Castellfollit de la Roca, Catalonia, Spain
© Eloi_Omella/Getty Image
A Catalan cliffhanger. Castellfollit de la Roca, Catalonia, Spain
Perched on the edge of a basalt cliff, a town peers at the river running below. Today's image takes us to Castellfollit de la Roca in the Catalonia region of northeastern Spain. This town is not for the faint-hearted: there's a 49-metre drop down to the Toronell and Fluvia Rivers, which converge at the base of the cliff. Many of the buildings, which are made of the same basalt that the town stands on, seem to teeter on the edge of the precipice. Pictured at the end of the crag is the 13th-century church of Sant Salvador.
Castellfollit de la Roca is inside the Zona Volcànica de la Garrotxa Natural Park, which contains around 40 extinct volcanoes. Although there haven't been any eruptions for around 11,000 years, the area is still considered seismically active. In 1428, a major earthquake struck the area, which was felt in Barcelona, more than 50 miles away. The last seismic activity was registered in 1901 and 1902, when there were two minor earthquakes. These days, the park is a popular spot among hikers, who head to Garrotxa to enjoy the region's spectacular volcanic landscapes.
Related Images
Bing Today Images
Rio Grande and Sierra del Carmen mountains in Big Bend National Park, Texas, USA
Vinicunca Mountain in the Cusco Region of Peru
The Glenfinnan Viaduct in Scotland, made famous by the Hogwarts Express in Harry Potter
The Llangattock Escarpment in the Brecon Beacons National Park, Powys, Wales
Rajgad Fort near Pune, India
Prairie and pinnacles near Castle Trail in Badlands National Park, South Dakota, USA
Hope Valley in the Peak District
Glastonbury Tor and St Michael's Tower for the start of the Glastonbury Festival