Cova del Temple

The Balç de les Roquetes forms a broad balcony hanging at a height of about 10 metres. It has a width on the order of 30 metres by a maximum depth of 7 metres. The tufa rock forms curious shapes as a result of karstification. From the balcony emerge some small galleries, of which only the so-called Cova del Temple need be mentioned, formed by three conduits joined by narrower passages, reaching the last one which forms a small chamber wider than the first ones, which the first explorers called the temple. In the easternmost sector of the Balç de les Roquetes an opening can still be found in the ceiling which, once passed, leads out into an upper level that opens to the outside through a broad doorway.

We can observe ancient water impoundment levels clearly marked on the walls and which correspond in the opposite sense with the void of the cliff, which indicates to us that the cavities were much larger and have been cut by the erosion that has made the cliff recede. The abundant formations make us imagine an important former water activity. Some human bones have been found embedded in the stalagmitic formations.

Everywhere we see water level marks, which indicates to us that they functioned in a humid period, possibly very close in time (speaking in geological terms); currently all the cavities are completely dry and full of an omnipresent dust originating from the decomposition of the tufa itself. We find no drip.

From the balcony of the Balç de les Roquetes emerge some small galleries. In the Cova del Temple a grille can still be seen that in past times closed off access to the gallery. In the easternmost sector of the Balç de les Roquetes an opening can still be found in the ceiling which, once passed, leads out into an upper level that opens to the outside through a broad doorway.

The most important cavity in the Esplugues de Carme group (l'Anoia).