GORLIZ
THE SANDS OF TIME
ASTONDO FOSSIL DUNES
The passage of time and the effects of the wind have shaped the coast of Gorliz in Astondo over millions of years, causing the formation of the dunes.
The petrified sands are part of a quaternary coastal dune field that were fossilised 6000 years ago on the Cretaceous flysch. Among its components is calcium carbonate, which slowly compacts and solidifies the sand when water evaporates and forms several layers.
- Upper layer: Fine sand colonised by vegetation
- Middle layer: Biogenic cemented sand with bivalves, gastropods and foraminiferans.
- Lower layer: Sandy lutites with remains of gastropods and foraminiferans.
DID YOU KNOW the dunes of Astondo are protected under Red Natura 2000? There is a lot of biodiversity on the surface. And they have a large number of species of mushrooms and endemic or threatened plants that are adapted to sandy soil, wind and salt.
