Text written in Basque and translated automatically by Elia without any subsequent editing. SEE ORIGINAL

The bottom of the sea is exposed

A look at the underwater landscape.

If the terrestrial part of the Basque Country is abrupt, the seabed does not stop back either. Mountains, valleys, fields,... Thanks to the latest technologies, it can be said that we know the depths of the sea as well as the surface.

ADOLFO URIARTE; geologist, AZTI-Tecnalia: The most representative of the Bay of Biscay is undoubtedly the Capbreton Canyon. It runs through the middle of the Gulf and separates the French platform from the Cantabrian platform. This is the most important morphological element of the Gulf. it starts at a depth of about 100 meters and can reach 4000 meters or more later.

At the beginning of the Capbreton canyon you can see the meanders of what used to be a river of a time. 18,000 years ago the background was not the same. The sea level was 120 meters below. The rivers of Urtzaro were much larger and their traces are seen throughout the platform.

ADOLFO URIARTE; geologist, AZTI-Tecnalia: This is where the canyon begins, in France, and we are here.

There are also smaller canyons on the Cantabrian Sea platform, which end in Capbretongo. It is in these cracks that the materials caused by marine erosion are deposited and the water travels in the opposite direction. The cold and rich water rises through the canyons, around which life is most concentrated. Fishermen know this, and so do those who want to see cetaceans.

ADOLFO URIARTE; geologist, AZTI-Tecnalia: This is a beach, as fishermen say. Here is Orio, at 2.12 longitude, and this is Zumaia, and here in front, at approximately the height of Zarautz, we have the following points: they are the so-called pockmarks, small volcanoes, or not so small, they are holes from half a meter to 58 meters. We still have to investigate them. If it is known to be a fluid, a liquid or a gas, it may be methane.

This knowledge can be even more important in the future. The possibility of underwater mining is being strengthened as the raw materials of the land are depleted and for this it will be essential to know the seabed and know what is underneath it.