Cornalvo Natural Park, Natural park near Mérida, Spain
Cornalvo Natural Park is a protected area in the province of Badajoz, in the region of Extremadura, covering the mountain ranges of Sierra Bermeja and Sierra del Moro. Several rivers, including the Aljucén and the Albarregas, run through the area and shape its valleys and hills.
At the heart of the park stands a Roman dam built around 2,000 years ago to supply water to the nearby city of Emerita Augusta, which is today's Mérida. It was listed as a National Monument in 1912, recognizing its place among the best-preserved examples of Roman engineering in Spain.
The park is a good example of the Spanish dehesa, an open mix of cork oak and holm oak trees traditionally used for grazing. Visitors walking through the area can still see pigs and cattle moving freely among the trees, a farming habit that has continued for generations.
The trails in the park can be steep and uneven, so sturdy footwear is a good idea. In summer, going out early in the morning or late in the afternoon helps you avoid the strongest heat of the day.
The reservoir created by the Roman dam is still in use today, supplying water to the surrounding area after roughly 2,000 years of continuous operation. This makes it one of the few ancient water structures in the world that has never stopped working.
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