Embalse de Buseo, Reservoir in Chera, Valencia, Spain

Embalse de Buseo is a reservoir near Chera in Valencia that was created by damming the Reatillo River in a narrow gorge. The stone dam stands 40 meters high and stretches about 146 meters across, built between 1903 and 1915 to store water for irrigation across a basin of roughly 221 square kilometers. Today the water surface covers approximately 58 hectares, with pine trees lining the shores and various facilities including camping areas, picnic spots, and access points for visitors. The surrounding landscape features rocky walls and calm water that reflect the sky and clouds.

Built between 1903 and 1915 on the Reatillo River, Buseo was the first reservoir owned by the Generalitat Valenciana and the only one it still owns. Its gravity dam was raised in the 17-metre-wide Tormagal gorge, about 15 km before the Reatillo joins the Turia. The reservoir now serves tourism, fishing and camping rather than irrigation.

Access to the reservoir is via small local roads and walking paths that allow visitors to explore the shoreline and surrounding areas at a gentle pace. The site has picnic tables, barbecue spots, drinking water, toilet facilities, and a small dock, with camping available by prior arrangement through local authorities. Weekdays and quieter seasons tend to offer the most peaceful experience without crowding.