Cova de Can Marca

Of all the beautiful landforms of Ibiza, one of the most spectacular is the Cova de Can Marca. This popular tourist spot attracts many people in Puerto de San Miguel, Ibiza.

(Photo from ibizaa--z.com)

 This limestone cavern, created by years and years of dissolution processes, shows just how beautiful geological forms can be. Dissolution occurs when a mineral is completely dissolved by water. In this case, when all the right elements come together to form carbonic acid, the limestone dissolves and leaves caverns behind.

(Photo from ibizaa-z.com)

Some beautiful, natural forms found in the Cova de Can Marca are stalactites and stalagmites. Stalactites form from limestone precipitating and hardening from a cavern ceiling. Stalagmites form when dissolved limestone particles drip from a stalactite and build up on the ground. Eventually, when stalagmites and stalactites meet after years and years of forming, they become a column.

(Video from youtube.com)

The above video of a family's trip to the Cova de Can Marca perfectly shows just how big and beautiful this cavern is. It is truly amazing to see the product of hundreds of years of dissolution processes at work.

Sources:
"Cova de Can Marca." ibizaa-z. 2007. 5, March. 2012. www.ibizaa-z.com