Jánovas Reservoir, embalse de España situado entre la provincia de Huesca
The Jánovas Reservoir is a dam project site located in the Huesca Province mountains near the Ara River. The area contains abandoned village structures, stone house ruins, and a 19th-century bridge still standing as evidence of the settlements that once occupied this valley before the water project was planned.
The reservoir project began in the 1950s with plans to flood the Ara valley and displace over 150 families from surrounding villages. After decades of resistance, demolition, and legal battles, the project was officially abandoned in 2005 and the construction license was revoked in 2008.
The place carries marks of its lost community through abandoned houses and forgotten objects left behind. Visitors notice the remnants of daily life scattered in ruins, which serve as quiet reminders of the families who once called this village home and their struggle to keep it alive.
The site is reached by mountain roads in a remote Pyrenees location, so it is wise to check road conditions before visiting. Keep in mind that the area offers few services and the terrain is uneven with ruins that require careful navigation and appropriate footwear.
A tunnel built in 1995 to divert the Ara River was damaged by a 1997 flood, after which the river returned to its original course. This abandoned infrastructure reveals how close the project came to completion before it ultimately failed.
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