Sediments that became rock
Rivers carried materials down from the mountains into the basin. In the Ronda area, coarse sediments accumulated and gave rise to conglomerates and, later, to calcarenites. These last are calcareous sandstones containing marine fossils. The rocks therefore hold information about an environment very different from today’s.
The sea withdraws and the land rises
Around 5.6 million years ago, a fall in sea level and a period of tectonic activity contributed to the uplift of the region. The ground was exposed to surface erosion and a network of watercourses developed, converging on the channel known today as the Guadalevín.
Why a gorge forms
Not all rock responds to water in the same way. Erosion of hard materials is slower and can produce sheer cuts and vertical walls; softer materials favour more open forms. Fractures play their part too. That combination helps explain both the narrowness of the gorge and the variety of forms around it.
Looking at the rock without altering it
Observing layers, cracks and textures is part of the experience. Do so from the marked route and respect the materials around you. The rules prohibit damaging geological features or making inscriptions. The best way to keep a detail that surprises you is to remember it, or photograph it without getting in anyone’s way.