viernes, 6 de mayo de 2016

Historia del Caminito del Rey

                          


                                           http://www.caminitodelrey.info/?cod=4926

This natural beauty and  hilly terrain is located in the municipalities of Ardales, Álora and Antequera.This  area lies in the middle of the Province of Málaga, and it is surrounded by the Serranía de Ronda and Antequera. It separates the plains Campillos, Teba and Antequera in the northern part of the province from the Guadalhorce valley. This spot in the village El Chorro is undoubtedly one of the most appealing places in the world.

The region have prospered throughout history at this place, which became rich in hydraulic structures and electricity sources especially in the last century. All of them are connected by the humble path called ‘El Caminito del Rey’ that goes along this nature spot - Desfiladero de los Gaitanes, in an unbelievable way.

Breathtaking gorges made by the Guadalhorce River of limestone and dolomite are three kilometres long, up to 300 metres high and less than 10 metres wide.

In this union of villages and natural spots, the short, curvy and risky path: El Caminito del Rey has always been an essential linking element. It was built for practical reasons with concrete boardwalks that hang above the cliffs of the Gualdalhorce River in order to connect both parts of novel hydroelectric precipice from the 20th century.

A sad event such as a big flood in Málaga in 1907 was the opportunity for making a reservoir, which had been wished for since the Hydroelectric Company El Chorro was created. It was meant to build a big dam for watering Hoya de Málaga, a big and fertile plain in the Guadalhorce (wheat in Arabic) River Valley. This building project had an additional aim; this is to control the amount of river flow that was coming to the Hydroelectric Power Station El Chorro, which used to depend on seasonal rainfall.

This happening was the reason for the visit to the city by Algonso XIII. 
Finally, the works were finished, and King came to place the last stone of this enormous dam during torrential rain on 21st May 1921.