Maria Cristina Reservoir, lake in Valencian Community, Spain
Maria Cristina Reservoir is a water storage lake in Castellón province that covers around 260 hectares across several municipalities. The dam is a concrete arch-gravity structure standing 59 meters tall and stretching about 318 meters across, designed to manage water flow through a spillway system.
Planning for the reservoir started in 1895, with construction beginning in 1913 and finishing in 1925 after more than a decade of work. The project was built to provide irrigation water for the growing citrus and agricultural lands throughout the region.
The reservoir has shaped agricultural life in the region and continues to supply water to citrus groves and farms across the area. Walking along the water, you notice how this place remains central to how local farming communities manage their land.
The reservoir is easily reached from nearby towns like L'Alcora and Sant Joan de Moró and has viewpoints on the surrounding hillsides where you can see the entire water surface. Wear comfortable shoes and stay on established paths, as the terrain is uneven and sloped in places.
The dam has survived three major flooding events, notably the 2000 floods which created a large hole in the concrete structure, yet the dam remained intact. This demonstrates how well the nearly 100-year-old structure was built to withstand extreme water pressure.
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