Ullivarri-Gamboa, Hamlet in Arrazua-Ubarrundia, Álava, Spain
Ullíbarri-Gamboa is a small hamlet in the municipality of Arrazua-Ubarrundia, in the province of Álava, Spain. It sits on the western shore of the Ullíbarri-Gamboa reservoir, with the islands of Zuhatza and Orenin visible in the water in front of it.
The hamlet was part of the old brotherhood of Ubarrundia and in the early 19th century had about 200 residents. In the mid-20th century, the construction of the reservoir flooded most of the farmland, forcing many families to move to Vitoria or turn to livestock.
The name Ullíbarri-Gamboa comes from Basque and means 'new village of Gamboa', referring to the old archpriesthood of Gamboa to which the hamlet belonged. Today, the sailing club on the reservoir is a hub for windsurfing and sailing, and the local festivity honors Saint Andrew with a small gathering after mass.
The hamlet is reached by a local road that winds along the reservoir shore, and parking is limited near the church and the waterfront. Visitors can walk down to the water's edge and follow paths that lead to the dam and the sailing club.
The reservoir that now defines the area is the largest in the Basque Country, and its dam is a gravity dam that relies on its own weight to hold back the water. The hamlet itself narrowly escaped being submerged; its church and many houses survived, but the old stone bridge over the Zadorra and the flour mill are gone.
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