The Secret Spanish Canal

 The Secret Spanish Canal

I often like to explore places using google maps .Once whilst I was exploring the areas on google maps around Los Alcornocales and Grazalema in the far south of Andalucia I noticed an interesting looking canal that went along the side of a mountain and then descended down the mountain along a steep straight channel. The map said this canal is abandoned . It looked like an interesting place to visit .

 On the map the canal is labelled thus ... " Conduccion de la Central del Guadiaro (Abondonada) " It flows in a south west direction following the course of the Guadiaro River , only uphill of the river , however unlike the river the canal stays at pretty much the same level and therefore appears to be going uphill as it follows the side of the mountain , whilst the Guadiaro valley deepens as the river is travelling towards sea level . The canal after some distance turns in a more southerly direction before it reaches a dam which is labelled on the map as "Salto del Corchado" Here is where the canal is sent down a steep chute into a Hydroelectric Station at the base of the mountain where the canal rejoins the Guadiaro river . 

The red line above gives a very approximate position of the canal in realtionship to the River Guadiaro .  By following this link you can get a more detailed view of the canal on google maps Salto del Corchado - Google Maps

Anyway approx 2018 I was travelling from Algeciras to Ronda . Usually I would take the train but because of the recent flash floods the train line was unusable up the Guadiaro river valley so i had to go by bus 

More can be found out about the Salto de El Corchado by following this link ....  Azud de El Corchado or Salto de El Corchado in Gaucín (andaluciarustica.com)