Pozos de Valcaba, Artificial water bodies in Liérganes, Spain.
Pozos de Valcaba are two water-filled pools formed where mining operations once extracted minerals from the Peña Cabarga massif in northern Spain. The larger southern pool and smaller northern water body cover roughly 3 hectares surrounded by green hills and woodland.
Mining operations in the Peña Cabarga massif during the 20th century created these water bodies as a byproduct of mineral extraction. The larger southern pool dates back to the 1940s and has remained part of the landscape ever since.
The pools reflect the mining heritage of the region, and visitors can still see the old stone structures and railway bridge that workers once used. These remnants tell the story of how industrial work shaped this northern landscape.
A marked circular trail of roughly 2.8 kilometers follows the path of the former mining railway and provides access to both pools. White and yellow painted signs guide walkers, and the route is suitable for most visitors without special equipment.
Bird nesting boxes installed by a nature foundation create breeding sites for sand martins and white storks throughout the area. This effort has made the location an important spot for observing these species.
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