In Zumaia, 34 kilometres west of San Sebastian, is Itzurun, a beach that forms part of one of the most spectacular stretches of the coast of Gipuzkoa. Its enormous vertical cliffs, limestone walls that reach up to 150 metres high, attract the attention of everyone who sees them.
It is a geological phenomenon called flysch, formed over thousands of years by erosion. And although for those who are not very knowledgeable about geology, it is true that it is much more than that. In fact, Itzurun beach has many more secrets to reveal.
A beach full of history
The rocks that form part of the flysch are like pages that tell the 60 million year history of our planet. It is actually a succession of rock layers that were deposited in a deep sea basin. Hard layers (limestones, shales, sandstones) and soft layers (marls and shales) are interspersed. It also holds the key to one of the great events that occurred throughout history: the Cretaceous/Tertiary boundary, related to the impact of a meteorite that marked the extinction of the dinosaurs 65 million years ago.
Beyond geology
Apart from its geological importance, Itzurun has a lot to offer. It is a golden sandy beach very close to the town centre of Zumaia. It is 270 metres long and has strong waves, making it the perfect place to practise different types of water sports.
It is also said that the waters of Itzurun contain one of the best biomarine seabeds in Europe, renowned for its high concentration of minerals and trace elements, especially iodine.