Embalse Grande de Tharsis, Mining reservoir in Alosno, Spain
Embalse Grande de Tharsis is a reservoir covering about 45 hectares in Huelva province, designed to store and manage water for mining operations. The structure remains visible today as part of the industrial infrastructure that once supported local extraction activities.
Tharsis Sulphur and Copper Company Limited built this reservoir during the nineteenth century mining boom. The project reflects how mining companies invested in water infrastructure to support their expanding operations in the region.
The government recognized this facility as a cultural property in 2014, acknowledging its importance to industrial heritage in Andalusia. You can see how water management shaped the way mining communities developed and operated in this region.
The reservoir is accessible by local roads near Alosno and offers clear views of the surrounding mining landscape. The site is open and exposed, so visitors should be prepared for direct sun and changing weather conditions.
The reservoir sits surrounded by waste piles from earlier mining work, creating a landscape that records how extraction techniques changed over time. This setting shows how mining companies wove their infrastructure into the natural contours of the land.
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