Nerja Caves.
Practical information about the Caves of Nerja.

Nerja Caves

The caves of Nerja are the formation of karstic cavities, with their origin in the chain of the geological processes which occurred within the last 225 million years. In the Triassic period significant quantities of the calcareous mud settled down on the bed of the ancient Mediterranean sea, later on transforming into the calcareous- dolomite marble, which a present shelters the Caves of Nerja.

In the period of the alpine orogeny (the end of Cretaceous/beginning of Miocene) which started 65 million years ago, drifts between the tectonic layers of Africa and Europe resulted in the creation of the Beticas Mountains, such as Sierra Tejeda or Almijara.

The abundance of rain in the last 5 million years (Superior Miocene and Inferior Pleistocene) infiltrated the fissures of marbles stimulating its further dissolution. In this way, huge cavities in which the underground waters circulated were formed. Later on due to the surge of the ground embossment, resulting from the mountain slides in the region in question, the subterranean waters were forced to look for the lower layers to circulate in. In consequence the caves commenced to refill with carbonate deposits- stalactites and stalagmites.

In the last 800.000 years (Medium Pleistocene and Holocene) the impressive stalactites and stalagmites have been formed thanks to the further settling of calcite. The settlement processes have created subterranean the scenery of the Caves of Nerja, which can be admired nowadays.