Puntos de Interés
Orography
Fana Genestaza
A fana is an Asturian term used to describe a distinctive geological feature—a broad, shallow depression formed in a rocky surface, typically found in mountainous regions. Fanas are a result of erosion, both from water and ice. They are characterised by a gentle slope and surrounded by steep walls or cliffs.
The Genestaza Fana, or Fana de Xinestaza in Asturian, is situated on the western slopes of the Sierra de la Cabra. Its name comes from its proximity to the village and parish of Genestaza in the council of Tineo. However, the best views and photographs are obtained from the neighboring village of La Azorera.
The Genestaza Fana is a typical example of a glacial fana, formed during the last glaciation when glaciers advanced down the valley, eroding the underlying rock. As the glacier retreated, it left behind a funnel-shaped depression filled with glacial sediments and meltwater, resulting in the fana. While the process began thousands of years ago, the current landscape took shape during the 19th century with the first landslide of the western slope of the Sierra de La Cabra, which continues to slowly crumble. The outcome is a basin formed by several channels that carry quartzite rocks in their path until converging in a single channel approximately 1 km long and between 2 and 3 m wide.
There are two types of deposits in the fana, each formed differently. Firstly, there are small amounts of soil and rocks that have gradually slid down over time. Secondly, the second type is the result of gelifraction—the combination of freezing and thawing of moisture in the soil, causing it to crack and move slowly.