Terreras de la Virgen

Terreras de la Virgen

Very close to the Ribagorda Hermitagelooking at it from the hillside opposite, there are the "Terreras de la Virgen or "Carcava de Ribagorda", at one end of the Muela from which they take their name.

<< How arrive?

From Peralejos To Las Terreras we take a forest track that starts next to the municipal pelota court, and after two kilometres or so we take a detour to the left passing in front of the town's clean point. From here to Las Terreras there will be about 5 kilometres of track in relatively good condition.

<< Features

The Terreras de la Virgen describe a landscape that is difficult to explain. Large grooves eroded into the mountain ridge have exposed the materials on which the soil sits, presenting a tremendous contrast in white with the surrounding environment.

According to the historical information gathered, the Ribagorda gully may have begun in embryonic form between the end of the Middle Ages (15th century) and the beginning of the Modern Age. It is therefore considered that the factor that triggered the erosive processes that have left it exposed was the human transformation of the landscape through grazing, woodcutting and cultivation. We believe that this erosion was accentuated at the end of the 18th century, when there was an increase in the demand for wood for use as charcoal in the Los Morencos smithy.

The shapes observed in the gully indicate very active water erosion and mass movement processes. These, together with the production of sediments, which have already occupied the recently constructed settling basins in a very short time, are unmistakable signs of intense activity. Numerous studies consider its high erosive activity to be the direct consequence of human disturbance of the equilibrium in the geomorphological system and a good example of the effects of deforestation of the native forest.

Despite its origin due to the mismanagement of timber resources, we find one of the most curious landscapes of the Natural Park, the light colours of the kaoliniferous sands do not seem to fit in anywhere. The contrast is striking.