Avenc de Fontaubella
A 61 m deep pit with the largest entrance in Catalonia, in the Priorat.
EspeleoWorld
Avenc de Fontaubella
A 61 m deep pit with the largest entrance in Catalonia, in the Priorat.
Torre de Fontaubella, La · Priorat
Length: 98 m · Depth: 61 m
Updated record
https://espeleoworld.com/en/c/avenc-de-fontaubella
Information can change. Always verify coordinates, access, weather, and cave conditions before setting out.
A 61 m deep pit with the largest entrance in Catalonia, in the Priorat.
Topographic
Espeleoindex · CC BY-NC 4.0, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ · Image © its author.
Photos
Espeleoindex · CC BY-NC 4.0, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ · Image © its author.
Description
Morphology
Large, almost circular entrance of 22 x 26 metres that gives access to the impressive shaft. From the lower lip the vertical drop is 36 metres, landing right in the middle of the great chaos of blocks that occupy the entire floor.
A very didactic example of a collapse pit. In the lower chamber the bulging of the stratification and its tendency to detach can be observed.
It is the pit with the largest entrance dimensions in Catalonia.
In the two first known surveys the 0 datum was placed at the upper lip, with which the total depth increased by some 6 metres, but if we are to follow the recommended regulations, the 0 datum must be placed at the lower lip.
Progression
Descending among the blocks in a N direction, one reaches a chamber, outside the vertical of the shaft, that reaches the -52 level. Continuing in a S direction from the landing point, the ramp between blocks places us at the point of maximum depth of the cavity (-61 m).
History
A cavity known since time immemorial by the people of the region and mentioned in the oldest speleological catalogues (P. Madoz; C. del Prado; Puig y Larraz,...). The first exploration was carried out on 20 July 1899 by N. Font i Sagué during a campaign dedicated to different Tarragona districts.
Visited later by different generations of Catalan cavers, it is not until 1970 that members of the SIE – CEA carry out the survey of the pit and it is published for the first time.
As for the toponymy, the old catalogues call it Avenc de Fontaubella, even Font i Sagué in his catalogue calls it thus, although after exploring it, in his work he mentions it as Avenc de la Torra.
Joan Ferraté, in his work “Espeleologia de les comarques tarragonines” cites it already as Avenc de la Torre de Fontaubella and also as Avenc de la Torre.
Recently the oldest form has been recovered, although it must be said that the people of the area simply call it: l'Avenc.
Bio
Isopods
Porcellio expansus (Dollfus)
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Bibliography
- Auroux, L. (1972).- “Distribución biogeográfica de algunos isópodos cavernícolas de Cataluña” Com. I Congreso Nac. Espeleología:91-96. Ayuntamiento de Barcelona.
- Font i Sagué, N. (1900).- “Excursió espeleològica al Priorat, Muntanyes de Prades i Alt Penedès” Butlletí del Centre Excursionista de Catalunya (68): 209-226. Barcelona.
- Guillén, P.; Borràs,J. (1981).- “Arxiu GES de cavitats: Avenc de Fontaubella” Sota Terra (2): 58-60. GES del CMB. Barcelona.
- Rovira, J. (1970).- “El Avenc de la Torre de Fontaubella” EspeleoSie (9): 20-25. SIE del CEA. Barcelona.
· Coordenades, topografia SIE-2005, fotografies (Floren i Victor) i altres dades, extretes del blog: Espeleobloc (post del 30 d'agost de 2010).
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Source: Espeleoindex (espeleoindex.com), modified. CC BY-NC 4.0, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/