Landscapes

The best dams in Gran Canaria


The best dams in Gran Canaria

Gran Canaria is a beautiful island, full of charm, natural beauty, a miniature continent that includes unique corners that over the centuries all those who have been lucky enough to visit it have been able to appreciate and enjoy.

Do you know the route of the dams of Gran Canaria?

In this publication we will show you the importance of the dams in Gran Canaria as well as a list of dams which you should visit.

What are big dams?

Large dams are those that can store more than 100,000 cubic meters of water or have a retaining wall more than 15 meters high

Currently in the Canary Islands there are about 114 large dams, of which Gran Canaria has 69 large dams inside. If you are thinking of discovering the interior of the island, we recommend that you visit these impressive artificial lakes, which are miles away and full of living nature.

 Historical Importance of the Gran Canaria Dams

Water in the Canary Islands is a scarce good due to its topographic composition. In the past this was not the case, with the island’s ancient population and the vegetation that abounded on the peaks and helped retain rainwater and moisture, it generated a number of natural aquifers that could meet the needs of the residents. 

According to the island, water ran permanently through ravines and slopes, the primitive vegetation and the altitude of some islands favor the abundant rains and the retention of this precious good. However, as the population grew, their needs also increased accordingly, not only in terms of water supply but also in terms of wood to repair the boats in the port.

Gran Canaria suffered massive logging and was almost turned into a desert. The need to obtain water for crops and consumption forced the planning of a complex system of wells, galleries and dams. 

The need to manage and distribute water in the different areas of the island led to the development and construction of facilities to store water during the rainy season. Because of this factor, the dams in Gran Canaria are a very important factor in the economy and welfare of the whole island.

Adding to this, the wealth generated around these places, has turned these water reservoirs into areas for recreation, camping or hiking, which are conducive to providing life and diversity to the area.

In conclusion, the dams in the Canary Islands are an essential asset for the development of these islands. The dams in Gran Canaria are divided into two types: dams of vital importance for the maintenance and collection of water, and the dams best known by the population as places of recreation. 

  • Dams of importance due to their capacity 

We would like to highlight the importance of two large dams in Gran Canaria, the Los Hornos Dam and the Soria Dam. 

Presa de los Hornos 

This is one of the first large dams built in Gran Canaria, taking only 11 years with the first large dam built in Gran Canaria in 1910. It took 32 years to build this dam since it was designed in 1921. It has a reservoir capacity of 697,000 m³ thanks to its enormous 27-metre-high wall and its curved floor plan to prevent any loss of water through the ravine.

Presa de Soria 

This is the most important dam on the island as it is not only the largest in Gran Canaria, it is the largest dam in the whole archipelago. Its construction took 10 years to complete, giving rise to a mega-construction, a monstrous dam capable of storing more than 32 million cubic meters, which have never been reached. You can find out how to get there by clicking on this link.

  • Recreational Dams 

Presa de las Niñas

This is a dam that was completed in the middle of the last century. It has become an obligatory place to visit for all those who go on route, either by car or on foot, from which a wide range of routes for hikers and mountaineers start, who find in presa de las Niñas “the perfect base camp“; from which to start their expeditions.

Enjoy this dam which is a wonderful place, where you can camp or barbecue with friends or family, and enjoy a swim in fresh water where you can practice water activities. 

Presa de las Niñas is one of the most famous because of the legend that comes from its name, which according to scholars comes from some caves that are located in the vicinity of the dam and which contained human remains, skeletons to be exact of small aborigines, and according to the popular voice, took the name for “the girls” of libertine customs who frequented the place for the comfort of the workers who were involved in the construction of the reservoir and the roads in the area. 

Presa de el Mulato 

Located in the municipality of Mogán, this dam has approximately 1 cubic hectometer of water storage. It is one of the most important water reservoirs in the municipality and has the greatest impact on the agricultural sector in the area.

A place to pass through if you are on a hiking route discovering Mogán and its magnificent natural landscapes, all of them full of diversity and pine forests that provide all the slopes and ravines of the municipality with green and beauty, thus forming one of the best landscapes of the island. If you are interested in the landscapes that the island hides, I invite you to see our publication “Top 7 best landscapes of Gran Canaria“. 

What did you think of our post about the best dams in Gran Canaria? Tell us! We look forward to reading your opinions and experiences. Remember that you can always look for similar experiences on our website www. apphosticasa. com and accommodation in rural environments at the following link.



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