Roques de García, Rock formation in Teide National Park, Spain.
Roques de Garcia is a group of volcanic rock formations of varying heights within Teide National Park, with Roque Cinchado being the most recognizable at about 27 meters tall. The rocks rise from a landscape of pale sand and dark volcanic stone that extends across the park's elevated plateau.
The rocks are remnants of an ancient volcanic crater that show how the landscape of Tenerife was shaped over millions of years through geological processes. They represent what remained of an earlier summit before erosion and further volcanic activity reshaped the island.
Roque Cinchado appeared on Spanish one thousand peseta banknotes alongside Mount Teide, making it a recognized symbol of the island. This image gave the formation a lasting place in how people think about Tenerife.
You can reach the formations via a circular trail of about 4.5 kilometers starting from the Parador de Las Canadas del Teide, where parking is available. Information points along the way help you understand what you are seeing and make it easier to navigate the area.
Roque Cinchado contains two intrusive lava sills in its upper section that made the rock more resistant to erosion and created its distinctive columnar shape. This internal structure is why this formation has survived better than the rocks around it.
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