Gruta da Cova da Velha

Halfway up the slope, inside the imposing Fórnea amphitheatre, sprouts the temporary spring of Cova da Velha. Of all the seasonal springs in the area, this is the best known, one of the highest and with the greatest flow. It is about 1 kilometre long and runs between lakes and siphons. The gallery, horizontal and rectilinear, can only be visited in its initial part. Oddly enough, some species of moth, such as the Mormo maura, find shelter in the cavity. From the entrance to the cave, if you look out, you can see the north of Fórnea in the distance. The seasonal springs, arranged in a circular pattern in this amphitheatre valley, were partly responsible for its formation. Over time and through regressive erosion, their waters have excavated the rock and caused the headwaters of the water lines to recede. At times of higher rainfall, the waters stored in the underground streams gain force and emerge from the cave. They follow through Fórnea Creek and rush down in beautiful cascades, continuing their flow towards Alcaria. They feed and form Alcaide river, together with the other seasonal creeks in the region, tributaries of the Lena and Cabrão rivers. The walking trail PR4 – Fórnea and Lena springs walking route has a variant (PR4.1), which follows the creek upstream and gives access to the cave. In the summer we cannot see the waterfalls, but we can contemplate the beauty of the rock formations, the richness of fauna, the diversity of flora and the panoramic view, which takes our breath away but rewards the climb.