SEPTEMBER 27^th – 30^th, 1999

27th September: Littoral platform and Candeeiros Sierra

Departure of Lisbon

Óbidos – Ancient medieval village surrounded by fortified belt. Diapiric structure with subterranean gypsum exploitation.

Peniche – Sardine fishing town. Limestone platform with karren filled up by sediments. Furninha cave: archaeological cave related with Tyrrhenian sea levels.

Rio Maior – Fonte da Bica saline: salt exploitation by evaporation of water running over Jurassic evaporitic marls.

Alcobertas – Christianised dolmen

Santarém – Gothic Portuguese capital (XIII-XIV centuries).

28th September: Santo Antonio Plateau, poljes and Alviela Spring

Pé da Pedreira – Speleological Interpretation Centre of Algar do Pena cave; visit of stone-paving quarries: problems of heritage conservation.

Amiais de Baixo – Alviela springs; sinking and resurgence of Amiais river; fluvial beach.

Alvados – Open polje of Alvados: Reculee (headwall) of Fornia and perched Cova da Velha spring cave.

Mira de Aire – Show caves: geomorphology and problems of conservation.

Final sector in Mira de Aire show cave

Minde – Tectonic polje of Minde: morphology, sediments, hydrology and problems of aquifer contamination.

Overflow in Minde polje

29th September – Fátima and Almonda cave

Fátima – Sanctuary of Virgin Mary cult.

Bairro – Dinosaur tracks, problems of stone, karst and tectonic heritage conservation.

Vale da Serra – Speleological trip in Almonda cave; archaeological interest.

Batalha – Gothic monastery from the XIV century with Manueline style chapels.

30th September – Coimbra and Condeixa travertines

Coimbra – University Library and Se Velha (Old Cathedral, XII century)

Coimbra University Library

Condeixa – Quaternary travertine deposits: genesis and exploitation.

Conimbriga – Roman ruins from Augustus epoch (I century) supplied with water from a karst spring.

Anços – Karst spring and rock shelters in the canyon valley of Vale dos Poios. Senhora da Estrela perched cave.

Return to Lisbon

Subterranean gypsum exploitation near Óbidos

Liasic sea face with deep karren in Peniche

Trop-plein at Alviela springs

Fornea head valley near Alvados polje

Tube passage in Moinhos Velhos cave,
wild Black River reaches of Mira de Aire cave

Reach with underground river in Almonda cave

Cornices and periglacial talus debris on Vale dos Poios, Sicó Massif

Olho de Água de Anços karst spring