Cargadero de Mineral de Melilla, Industrial heritage site in Melilla, Spain
The Cargadero de Mineral de Melilla is a mineral loading dock made of concrete that extends about 313 meters into the water, built with pillars and lateral cantilevers to load ships efficiently. The facility includes storage areas and conveyor belts that moved minerals from the site to vessels.
The dock was built between 1920 and 1925 under the direction of engineer Alfonso Gómez Jordana y Sousa as a major project of that period. Operations ceased in 1980 when the final ship was loaded, marking the end of the facility's active working life.
The structure reflects the importance of mineral extraction to Melilla's economy and identity during its industrial peak. Visitors can observe how the dock was central to daily life and trade in the region during that era.
The dock sits in the Modernist District, positioned between Marina Noray and the Santa Barbara basin. Visitors can walk along the structure to explore it, though it helps to get an overview of the location beforehand to see how its different sections fit together.
Stone from Gurugú Mountain was used in its construction, giving the structure a local connection. This material choice shows how engineers at the time sourced local resources to build such large projects.
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