Volcà del Croscat

The Volcà del Croscat (789 m) is a prominent Strombolian scoria cone volcano, located between the municipalities of Santa Pau and Olot, within the heart of the Garrotxa Volcanic Zone Natural Park. It is considered the youngest volcano on the Iberian Peninsula and also the largest in terms of dimensions, with a relative height of 160 meters and an oval-shaped base.

Its morphology features a characteristic horseshoe-shaped crater, known as the Clot Segolla, which opens to the west. From here, a lava flow emerged, traveling 6 km, blocking the path of the Fluvià river and giving rise to the emblematic Fageda d'en Jordà (Beech Forest of Jordà). Past mining extractions, known as the "grederes" (ash quarries), left an imposing cut on its northern flank, which now allows observation of the cone's internal structure with its layers of lapilli and volcanic bombs. This intense mining activity was the catalyst for environmental movements that led to the creation of the Natural Park in 1982 and the subsequent restoration of the area for educational and tourist use.

At the summit of Croscat, lie the remains of an ancient military optical telegraph tower (No. 67 of the Girona-Olot line), built between 1848 and 1849. This fortification served as a lookout and defense point during the Second Carlist War (War of the Matiners), adding a layer of historical interest to this unique volcanic landscape.