This sector, where the famous bench is located, is characterised by a large number of very attractive coastal forms, such as the rocky arches of Pena Furada and O Coitelo, or the tombolos on the beaches of A Ribeira, O Carro and A Fábrega.
On the latter beach, we can find the remains of an ancient, very explosive and violent underwater vulcanism, similar to that of Vesuvius, Mount St. Helena or Pinatubo. Volcanic activity is visible in the form of white rocks that sometimes contain layers of ash and even fragments that were ejected at high speed from the volcanic cone, but all that was 475 million years ago.
Moreover, at O Picón beach, the rocks show the passage of icebergs when the whole area was geographically close to the South Pole.
City council: Ortigueira
Can I visit it?: Yes, by walking or driving along the coastal area.
Further information: This route between the beach of San Antón – in Espasante – and the start of the Estaca de Bares headland offers a fantastic view of the mouth of the Ortigueira-Cariño estuary. One of the must-see sites – and one of the best observatories of volcanism from millions of years ago – is the Loiba bench. Extreme caution is recommended when walking along the cliff areas. It is also recommended to avoid any visit on stormy days.
