Santa Fe Reservoir, dam in Fogars de Montclús, Catalonia
Santa Fe Reservoir is a large body of water in Fogars de Montclús surrounded by forests and hills. The dam was built from local stone using an arch-gravity design and stands approximately 24 meters tall across the valley.
Construction began in the 1920s after a wealthy Barcelona businessman purchased the valley and built a small power dam, with the main structure completed in 1935. After decades of abandonment, it was repaired in the 1990s and has operated since.
The reservoir is part of the local landscape and shows early 20th-century engineering effort to use natural resources for progress. It serves as a quiet place where history and the surrounding nature meet.
The site is straightforward to reach and visitors can walk around the structure to enjoy the surroundings. Wear comfortable shoes for walking, and visit during morning or late afternoon when the light is gentler.
The original plan involved a luxury hotel designed by a notable architect for a wealthy entrepreneur, but it was never built. However, the small power dam constructed to supply electricity for the hotel project still exists nearby.
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