Barbate Reservoir, body of water
Barbate Reservoir is a water storage facility in Alcalá de los Gazules in Cádiz province, built in 1992 to supply irrigation water for local agriculture. The water stretches across a large area and is fed by the Barbate River, while the surrounding landscape features gentle hills covered with vegetation.
The dam was constructed in 1992 as a water management infrastructure project for the Cádiz region. Beneath the water lie ancient burial sites from the Bronze Age, roughly 3000 years old, which become visible or submerged depending on water levels.
The reservoir sits within the Los Alcornocales natural park, an area shaped by diverse plant life and wildlife. The water body and its surroundings influence how local people and visitors experience and interact with this landscape.
Access is possible via simple paths and trails that allow relaxed exploration, especially around the dam area. The best time to visit is during dry periods when water levels drop, making more shoreline areas accessible.
Since 2019, osprey eagles have nested here, a bird species that disappeared from the Iberian Peninsula for more than 200 years. Their return signals improved environmental conditions and successful conservation efforts in this region.
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