The Cantabrian Mountain Range is a privileged setting for observing different geological scenarios of great scenic beauty and educational interest. In coastal areas, where rocks are free from the lush vegetation that characterizes the so-called Green Coast, a series of landscape elements are concentrated whose configuration has been essentially shaped by Geology.

Course example

These courses combine lectures and excursions to different areas of geological interest in the Cantabrian Mountain Range. Here are some examples:

• Picos de Europa National Park where karst and glaciers have been the main modeling agents.
• Karst coast of Llanes where you can observe the different elements that form part of a coastal karst such as flooded sinkholes and spectacular blowholes.
• Dinosaur Coast, where we will witness the transition from Jurassic seas to the continental areas where these great reptiles lived. In fact, Asturias has one of the best collections of dinosaur remains in the world.
• Somiedo Natural Park, where the great variety of rock types that outcrop in this sector is responsible for the rich biodiversity of Asturias’ first protected area. It contains magnificent examples of glacial and fluvial modeling.
• Ponga Natural Park
• Redes Natural Park
• Costa Quebrada Geopark (Cantabria), an impressive natural laboratory that reveals millions of years of geological history. Its cliffs, beaches, and unique rock formations narrate the evolution of the coastal landscape in the context of a large fold in Mesozoic rocks.
• Las Loras Geopark (Burgos), combines spectacular landscapes with exceptional geological richness. Recognized as a UNESCO Global Geopark, it contains formations over 200 million years old, such as imposing canyons, limestone escarpments, and singular folds that narrate the history of the Earth. Its numerous marine fossils, caves, and waterfalls, together with its biodiversity and cultural heritage, make it a paradise for lovers of nature, geology, and ecotourism.

Among the main objectives of this type of course is understanding the tectonic phenomena that have led to the formation of the Cantabrian Mountain Range, the action of the Variscan and Alpine orogenies. The formation of coastal platforms will also be addressed, of which there are magnificent examples along the entire Asturian coast and which are related to tectonic processes that have been occurring since the Tertiary.

Another objective will be the study of modeling on Carboniferous limestones in two very different environments, such as a mountain environment and a coastal environment. The different landscape elements in both environments will be differentiated.

It is also intended to achieve a greater understanding of the formation of fossils and tracks in the context of the Jurassic period, where changes in sea level have been reflected in its rocks and faunal content.

Field visits have a hiking focus, so acceptable physical condition and ability to walk on irregular and occasionally slippery terrain are required. These visits could be accompanied by visits to related tourist facilities such as the Glacial Fauna Museum and the Jurassic Museum of Asturias.