Altos Hornos de Vizcaya, Industrial heritage site in Sestao, Spain.
Altos Hornos de Vizcaya is an industrial heritage site in Sestao, Spain, where iron ore was smelted and processed into steel. The complex stretches along the Nervión riverbank, with blast furnaces, factory halls, and administrative buildings that now stand as reminders of the region's metallurgical past.
The site came into being in 1902 when three steelmaking companies merged to form a single operation. Production ceased in the 1990s as Spain's heavy industry underwent deep restructuring, leaving behind the physical remains of what once powered the region's economy.
The facility transformed the social structure of Greater Bilbao by attracting thousands of workers from rural areas, leading to rapid urban development.
The site sits next to the port of Bilbao, which once made it easy to move ore and finished goods in and out. Today some areas are accessible to visitors, while others remain closed or under redevelopment plans.
At its peak, the facility employed 40,000 workers, making it the largest industrial enterprise in Spain during most of the 20th century.
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