Rock formations - with shells

[digger]

As one geologist to another, I thank you cowboy.


You are right, ellie, it is "solidified" lava and its been their since long before 1755. Most of the Algarve coastline has remained virtually unchanged since long before that time.

[Gordon and Sandy Low]

Here in Oman we have a beauty spot called Jebel Shams - not dissimilar to the Grand Canyon. You can stand on the edge of the canyon and look straight down one mile to the valley floor... not recommended for vertigo sufferers.
Embedded into the flat rock on the summit are sea shells and subsea fossils!
Its my understanding that it was once the sea bed, forced upwards by the continental plates shifting, (or something or other).
We were up there camping last weekend and, following an hour or two's rainfall (unusual for these parts), witnessed the most wonderful waterfalls from our camping spot right to the valley floor.
Clouds formed hundreds of feet below us, created by the water crashing against the side of the canyon on its way down, and then cleared so we had a clear view of the falls, perhaps 1km wide, right to the bottom.
Wonderful experience and not something I'll soon forget.
Ah.. the wonders of Mother nature!
Sandy

[cowboy]

your welcome digger

[Blondelle]

I bow to your expert knowledge Digger--thanks for the info--so those little rockpools are solidified lava--but as you say from way way back --wonderful thought--that Algarves beautiful coast has been around so long.
Jim posted this subject --wonder if hes satisfied with some of the answers?
Boa noite, Ellie

[heini]

Wonderful experience and not something I'll soon forget.
Ah.. the wonders of Mother nature!
Sandy

Sandy, thanks for the description.Your experience seemed so wonderful because it was unexpected. And for us it was a glimpse into a an area where many of us will never go, at least I think of the whole Arabian peninsula as a mostly arid desert.

[Guest]

Well.. here's something that will surprise you. The coastal area around Carvoeiro is almost identical to Oman's... which is one of the reasons we chose to buy in the Algarve!
Muscat area itself is spectacular, surrounded as it is by (arid) mountains which sweep down to the sea.
We have wonderful beaches - imagine camping on a totally deserted beach with lovely warm water and fabulous snorkelling, bonfires, BBQs and plentiful BYO refreshments.
Check out Oman in the upmarket holiday brochures and weep.
Downside is a total lack of beach bars, although we do have good restaurants and some good pubs.
Not a bad place to hang out... for 12 years!
Sandy

[Gambrinus]

On average, the Algarve coastline recedes roughly 1 meter per year.

Digger, if its not a meter, its not far off - Carvoeiro alone has seen heavy erosion with entire cliff faces coming down from Marinha, Benagil, Carvalho and the town beach over the course of the last 10 years.

If you go past Torralta/Alvor by sea you can see human intervention go as far as to replace the cliff wall with concrete so the nice cliff-top cafés dont fall on to the beach.

If intervention like that or even like on Centeanes beach are that necessary, maybe it is time to start thinking about the causes?? Or am I just being cynical/negative again?

[Rob]

Hi Gambrinus,

I coudn't agree more on your remark regarding 'cliffs' and natural environment.

Just this morning I was thinking about the fact that I have seen Albufeira and Praia da Oura Loose their 'natural Glance' over the years due to mass tourism and environmental changes made for the benefit of Tourism.
Carvoeiro is still authentic as it seems. I hope the local major(s) will take
a great effort in order to preserve Carvoeiro's natural environment.

Tourism and nature must go hand in hand.!