The ‘Spanish Grand Canyon’: a journey from Teruel to Arizona
The rocky formations and spectacular panoramas of the ‘Spanish Grand Canyon’ conjure up images of the American Wild West.
The rocky formations and spectacular panoramas of the ‘Spanish Grand Canyon’ conjure up images of the American Wild West.
The Grand Canyon of the Colorado River Basin is one of the great tourist attractions in the United States. Nevertheless, one need not travel so far to visit a remarkably similar setting on the Iberian Peninsula. In fact, the ‘Spanish Grand Canyon’, Red Canyon or Cañón Rojo lies a mere 6 kilometres from the town of Teruel in northeastern Spain.
The naturally formed gorge known as the Barrachina Ravine, with its steep, red and orange coloured canyon walls, bears a striking resemblance to the famous canyon in the United States.
A one-of-a-kind geological formation
Similar to Spain’s other topographically rugged areas like the Vacas Gorge and the Hoz Gorge, the Red Canyon’s current topography has been the result of millions of years of water and wind erosion.
These stunning rocky formations, whose warm tones are due to the oxidised iron found in the clay, share the terrain with diverse scrubland vegetation. This chromatic combination, so characteristic of the American Wild West, is especially beautiful at sunrise and sunset.
Exploring the ‘Spanish Grand Canyon’
Natural lookout points and panoramic views
Throughout the nearly 65-hectare area, a number of natural vantage points can be found, from where some spectacular vistas of the canyon can be enjoyed and the unique, alien-like landscape can be better appreciated.
Moreover, these spots are ideal for bird-watching. Some of the bird species that inhabit this area pertaining to Villaespesa township are the golden eagle, vulture and the eagle-owl.
Easy trekking routes in the ‘Spanish Grand Canyon’
Beyond gravity-defying views from on high, the ‘Spanish Grand Canyon’ also merits a walk along some of its diverse and easily accessible trekking routes. The uncrowded trails ensure the greatest tranquillity and connection with the setting.
Walking among the steep canyon walls and climbing to the top of Teruel Plateau are not daunting activities and a visit to the summit offers a unique perspective on the place. Some remains of military positions dating from the Spanish Civil War can still be seen there today.
A scene from a movie
Perhaps a scene from an advertisement, to be more precise. While Spaghetti Westerns were mainly filmed in the Spanish region of Almería, Teruel’s Red Canyon has been the setting for a variety of publicity spots.
From cosmetic brands to health club chains have used this area to promote their products. Notwithstanding, the cinematic arts have taken advantage of this spectacular terrain as well, including scenes from films like Devil Dog Road.
You can also read this article in Spanish here.