Embarcador de El Hornillo, Iron and concrete pier in Águilas, Spain.
Embarcador de El Hornillo is a steel structure that extends nearly 180 meters into the Mediterranean Sea and rises about 12 meters above water level. The pier was designed to transfer minerals directly from railway tracks onto waiting ships.
Construction began in 1903 under engineer Gustavo Gillman for the Great Southern of Spain Railway Company. The project was part of the region's industrial growth, built to streamline the export of mined materials.
The pier once served as a vital point for moving minerals from inland mines to waiting ships. Visitors can sense how this work shaped the town's identity and daily rhythms during its busiest years.
Visitors can view the structure from outside and see its scale and construction from different angles along the surrounding coastal paths. Walking access is available from nearby routes, though it is worth checking weather conditions before your visit.
The structure uses a tunnel system with three passages that allowed minerals to slide down seven meters before reaching the ships below. This clever design saved time and labor during heavy loading operations.
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