Coastal Shapes at La Timba

The erosion, transport and accumulation of sierra sediments, the Mediterranean sea shifting in the Quaternary period, as well as the erosion caused by the wind, rain and sea, have created very interesting shapes along the coastline of Calblanque that reveal the geological history of this area.

 

The light-colored rocky barrier separating the sea from the Rasall Saltflats basin was formed some 70,000 years. Back then, the Mediterranean sea level was higher and its waters warmer and shallower than now, causing the calcareous remains of marine animals to penetrate the coastal sands.

 

When the sea receded, this formation was affected by intense erosion, creating landforms where one can see vertical tube-like structures shaped by wave-pounding. Behind this formation there are old sand dunes of darker color exposing the horizontal stratification of sand layers deposited by the wind. These are much more fragile and could actually be considered fossil dunes.