The Spanish area where more than 300 volcanoes sleep

The province of Ciudad Real holds surprises such as the Campo de Calatrava, also known as the volcanic province of Calatrava. Located in the heart of Ciudad Real, the capital itself rests on several of the volcanos that mark the landscape of this land. In total there are more than 300, congregated in a space of 5,000 square kilometers, which make this region one of the three most important areas of recent volcanism in the Iberian Peninsula. The other two are in Catalonia and Andalusia: the area of Olot, in Girona, and Cabo de Gata, in Almería. The province of La Mancha, however, can boast of having the first museumized volcano on the peninsula. That is nothing.

300 sleeping volcanoes in an active zone

Campo de Calatrava

The slopes of the Cabeza Parda volcano in Campo de Calatrava. | javier martin, Wikimedia

As already mentioned, the volcanoes of Campo de Calatrava extend over a great territory that extends to more than 5,000 square kilometers in the province of Ciudad Real. Its activity began to develop millions of years ago, specifically 8.5 million years ago, but the last eruption took place just 5,000 years ago. As it is considered a recent activity, the volcanic buildings can be observed with their original morphology.

The volcanism of Campo de Calatrava is related to the uplift of the Betic Cordilleras and the displacement of the Eurasian and African plates. It can be distinguished, on the one hand, the type of Strombolian volcanism, which originated small conical volcanoes, currently rounded hills whose diameters range from 100 meters to two kilometers. But the most frequent volcanism is hydromagmatic, which gives rise to volcanic depressions that are difficult to distinguish on the ground. They are called maars, wide and low volcanic craters that are usually filled with water. In the rainy season they gather a rich and varied biodiversity.

In addition, half of the volcanoes are considered extremely dangerous in the event of an eruption, since the magma would come into contact with the groundwater of the aquifers, which would release an immense amount of energy. This area is a dormant but active zone, having experienced eruptive episodes less than 10,000 years ago. In any case, it is not expected that any of the 300 volcanoes will wake up in the near future.

Getting to know Campo de Calatrava

calatrava

Poblete volcano. | Javier martin, Wikimedia

What can be observed are phenomena linked to this volcanic feature. For example, the appearance of geysers, a special type of hydrothermal source that periodically emits a column of hot water and steam. In recent years, they have been seen in places near towns such as Bolaños de Calatrava or Almagro.

The main center of interest in Campo de Calatrava is the Cerro Gordo volcano, in Valenzuela de Calatrava. It is of Strombolian type and stands out for being the first museumized volcano in the Iberian Peninsula. It can, therefore, be visited, although it will surely surprise those who do, because it is not the volcano that one has in mind. It is a small mountain that allows, by opting for a guided tour, to understand the history and peculiarities of these phenomena.

It also highlights the volcano and lagoon of Peñarroya, whose summit can be climbed to observe the crater and the lagoon of Las Maestras or Alcolea. It is a place of great beauty. For the curious, the first volcano in the area was the Morrón de Villamayor de Calatrava, while the youngest is the Columba, between Calzada and Granátula, which is 5,000 years old. Most of these formations have been protected as Natural Monuments.

All in all, a route through this Campo de Calatrava, through this volcanic province of Ciudad Real, is most interesting. Because of its general lack of knowledge, it is also most surprising.

You can also read this article in Spanish and French.


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