La Cohilla Reservoir, Stausee in Spanien
La Cohilla is a concrete and stone dam located in the Bejo canyon near Polaciones, Cantabria, with an arched wall reaching 116 meters high. It stores water from the Nansa River and sits within canyon walls that display ancient Triassic rock layers several hundred meters deep.
Construction began in 1943 and the reservoir filled for the first time in 1951 after eight years of work, during which the Nansa River was diverted. The project used local materials and represented an early example of Spain's modern vault dam engineering.
The reservoir takes its name from the Cohilla stream that flows through the canyon. The place reflects how local communities have built their traditions around water management and forest life, with the dam representing a shared effort to harness nature responsibly.
The top of the dam serves as a viewing platform overlooking the deep canyon and river below. The area is best explored on foot with proper walking shoes, and the nearby Cruz de Cabezuela viewpoint offers additional panoramic views of the surrounding landscape.
The dam was one of Spain's first modern vault dams designed by engineer Santiago Corral Perez, whose work set a precedent for future projects in the region. Its construction during difficult historical times using local workers and prisoners remains a notable chapter in local memory and engineering achievement.
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