Las Loras Geopark, UNESCO Global Geopark in Castile and León, Spain.
Las Loras Geopark is a protected area in the Cantabrian Mountain Range with limestone moorlands, river canyons, and peaks rising above 1000 meters. The landscape combines jagged ridges with deep valleys, creating dramatic terrain for hikers and nature observers.
The geological layers document 250 million years of Earth's history, including the formation of the Atlantic Ocean and events of the Upper Cretaceous period. These rock layers tell the story of vast marine floods and continental movements.
The area contains numerous Romanesque churches, monasteries, and rock hermitages that you can encounter while exploring. These sites reveal how monks and hermits lived and worshiped in this mountain landscape over the centuries.
The area is best explored on foot or by bicycle, as numerous hiking trails and cycling routes cross the region. Most paths lead through open terrain where you can experience the geology and views directly.
The area sits at the boundary between two different climate zones, where alpine plants grow alongside Mediterranean species. This mixing creates unusual diversity within a relatively small space.
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