Geopark Description
The Basque Coast Geopark is a small area located in the north os Spain, wedged in between the Bay of Biscay and the Basque mountains and comprising the municipalities of MUTRIKU, DEBA and ZUMAIA. At first sight, what makes the Geopark stand out is the harmony of the various tones of green of its meadows and forests that follow one after the other from the coastline and extend inland. But the true interest of this place is to be found in its bowels. Geology is the true protagonist of a landscape that preserves the history of some of the most dramatic episodes in the Earth’s recent history.
The 13km of cliffs in the Geopark have a spectacular formation of rock layers known as Flysch deposits, which in the manner of a large encyclopaedia show us over 60 million years of the history of the Earth. Geologists and visitors can walk along these cliffs or go on a boat trip and sail across time to discover, for example, the thin black layer that indicates the impact of a giant asteroid and the wholesale extinction of the dinosaurs about 65 Ma ago.
After making a voyage through the Earth’s history, the visitor can lose him/herself in the green inland valleys where more recent time seems to have stopped for ever. Here it is possible to enjoy the roots of one of Europe’s oldest peoples and visit the best set of cave art horses on the planet found at the Ekain cave, which has been declared a World Heritage site.
Her time, the earth, life and our own species are the main players.
Details
Geopark
Country
Spain
City / Region
Basque Coast
Website
Telephone
(+34) 943 192 452
Geosites
Number of Geosites
54
International Relevance
12
Nearest Airports
San Sebastian
Bilbao
Train-Stations
Zumaia Train Station
Deba Train Station
Gallery
Enjoy the most beautiful landscapes and the most emblematic geosites in these unique and special territories.
Geosites
The Geosites are locals of geological interest that represent the existing geodiversity and have a high educational, tourist and/or scientific level.
Landscapes
The geodiversity is present in the landscapes, that are the cradle for all the existing biodiversity in these territories.
Uses and Customs
Geoparks are territories with a strong cultural and ethnological identity, which are represented by their customs and traditions. These customs and traditions have gained relevance throughout the centuries and became inseparable from the present and history of this regions and its people.
Traditions
Gastronomy
Experiences
The experiences that geoparks provide, trigger authentic experiences and unforgettable emotions.
Services
During your visit, geoparks have restaurants and accommodation available to complement and enrich your experience.
Accomodation
Museums / Interpretative Centre
Museums gather collections that allow us to better understand our existence and everything related to it. They are privileged spaces that tell us about the history of the Earth and life.