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Espluga dels Tres Pilars

A 15-metre-deep rock shelter in Odèn, on the right bank of the riera de Canalda, known in the area since time immemorial.

Odèn • Solsonès 15m

A 15-metre-deep rock shelter in Odèn, on the right bank of the riera de Canalda, known in the area since time immemorial.

Characteristics

Location

It is located on the right bank of the riera de Canalda, about a hundred metres before the waters of the torrent de Junyent arrive, on the right. It is located S of the masia de Soldevila and E of the masia de Junyent.

To get there we will set out from Solsona along the LV-4241 road as far as the Cap del Pla. About a hundred metres before reaching it, we will turn left onto a small asphalted road heading W, across a large esplanade. On the left we will leave the masia de Casanova and on the right the reservoirs of the mancomunitat d'aigües del Solsonès. Once past the masia de Casanova we will continue along the asphalted road on the right, which will gradually descend through the obaga del Serrat del Moro. The descent becomes increasingly steep. At a very tight bend, with the Junyent sign, we will leave the vehicle in the most suitable place where it will not cause an obstruction and continue on foot along the forest track that descends to the right, for approximately 100 metres, before crossing the riera de Canalda. We will continue along the narrower, little-used path that climbs to the right, and continues level above the riera de Canalda along the left bank. When we pass beside an electricity transmission tower, we will observe on the other bank of the riera, beneath the buttresses, some black holes; these are the entrances of the great espluga dels Tres Pilars, also called de Soldevilla, since it is located directly below.

We will continue along the path, turning suddenly and descending directly to the riera de Canalda, which we will generally find dry. Once across, we will have to climb uphill through the forest to the foot of the crag, with no marked path. The path we leave reaches font Calders.

Approximate coordinates to be checked.

Map

Entrances

Always verify coordinates and access conditions before setting out.

  1. Tres Pilars, Espluga dels

    Elevation: 852 m

    42.098521, 1.492949
    UTM 31T (ETRS89) 375380 4661813
Download all entrances as GPX

Description

Morphology

It is a large rock shelter excavated in the crag, 15 metres deep. Formerly, when the level of the riera passed over this spot, the weaker materials were eroded in a curious way, leaving three columns. The material forming them is like a red clay and sandstone that breaks down into more or less spherical and fairly compact nodules, while on the ceiling and floor there are conglomerates. It is curious to see how the three pillars support the long flat conglomerate ceiling and reinforce it.

Hydrology

Inside it, water still springs after the rain, and plants take advantage of this to live and seek the light towards the outside.

History

Known in the area since time immemorial.

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Bibliography

  1. Codina, Salvador.(2008).-”Balma dels Tres Pilars”. Corriol (149):12-13. Centre Excursionista del Solsonès.
  2. Valles, Jordi de. (2009).-”Alt Urgell, Noguera, Pla d'Urgell, Segarra, Solsonès, Urgell” Catàleg Espeleològic de Catalunya (2):365. EC Gràcia/FCE.

Source: Espeleoindex (espeleoindex.com), modified. CC BY-NC 4.0, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/