Cueva Foradada reservoir, Embalse en Oliete que recoge las aguas del río Martín
The Cueva Foradada reservoir is a circular gravity dam in Teruel Province that collects water from the Río Martín. The water body stretches between the towns of Oliete and Alcaine, bordered by rock walls that form narrow gorges and striking stone formations.
Construction began in 1903 and was completed in 1927 after builders addressed underground springs and negotiations with the town of Alcaine resolved land disputes. The project represents more than a century of water management serving local communities and agriculture.
The water body lies within the Cultural Park of Río Martín, where rock art and ancient human traces remain visible on the surrounding cliffs. Local wildlife, including birds of prey and mountain goats, uses the shoreline and nearby crags as part of their natural habitat.
The dam is reachable on foot via pathways and features about 272 steps leading to viewpoints where visitors can see the entire basin. Access is best arranged from nearby villages, and giving advance notice helps ensure good conditions during your visit.
The dam was built with great effort inside a natural cave with a distinctive rock opening, visible from a distance by its characteristic gap in the ridge. This geological feature gives the structure its name and makes the engineering accomplishment particularly noteworthy.
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