Costa Quebrada has officially been recognised as a UNESCO Global Geopark, the first of its kind in the region. This remarkable natural site is situated along the central coast of Cantabria and covers an area of 345 square kilometres across the municipalities of Santander, Santa Cruz de Bezana, Piélagos, Miengo, Suances, Santillana del Mar, Polanco, and Camargo.
The international body thus recognises a unique location, characterised by geological features that span over 240 million years, shaped by fluctuations in sea levels, tectonic movements, and erosive processes that have crafted an exceptional coastal landscape, as noted by UNESCO.
The passage of time has created unique formations, particularly highlighting the Triassic salt domes, the spectacular coastal rock formations, and the elevated fossil beaches, where ancient sea levels can still be observed.
In addition to its variety of geological formations, Costa Quebrada includes protected areas of significant environmental value, such as the Liencres Dunes Natural Park and Costa Quebrada, as well as the Areas of Special Natural Interest of Pozo Tremeo and Cuevas del Pendo and Peñajorao.
Visitors can also explore spaces that belong to the Natura 2000 Network, including the Liencres Dunes and the Pas Estuaries, the Marine Area of the Portio Islets-Isla Conejera-Isla de Mouro, the Puntal Dunes and Miera Estuary, Rogería Cave, and the final stretch of the Pas River.
To enhance the experience, the proponents of its candidature encourage visits to local museums, such as the Prehistory and Archaeology Museum of Cantabria or the National Museum and Research Centre of Altamira.
UNESCO Geoparks in Spain
Costa Quebrada thus becomes the first Geopark in Cantabrian territory. Spain now boasts a total of 18 Geoparks within this UNESCO International Geoscience and Geoparks Network, ranking second after China. Only 50 countries hold this recognition from the organisation.
Here are all the UNESCO Geoparks in our country:
- Subbéticas Sierras (Córdoba)
- Cabo de Gata-Níjar (Almería)
- Sobrarbe (Huesca)
- Basque Coast (Guipúzcoa)
- Sierra Norte de Sevilla (Andalusia)
- Villuercas-Ibores-Jara (Cáceres)
- Central Catalonia
- Molina and Alto Tajo (Guadalajara)
- Isla de El Hierro (Canary Islands)
- Lanzarote and Chinijo Archipelago (Canary Islands)
- The Loras (Castilla y León)
- Orígens (Lérida)
- Montañas do Courel (Lugo)
- Maestrazgo (Teruel)
- Granada Geopark (Andalusia)
- Cabo Ortegal (Galicia)
- Calatrava Volcanoes (Castilla La Mancha)
- Costa Quebrada (Cantabria)
