Azud de El Mesto, Diversion dam in Community of Madrid, Spain.
Azud de El Mesto is a diversion dam built on the Guadalix River in Madrid's region that directs water flow through the Tagus Basin watershed. The structure stands 4.05 meters high and stretches 23 meters along its crown to manage water resources.
An earlier water diversion structure stood here from 1859, but the current dam was built in 1905 to improve Madrid's water management. This 1905 construction represented a step forward in the region's water infrastructure.
The dam represents the engineering methods of early 20th century Spain, reflecting the period's approach to water resource management.
The structure is maintained by Canal de Isabel II and remains in operational condition despite being inactive since 1967. Visitors can view the dam from nearby riverbanks without needing special equipment or gear.
The dam holds a reservoir with capacity of about 0,266 cubic hectometers, making it relatively modest in scale compared to other water works in the region. Despite decades of inactivity, it remains technically capable and receives regular maintenance.
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