Balma de la Vall Closa

Small rock shelter in the Serra de Pàndols, in the Vall Closa, a civil war refuge (1938), 12 m long, 8 m deep and 6 m high.

Pinell de Brai, El • Terra Alta 8m

EspeleoWorld

Small rock shelter in the Serra de Pàndols, in the Vall Closa, a civil war refuge (1938), 12 m long, 8 m deep and 6 m high.

Pinell de Brai, El · Terra Alta

Length: 8 m

Updated record

https://espeleoworld.com/en/c/balma-de-la-vall-closa

Information can change. Always verify coordinates, access, weather, and cave conditions before setting out.

Topographic map of the main entrance — Main entrance · ICGC topographic map

Small rock shelter in the Serra de Pàndols, in the Vall Closa, a civil war refuge (1938), 12 m long, 8 m deep and 6 m high.

Characteristics

Type: Cave
Municipality: Pinell de Brai, El
Region: Terra Alta
Unit: Serres de Pàndols i de Cavalls
Length: 8 meters
Depth: 0 meters
Major Unit: Serralada Prelitoral
Lithology: Limestone
Updated on EspeleoÍndex: October 1, 2023

Location

We will set out from the village of Pinell del Brai along the C-43 road towards Gandesa; when we reach kilometre point 8 we will leave the car in a small widening. On the left we will take a path that climbs the Vall Closa and we will pass beside an information panel that explains the importance of this place during the civil war. The name of the valley refers to the lack of natural exits on its SW slope. It will be necessary to climb the valley almost to its head and cross the torrent bed to the right, where we will find the rock shelter. A few metres further S is the cave of the same name.

Entrances

Always verify coordinates and access conditions before setting out.

Balma de la Vall Closa
Elevation: 353 m
41.036500, 0.485108
UTM 31T (ETRS89) 288601 4545856
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Topographic

Balma de la Vall Closa - Topography, Pinell de Brai, El, Terra Alta

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Espeleoindex · CC BY-NC 4.0, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ · Image © its author.

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Photos

Balma de la Vall Closa - Photo, Pinell de Brai, El, Terra Alta

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Espeleoindex · CC BY-NC 4.0, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ · Image © its author.

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Description

Morphology

The rock shelter, half invaded by vegetation, has dimensions of 12 m in length by 8 m in depth and 6 m in height.

Progression

We will set out from the village of Pinell del Brai along the C-43 road towards Gandesa; when we reach kilometre point 8 we will leave the car in a small widening. On the left we will take a path that climbs the Vall Closa. It will be necessary to climb the valley almost to its head and cross the torrent bed to the right, where we will find the rock shelter.

History

The Vall Closa was easily defensible; many soldiers of the International Brigades and of the biberó levy passed through here. This particularity made it suitable for the rest of the troops who relieved the soldiers of the front in the battle of the Ebro (1938). The rock shelter served as a refuge to hide from the air attacks of the rebels.

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Bibliography

Totes les dades, topografia i fotografies han estat extretes del web: geb.cat (del Grup d'Espeleologia de Badalona). Apunt del 14-11-2022. Dades: Josep Cuenca i Xavier Samarra (GEB)