The Costa da Castanheira panoramic is a geosite of geomorphological interest, located at 1026 meters altitude, and it is an amazing point of observation of the morphology and the Freita Mountain, as well as the evolving morpho-structural sets. Placed over early Ordovician metasediments, the geosite is located at southwest of this mountain, allowing to observe, to North, and when the visibility is good, the entire Freita Mountain and the Caima river, especially the Frecha da Mizarela, many mountain villages, the geosites of the Freita Mountain’s plateau and the Wind Farm. It is also possible to observe the Arda valley, the Gamarão mountains, the Paiva valley and the imposing Montemuro Massif. To west, a privileged view to the Atlantic Ocean and the coastline from the Aveiro region (with particular reference to the Aveiro lagoon) to Oporto. To south/southwest, there’s the Felgueira-Preguinho (NW-SE) fault, responsible for the southwest slope of the Freita Mountain and for the individualization of the Freita and Arestal Mountains blocks. This fault also causes a gap (of about 200 m) between the climactic surfaces of these two blocks of the Gralheira Massif: the highest block, Freita Mountain, and the lowest block, Arestal Mountain. Still in this direction, it is possible to observe the Caramulo Mountain, to south of the Vouga river, followed by the Mondego valley and the Estrela Mountain.
Location: Arouca
Location: Arouca
