Puerto de la Laja, Cultural heritage quay in El Granado, Spain
Puerto de la Laja is a loading point on the Guadiana River in El Granado with remnants of 19th century mining infrastructure. The site features a mineral dock, old railway lines, and remains of industrial buildings that show how mining operations once worked.
In the late 19th century, The Bede Metal Chemical Ltd built a railway line from this port to the Cabeza de Pasto mine. It remained important for exporting manganese until mining stopped in 1965.
This location served as the heart of mining commerce and shaped how people lived along the Guadiana River. The railway and loading infrastructure connected the region to the outside world and reflected its economic importance.
The site is near El Granado and accessible by car or on foot, with paths running along the river. Visitors can explore year-round, though the ground is uneven in places and some structures stand open to the elements.
The manganese loading dock was so specialized that it was built specifically for Santa Catalina Mines and no other mining company ever used it. This focus on a single mineral and single business made the location entirely dependent on one mine's success.
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