Georuta 9: Sierra de Orea

<< Stop 1: From the Orea Interpretation Centre, take the CM-2111 towards Orihuela del Tremedal. As soon as we leave Oreatake a track that leads off to the right in the direction of the San Cristobal HillAt the junction of which we will find the starting panel of the route of the "Arroyo del Enebral".. After a two-kilometre climb, on a flat area on the left, you will find the first panel.

From the panel we will see that a clearing opens up in front of us in the pine forest, lined with rocks. It is the river of stones of OreaThe rock is made up of thousands of angular quartzite blocks that cover the hillside. These blocks were not brought by a river or glacier, but accumulated by the action of gravity.

It has a maximum thickness of 4 metres and a length of about one kilometre. The blocks come from the nearby ridges and escarpments. Ice and sudden changes in temperature fragmented the quartzite, which disintegrated and fell by gravity, giving rise to this surprising landscape.

<< Stop 2: We continue ascending until we reach the Los Santos pass, where four paths cross. Here we can choose to leave the car and walk up to the Cerro de San Cristóbal in about 15 minutes, or continue the route by car. To do so, take the path on the right, which will lead you to the Cerro de San Cristóbal recreation area. From there, a short walk leads to the viewpoint, where there is a plaque.

We are located at the second highest point of the Alto Tajo Natural Park at 1861 metres in height. The San Cristóbal hill is formed by the oldest rocks in the park, slate and quartzite. These hills form part of the Tremedal massif, in the foothills of the Sierra de Albarracín.

<< Stop 3: We return to the Los Santos pass and turn right to begin the descent. After passing next to the Orea campsite, we arrive at the recreational area of the Frog Fountainin one of whose peatlands a panel is placed.

Here, at the bottom of the valley, we find deposits of sub-current gravels and sands, dragged and accumulated by the Hoz Seca River. A type of marshy environment of great botanical and geomorphological interest develops on these, the peat bogs, i.e. permanently or seasonally waterlogged areas in which partially decomposed plant remains accumulate and which are enclaves of exceptional botanical value, as the species that live here have very special conditions for adapting to the environment.

<< Stops 4 and 5: Continue to the road and turn right in the direction of Orea. A kilometre further on, a track turns off to the left and heads towards the La Salobreja Lagoon. Follow this track for 300 metres and, in a clearing next to a sharp bend to the left, leave the vehicle to approach the red sandstone alleys on foot, where two plaques are located.

Here we can see a curious landscape composed of the result of the erosion and modelling of the rock by atmospheric agents in recent times. The sandstones and conglomerates present lines of weakness through which erosion acts more effectively, resulting in a relief of ruinous appearance known as the enchanted city such as those originating in karst soils.

<< Stop 6: The route continues on foot to the La Salobreja Lagoonwhere a plaque is located. It is a walk of a couple of kilometres one way, which will take approximately 1 hour including the return journey. If you wish, you can do the whole of the walk. route of the "Laguna de La Salobreja".The route is signposted with pink beacons, with a total distance of 14 km and a duration of approximately 4 hours and a half, which will allow you to discover the spectacular Hoz Seca Ravine.

The Laguna de la Salobreja is a small karst wetland located at the bottom of a large dolineIt is located on a substratum of Keuper clays and gypsum. These clays play a very important role in preventing rainwater from filtering into the subsoil, thus giving rise to springs, springs and lagoons. On the other hand, as this substrate contains a large amount of salts, it is the cause of the brackish water in the lagoon, hence the name.

Other examples of salt ponds can be found in the following places Armallah or in Saelices de la Salwhere man built salt pans.

<< Stops 7 and 8: Go back to the road and turn left towards Orea. After one kilometre we find a place on the right where we can park the car, in the volcanic outcrops, where there is a panel and a plaque, ending our route here.

The origin of these rocks confirms that there were volcanoes in the Upper TagusThe rocks are located in volcanic eruptions that took place in a small valley 270 million years ago. In total, about 250 metres of volcanic rock accumulated: consolidated ash and chaotic-looking, greenish-grey rocks called agglomerates. This was not the only place in the region where eruptions occurred, but at the same time, they also occurred in other nearby areas of Guadalajara, Cuenca and Teruel.