Fonte da Telha geomorphology

Fonte da Telha is located next to Fossil Cliff of Costa da Caparica, cracked in limestone and sandstone rocks. This old cliff falling down to 70 meters in some places is drawn back from the sea border, and protected from its action by a littoral platform.

The diving spots at Fonte da Telha present the same kind of rocks found on the cliff. They are real rocky islands rounded by a sand carpet, showing what could have been the top of an old cliff similar to the one that is still on the surface. Thus they are settling poles for marine living elements, attracting several shoals of fish that find there shelter and nutrition. These rocks still present the main characteristics gained by whether erosion which award them a special beauty.

Going further away, we can still recognize the old coastline now submerged, lying parallel to the actual coast. It can be found in a narrow stripe going on for several miles, where it is possible to detect an average unevenness of 7 meters between the rocky forms and the sand bottom. This underwater cliff is nearly explored. It represents an unique site, for its formations but also because unusual beautiful corals belonging to Dendrophyllia species can also be found there.