About 270-325 Million Years Ago .The River Caries Pebbles Into the Sea

About 270-325 million years ago….The river caries pebbles into the sea.

The skeletons of sea creatures and the pebbles lie on the sea and start to pile up

The river dries up and eventually, so does the sea, Limestone is formed as the sediment is crushed under the pressure. Pebbles are cemented in the limestone.

The African plate collides with the Eurasian plate, crumbling up the land.

The river’s Delta is pushed up and stress cracks are formed.

The rain and other precipitations erode and widen the stress cracks

Eventually, Montserrat will be as worn down as Guilin in China because of the limestone dissolved.

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Formula:

The 3 Types of Rock Are:

1.  Igneous (Magma/Lava)

2.  Sedimentary (results from life on the igneous or its weathering)

3.  Metamorphic (where sedimentary rocks are in contract with new Magma, they are heated and changed, e.g. Chalk à Marble)

·  Advantages

Limestone is a very useful rock because it can be used to make cement and building stone, the only problem is that it weathers extraordinarily quickly. Also, limestone is the most reliable rock to go rock climbing because it is full of crevasses that have about 0.1 chances of breaking.

·  Egypt

The sphinx was said to be made years ago but recently, a geologist found that a lot more erosion has happened in that time on the sphinx (made of limestone) than it should have, another years from that, though, the air was much wetter which means that the sphinx could be years older than what had been estimated.

·  Walks to the top of the Mountain are very common in this part of Catalonia because of the amazing view.

·  Mountain biking can also be done.

·  More and more people are marring high up in the little church of Montserrat.

·  People can also go sight seeing and be lucky enough to spot Majorca.

·  Hiking is made for both normal and sporty people. Limestone is the perfect rock to go rock climbing because it is very strong.

·  Many people are interested in seeing how Montserrat was formed.

·  Flora-plants is also a thing that attracts people.

·  But some people prefer to observe Fauna-Animals: deer, rabbit, wild bore, pig, bird, eagle, wild cat and fox.

·  Caves can be visited as well as Museum visits.

·  According to Catholic tradition, the statue of the Black Virgin of Montserrat was carved by St. Luke around 50 AD and brought to Spain. It was, later hidden from the Moors in a cave (Santa Cova, the Holy Grotto), where it was rediscovered in 880 ADby shepherds, according to the legend of the discovery, which was first recorded in the 13th century. The shepherds saw a bright light and heard heavenly music that eventually led them to the grotto and the statue. The Bishop of Manresa, present at the discovery, suggested that it be moved to Manresa, but the small statue was so heavy it could not be lifted. It was like the Virgin had indicated her will to stay on Montserrat to be venerated there.

·  Not only is Montserrat Monastery of significant religious importance but the natural beauty surrounding the monastery is simply breathtaking.

The Monastery of Montserrat, located near the top of the 4000-foot mountain, is home to about 80 monks. Most of those Monks take care of the cemetery. In 1996, 2.6 million visitors came to Montserrat. “Our library has over 300,000 books. We have a choir school. There is a museum with paintings by artists such as El Greco, Picasso and Dalí. There are even treasures from ancient Egypt, amongst which one of the most outstanding treasures is a mummy. Montserrat is culture.” confirms a Spanish Monk. Across from the train station are a couple of gift shops. The monks of Montserrat produce a variety of interesting liquors and also a lot of other things. Ratafia seems to be the most popular which has something like hazelnuts on the picture on the label but no-one really knows whats inside it. Smething else recommended is the variety pack of mini herbal liquors.There are also two hotels, a campground and a couple restuarants on the mountain.

How to get there

Address: 08199 Montserrat (Barcelona), Catalonia, Spain

Location: 56km (35 mi) NW of Barcelona, 592km (368 mi) E of Madrid

Phone: 093-877-77-01

E-mail:

By rail: The best and most exciting way to go is via the Catalán railway, Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya (Manresa line), with 12 trains a day leaving from the Plaça d'Espanya in Barcelona. The central office is at Plaça de Catalunya 1 (tel. 93-205-15-15). The train connects with an aerial cable way (Aeri de Montserrat), which is included in the fare of 12€ round-trip.

By car: Take the N-2 southwest of Barcelona toward Tarragona, turning west at the junction with the N-11. The signposts and exit to Montserrat will be on your right. From the main road, it's 14.5km (9 miles) up to the monastery through eerie rock formations and dramatic scenery.

Hours: Basilica: Daily 8-10:30am, noon-6:30pm
Santa Cova: Apr-Oct, daily 11:20-5:30pm; off-season daily 11:20-5:20pm

Cost: Free

When to go: Montserrat is most crowded on Sundays, as many locals flock to the site on that day. The Feast of the Virgin of Montserrat is April 27, with the Vigil the day before. The vigil is especially popular with young people, who gather at the shrine for music, special readings, and Mass. In 2025, the Montserrat Abbey will celebrate its millennium.

Tip: Dress warmly; the wind is cold even in the summer.