#4 Algarve Coast
October, 2022
The Algarve coast, a captivating stretch of sun-kissed shores along Portugal's southern tip, boasts a rich geological and historical tapestry that has shaped its unique landscape. Its dramatic cliffs, composed of sandstone and limestone formations, bear the imprint of millions of years of tectonic shifts and erosion. The region's geological history began in the Carboniferous period, when sediments deposited in the ancient Rheic Ocean gradually transformed into the clayey schists and greywackes found in the Algarve Mountains. During the Cretaceous period, a shallow marine environment prevailed, leaving behind layers of limestone and sandstone that would later form the iconic cliffs and caves along the coast.
