Arenós Reservoir, lake in Castellón Province, Spain
The Arenós Reservoir is a large artificial lake in Castellón created by damming the Mijares River in a mountain valley. The water remains calm and clear most days, surrounded by tall peaks and forested slopes that rise along its shoreline.
The reservoir was built in the 1970s to store water from mountain snowmelt and manage river flooding in the region. The village of Campos de Arenoso, which once stood in this valley, was abandoned and flooded in 1977 to make way for the water project.
The reservoir serves as a gathering place for locals from Montanejos, especially during summer when families come to swim and relax by the water. It reflects how people connect with the natural landscape around them through everyday activities like fishing and walking along the shore.
Visitors can walk or cycle around the reservoir using trails that lead to viewpoints overlooking the water and surrounding mountains. Swimming, fishing, and kayaking are all possible here, with local companies offering boat rentals for those wanting to explore the water.
The remains of the old village of Campos de Arenoso lie submerged beneath the reservoir's water, flooded more than four decades ago when the dam was completed. This hidden history connects the lake to the people who once lived in this valley.
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