Pnzvg 2012a

Abstract

Just over 200 years ago, Francesc Xavier de Bolòs divulged the existence of the volcanoes in La Garrotxa to the scientific community for the first time. These volcanoes, whose eruptive activity had remodelled the landscape of Olot and its valleys, have had a remarkable influence over the centuries on local land-use and human activity. The extensive quarrying undertaken in part of the volcanic area from the 1960s to the 1980s provoked considerable social and scientific opposition, which eventually led to the passing of a law in 1982 declaring the volcanoes a protected area. The conservation of this natural heritage is justified by the fact that this is the youngest volcanic area in the Iberian Peninsula and one of the best preserved such areas in continental Europe. The geomorphological features found here include volcanic cones, lava flows, barrage lakes and basalt cliffs, and there are numerous sites where the geological processes that have generated so many different volcanic morphologies can be easily observed in great detail. Despite its legal protection, as part of the tasks implicit in the organization and consolidation of the Natural Park it was still necessary to halt the quarrying and to minimize and restore the region’s damaged geological heritage. A milestone was reached in 1995 with the restoration of the most emblematic volcano in the park, Croscat, not only the youngest volcano in the Iberian Peninsula, but also the one that has suffered most environmental impact. Nevertheless, more in-depth knowledge was required in the Park itself of the local volcanoes in order to build upon the studies undertaken early in the twentieth century and then reactivated in the 1960s. Initially, it was necessary to review all previous work and develop a project for a comprehensive study of the geology of the Catalan volcanic region. The aim of this project, first contemplated in the early 1990s, was to study various geological and geophysical aspects of the Park as a means to learning more about the region’s geological heritage in general. Eventually, in 1993 a project began that, despite its narrower scope, was still very ambitious. It was financed entirely by the Department of the Environment through La Garrotxa Volcanic Zone Natural Park and executed by the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) under the supervision of Dr Joan Martí, and would enable new geologists to be trained in the learning, management and raising of awareness of the volcanoes of La Garrotxa. The results of this project are included in this guide, which in plain and simple terms provides new and valuable information for the study of the volcanoes of La Garrotxa. The publication of this guide is part of the Natural Park's management strategy, approved in 2000, which will enable us to improve our knowledge of volcanic activity in the region, plan research, preserve the Park’s geological and scenic values and increase awareness of the volcanic zone at local, national and international scales. I hope that this guide, which has been painstakingly prepared following strict criteria, helps to increase awareness of the value of this volcanic zone amongst teachers, university students and naturalists alike, thereby guaranteeing the knowledge, management and dissemination of a heritage that has been preserved for future generations.

Francesc Xavier Puig i Oliveras Director of La Garrotxa Volcanic Zone Natural Park