THE GLACIAL HISTORY OF THE NORTHWEST PICOS DE EUROPA OF NORTHERN SPAIN

At least five episodes of glaciation may be recognised in the mountain s of the north thwest Picos de Europa of northern Spain. The most exte nsive is of no younger than Early Quaternary age and may represent one of the earliest Cenozoic glaciations identified in Europe. This episo de provides support for the idea that the maximum extent of ice worldw ide during the Cenozoic occurred in the Late Tertiary and Early Quater nary. The major drainage lines of the Picos de Europa have remained as dominant features of the relief for the order of a million years, and large-scale glacial erosional forms have been preserved over a simila r period of time. These findings contradict the conventional portrayal of alpine terrains as essentially young and dynamic landscapes in whi ch the preservation potential of ancient relief elements is very limit ed.