The granite landscape of the Penedos de Pasarela and Traba (Costa da Morte, Galicia, Spain)

The granite massif of Pasarela and Traba is in Costa da Morte (Galicia, NW Spain) and their orientation is North-South. In this zone dominate biotite granodiorite (late hercinic age), whose main mineral is potassium rich feldspar. This is a granite material with a great uniformity and coarse grain, which distinguishes it from two micas granites (further east). The officially called Penedos de Pasarela e Traba was declared on January 12, 2009, as protected landscape by the autonomous government of Galicia.

For the present investigation, a 2-meter resolution digital elevation model has been created. With it and with orthophotos of 27 cm resolution, slope maps have been constructed and 7035 polygons with very varied limits and 1785 fracture lines have been drawn. The surface area of the first ones has been obtained and with the second ones a fracture density map has been elaborated.  All this, together with field work, has made it possible to identify and geolocate 73 singular geoforms with geometric, anthropomorphic or zoomorphic designs that make the Penedos a place of international importance.

Keywords: Galicia, Iberian Península, granitic geomorphology.