Internal Betic Zone (this latter also known, in- Triassic and the Jurassic, with more marly Cretaceous cluding other sub-domains, as the Alborán Domain). and Tertiary. Malaguide outcrops do not exist within Several Neogene basins formed over these domains, the Geopark, but they are very close to the western including the Guadix-Baza basin which takes in the part in the Diezma sector. The Dorsal is a set of units majority of the QGNGV territory. All these Neogene that appear between the Malaguide and part of the basins together could be considered as another large External Zone of the Betic Cordillera and, above all, domain within the cordillera. (Fig. B111) part of the Rif in North Africa. It is made up of Meso- zoic and Tertiary series in which carbonate materials The External Betic Zone occupies the southern and dominate. From a paleogeographic point of view, a south-eastern margin of the Iberian Massif where, du- large part of the rocks assigned to the Dorsal could be ring the Mesozoic and part of the Cenozoic, there was considered as a sedimentary cover of the Malaguide an accumulation of mainly marine sediments, which (Sanz de Galdeano, 1997). Within the Geopark, one of were subsequently deformed and then emerged. It is its sites of geological interest, the Jabalcón mountain, divided into the Subbetic and the Prebetic. This latter is attributed to the Dorsal. was located closer to the Iberian massif and its marine facies are not very deep, while pelagic and deep facies The Alpujarride complex has metamorphism and appear in the Subbetic. The Subbetic crops out in the its series type is made up of schists in the base, phy- western and eastern sectors of the Geopark, while the llites and quartzites, sometimes with gypsums and in- Prebaetic lies in the northern sector, in valleys such as trusions of basic igneous rocks, and some significant those of the Castril and Guardal Rivers. The Subbetic Trias, with red detrital sediments, variegated gypsums and carbonates, contains the oldest sediments of the External Zone of the cordillera, and its outcrops within the Geopark may be considered as some of the oldest in the park. In general, the Jurassic rocks of the Exter- nal Zone are represented by dolostones and limesto- ne platforms, on occasion oolitic limestones, nodular limestones generated on high seabeds created by the fracturing of these ancient platforms, and marly li- mestones, white-toned marls and radiolarites, among other sediments deposited in deeper parts of the new seas and ocean beds that were being generated. In the- se deeper areas, and as vestiges of the new oceans for- med by the fracturing of the lithosphere existing in this sector, there is an appearance of volcanic and sub-vol- canic rocks, represented within the Geopark in the Alamedilla sector. During the Cretaceous, white-toned marly sediments predominated, which sometimes had salmon tones, along with some deposits of radiolarites. Fig.B111. Geological and geomorphological map of the Guadix-Baza basin where the limit of These marly sediments continued during the Palaeo- the proposed Geopark and the main geological domains and active structures related to the cene, until the creation of the Neogene basins. Geopark are indicated.
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