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Environmental Geology in Spain - Almeria, a site of historical and geological significance

23.02.2016

Newsfeed of the day

by Maya Schmitt

Almería – a site of historical and geological significance

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The Alcazaba fortress is the largest Muslim fortress in Europe. Historically, the masonry work as well as the impressive influence of the Muslim period makes the fortress unique. It also documents the Christian reconquer of Spanish territory to the Arabas through the different architecture. For instance, the fortress has square and round towers. The square towers were built by the Arabas and the round towers by the Christians afterwards. The round towers became suitable for the use of canons when they were introduced as a defence method. Almería also used to be a very wealthy city and much of it was built on marble. This changed with the bombings of the Spanish Civil War where some 200 air raids devastated the town.


In addition, Alcazaba was largely destroyed by an earthquake in 1522. Most significantly though, the occurrence of earthquakes is not a dated phenomenon. As a matter of fact, Almería experienced a heavy earthquake on January 25, 2016 giving contemporary relevance to geological impacts in the region.


With both the historical and geological background in mind, the image shows an oil platform in the harbour of Almería. What significance does this hold for us? The fortress representing past wealth, the town the people and industrial element looming in the distance? Almería is rich in history and surrounded by a sea of greenhouses; what a contrast.

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