Red Rocks Geosite, Local Natural Monument

Category: Nature > Stones

District: Viana do Castelo > Viana do Castelo > Viana do Castelo > Areosa

Location

Situated in the Areosa area, in Viana do Castelo, the Pedras Ruivas Geositet stretches along the coastline. This Local Natural Monument encompasses a strip of approximately 1500 meters in length, between the coastal sector north of Forte de Rego de Fontes and the southern end of Praia Norte.

Its position offers a coastal perspective, where the ocean's proximity defines the surrounding landscape and invites observation of the maritime environment framed by rock formations.

A Journey Through Geological Time

The Pedras Ruivas Geositet is a place that transports us to a very distant past, a true open book on the geological history of our planet. Here, records dating back approximately 500 million years can be found, recounting the evolution of the territory over eras.

The rocks present in this natural monument preserve surprising vestiges, such as trilobite traces and other marks of life that tell the story of the ancient Rheic Ocean and its closure. More recently on the geological time scale, a sediment deposit near the sea reveals the existence of an ancestral lagoon, formed approximately 20,000 years ago. Being in this place is to witness a long evolution of Earth, from primordial oceans to lagoons that preceded the landscape known today.

Natural and Contemplative Value

With an approximate area of 58 hectares, this geositet is not only a space of significant scientific value but also a place where nature reveals itself in a unique way. Its classification as a Local Natural Monument underscores the importance of its preservation, given the clarity with which the region's geology can be observed.

Its extension along the coastline provides a continuous view of the sea, framed by rock formations that bear witness to remote eras. This environment invites contemplation of the landscape and reflection on the vastness of geological time, offering a unique natural setting in Viana do Castelo.

License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt