Cargadero de mineral El Alquife, Industrial loading dock ruins in Almeria, Spain.
Cargadero de mineral El Alquife is an industrial loading dock made of iron and stone that extends from the railway to the sea. The structure features heavy metal beams and stone pillars that once transferred minerals from trains into ship cargo holds.
The dock was built in 1904 by the Alquife Mines and Railway Company Limited to ship iron ore from Granada mines. It operated for more than 90 years, serving as a crucial link in mineral exports until the final years of the 1900s.
The structure reflects how this coast once connected mining communities and workers to international trade routes. It shows the role coastal ports played in moving resources from inland mines to the world.
The ruins sit near Almadrabillas Beach, between the commercial port and marina, reachable from the waterfront promenade. The site is walkable and offers clear views of the old structure from the water's edge.
The structure was designed using principles from Gustave Eiffel, allowing trains to dump minerals straight into ship holds without extra handling. This system was an engineering solution that made ore shipments faster and more efficient.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
