The badland of Marganell is a cliff displaying the fractal pattern of erosion on the outer side of the meander of La Fassina of the Marganell stream, near the hermitage of Sant Jaume de Castellbell and the crossroad between the BV-1122 to Sant Cristòfol and the BV-1123 from Castellbell to Marganell and Colldarboç. The badland of Marganell outcrops the blue or grey mudstone from marine origin that were sedimented in the Bartonian (Middle Eocene) and that crumble very easily. Overall, the badland of Marganell is an arch facing east that spans roughly 300 meters length and 50 meters height at the highest point.
The badland of Marganell is a very visible landmark, mainly from the area of Sant Cristòfol and Pla de Masroig looking facing north. If it is not more popular, it is just because people must turn back to watch the so beautiful silhouette of Montserrat to the south.
The badland of Marganell is quite similar to the smaller one in Cornet. Both are very steep areas displaying a pattern of erosion on prompt to crumble mudstones, that the streams of Marganell and Cornet or Guardiola respectively have cut.
In the neighbour municipality of Sant Vicenç de Castellet there are two badland areas named Muntanyes Russes and Can Forns de Vallhonesta, both in the same type of bluish mudstones but not so tilted slopes. Over time without disturbances, plant debris on furrows kick off a self-accelerating process of soil formation and vegetation growth, a process to heal these badland wounds on the ground. However, the so tilt badlands of Marganell and Cornet maintain their geological nature.
[photos Jordi Badia]