Alvados slope – panoramic view
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From this place, at the top of the escarpment of Alvados fault, you can enjoy extensive landscape covering some of the most emblematic Estremadura Limestone Massif morphostructures. Nearby stands a sinkhole.
In the foreground and from the foot of the fault scarp, is Alvados’ depression with a small pond - Alvados lagoon.
Still in the foreground, but south, a remarkable relief stands out: the ridge known as Castelejo. Its western edge is developed parallel to Alvados fault until this curve towards the section known as Ribeira da Canada fault. Its origin is linked to the interaction of oblique thrust movements by faults of Alvados, of Santo António and the one limiting its eastern edge during Paleogene and Neogene. This resulted in the juxtaposition of highly resistant compact limes on marl and marly limestone less resistant to erosion, so Castelejo corresponds to a hard relief of tectonic origin.
In the background, can be seen São Mamede plateau and southeast, immediately after a set of quarries where the variety of ornamental limestone known for Alpinina is explored, is the top where is the triangulation station of Pedra do Altar. Farther away you can see Aire’s mountain.
Photo above – south area of Alvados depression. In the foreground Castelejo and in the background Pedra do Altar.
Depression – landform sunken or depressed below the surrounding area.
Doline (also known as sinkhole) - a closed surface depression draining underground in karst landscape. Dolines are usually more large than deep, "bowl-shaped" and can have only a few or many hundreds of meters in diameter.
Fault –cracks in the Earth's crust where movement occurs on at least one side.
Marl - sedimentary rock that has a carbonate and a clay component in more or less equal parts.
Morphostructure – relief form resulting from the terrain geologic structure.
Neogene – part of the Upper Cenozoic, between 23.5 and 1.75 million years. Includes the Miocene and the Pliocene.
Paleogene - the beginning of the Cenozoic Era. It began 65 million years ago (My) and lasted until 23.5 My. Includes the Paleocene, the Eocene and the Oligocene periods.
Thrust - formed by horizontal compressive stresses and so cause shortening of the crust. Because the hangingwall moves up relative to the footwall, most of these faults place older rocks over younger ones.
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From this place, at the top of the escarpment of Alvados fault, you can enjoy extensive landscape covering some of the most emblematic Estremadura Limestone Massif morphostructures. Nearby stands a sinkhole.
In the foreground and from the foot of the fault scarp, is Alvados’ depression with a small pond - Alvados lagoon.
Still in the foreground, but south, a remarkable relief stands out: the ridge known as Castelejo. Its western edge is developed parallel to Alvados fault until this curve towards the section known as Ribeira da Canada fault. Its origin is linked to the interaction of oblique thrust movements by faults of Alvados, of Santo António and the one limiting its eastern edge during Paleogene and Neogene. This resulted in the juxtaposition of highly resistant compact limes on marl and marly limestone less resistant to erosion, so Castelejo corresponds to a hard relief of tectonic origin.
In the background, can be seen São Mamede plateau and southeast, immediately after a set of quarries where the variety of ornamental limestone known for Alpinina is explored, is the top where is the triangulation station of Pedra do Altar. Farther away you can see Aire’s mountain.
Photo above – south area of Alvados depression. In the foreground Castelejo and in the background Pedra do Altar.
Depression – landform sunken or depressed below the surrounding area.
Doline (also known as sinkhole) - a closed surface depression draining underground in karst landscape. Dolines are usually more large than deep, "bowl-shaped" and can have only a few or many hundreds of meters in diameter.
Fault –cracks in the Earth's crust where movement occurs on at least one side.
Marl - sedimentary rock that has a carbonate and a clay component in more or less equal parts.
Morphostructure – relief form resulting from the terrain geologic structure.
Neogene – part of the Upper Cenozoic, between 23.5 and 1.75 million years. Includes the Miocene and the Pliocene.
Paleogene - the beginning of the Cenozoic Era. It began 65 million years ago (My) and lasted until 23.5 My. Includes the Paleocene, the Eocene and the Oligocene periods.
Thrust - formed by horizontal compressive stresses and so cause shortening of the crust. Because the hangingwall moves up relative to the footwall, most of these faults place older rocks over younger ones.
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Lisboa e Vale do Tejo
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Porto de Mós
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Serras de Aire e Candeeiros Nature Park
Identification and Access
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No
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Access from:
- Porto de Mós (± 15 km) by N362 to Serro Ventoso. There turn left to Pebada Street, following to Principal Street and Luís de Camões Street. Before S. Bento turn left to the hills’ top;
- Alcanena (± 19 km) by N365 to Moitas Venda. There take the road to Serra de Sto. António. Follow to Telhados Grande, Covão do Sabugueiro and S. Bento. There take the road on your right to the hills’ top;
- Rio Maior (± 36 km) by N361. In Amiais de Cima turn to Estrada Principal (Main Road) to S. Bento. There take the road to the top of the hills.
Access to the top by S. Bento, Covões Largos or Chainça villages.
GPS: 39.539206, -8.785466
Base Characterization
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On the hills top.
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Private
Tips
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Next to this place, accessible only on foot, is a sinkhole (GPS: 39.540187, -8.784933). Northwest, also accessible only on foot from Chão das Pias, is the top of “fórnia” (GPS: 39.556910, -8.808041).
