Environment. Geopark

Itzurun Beach is the most famous beach in Zumaia, open to the Cantabrian Sea and with its dark sands offers us a view of the entire coast from Zumaia to Cape Matxitxako. It has been shown that their sands and waters, due to their high concentration of iodine, are beneficial for health.

One of the great attractions of Itzurun beach is its geological richness, known as the Flysch. It's a succession of rock layers that were deposited in a deep sea basin. In this sequence, hard (limestone, slate or sandstone) and soft (marga and lutitas) layers are interspersed.

Zumaia was at a depth of 1000 meters. The microskeletons of the organisms and the calcareous fossils formed hard strata and the terrine materials formed soft strata of margas. The cyclic alternation of hard/soft material reflects changes in climate and sea level.

It's one of the most spectacular and comprehensive rocky records in the world. In addition, it holds the key to two major events that have occurred throughout the history of the planet:

  • the Cretaceous/Tertiary limit or iridium layer. Related to the impact of a meteorite that marked the extinction of dinosaurs 65 million years ago;
  • the Paleocene/Eocene limit, which records the last major warming on Earth 56 million years ago.

The geological limits of Zumaia have become a global benchmark for scientists, and researchers worldwide, as shown by the stratotypes defined on the beach of Itzurun.

Nowadays, the differential erosion caused by the force of the sea on the cliffs forms the peculiar structures that can be observed in this environment: the hanging valleys, the waterfalls and the unique table structures observed in the abrasion platform. The sea exerts a great erosion force on the cliffs.

The abrasion platform of Zumaia and Deba is one of the largest in Europe (an area of 5,000 square meters is exposed during the low tide). This environment has a great ecological value, with over 200 species living in it that have managed to adapt to extreme living conditions (heat stroke, wave strength, dehydration...).

The municipalities of Mutriku, Deba and Zumaia form the Basque Coast Geopark. A Geopark is a territory with an important geological heritage and has the approval of the UNESCO Department of Earth Sciences, which is part of the European Network of Geoparks (www.europeangeotango.org) and the Globa Network. (www.globalgeopark.org).

The Basque Coast Geopark encompasses on the one hand the impressive flysch of Zumaia, Deba and Mutriku, and on the other hand the meat landscape situated in the internal domains of the three municipalities mentioned. In addition to geological interest, archaeological, ecological, historical and cultural interest is also valued. The Geopark of the Basque Coast has an extension of 90 square kilometers and live about 20,000 inhabitants. The sea exerts a great erosion force on the cliffs.

The rapid retreat of the coastline produces the abrasion platform, which is exposed during the low tide. Zumaia’s abrasion platform is one of the largest in Europe and has an extension of 4300 ha. This environment has great ecological value, with more than 200 species living in it that have managed to adapt to extreme living conditions (heat stroke, wave strength, dehydration). The Biotopo regulation and management plan are currently signalling.

Once all the geochronological limits of the Paleocene have been studied, the limits of Zumaia have been designated stratotypes at the beach of Itzurun, just below the hermitage of San Telmo. The IUGS designated the Zumaia stratotypes in 2007 and the gold nails were placed in 2010, at the D/S (60.5 M.A) and the S/T (58.7 M.A) limit. Right at the head of the Flysch and on the beach of Itzurun, is where the facilities of the Zelai Thalassotherapy are located, a place whose landscape and geological beauty make the place suitable for relaxation, and rest.

HOTEL TALASOTERAPIA ZELAI
T. +34 943 865 100 | F. +34 943 865 178 | harrera@zelaihotela.eus
Playa Itzurun s/n. 20750 - Zumaia (Guipúzcoa) | Registro de turismo: HSS653 | Location

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