Where do Brits go in Spain
Feb 18th 2007 | 5:00 am
#16
Forum Regular
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 264
From: Galicia
Re: Where do Brits go in Spain
[This last 3 years in Extramadura the panatnos have been virtually empty until these last 2 months, which is an extreme state.]
Hi Big_john,
I realise you've lived in Spain a lot longer than we have (we've only been here a year) but I'm interested as to where you got your info about the pantanos (or embalses) being at such a low level here in Extremadura??
We visited 4 times in 2005 (January, May, June and November) and the only time the water level was visibly lower, was at the end of June.
I must admit we didn't actually venture out to any embalses last year (too busy settling in!) but I can't say I've been aware of any being virtually empty!?
We've got some lovely photos of the embalses at Monragüe and Orellana (looking pretty healthy!) in 2005
However, obviously we take your point that water conservation is a very serious matter.
There's some thought provoking information in the following links, and admittedly it doesn't look great for this region.
http://sehumed.uv.es/eswetlands/7ES023.htm
http://www.thinkspain.com/news-spain/10460
http://www.fas.usda.gov/gainfiles/200508/146130518.pdf
It took some getting used to last summer, when the water was on and off at various times........especially when it was a 3 day stretch with NO water at all!!
Each time it came back on, we guessed "what shade of brown" it was going to be, and for how long!!
Makes you really appreciate how much you can take essentials for granted; and just how awful life must be for people living in parts of the world that are constantly facing drought conditions
Hi Big_john,
I realise you've lived in Spain a lot longer than we have (we've only been here a year) but I'm interested as to where you got your info about the pantanos (or embalses) being at such a low level here in Extremadura??
We visited 4 times in 2005 (January, May, June and November) and the only time the water level was visibly lower, was at the end of June.
I must admit we didn't actually venture out to any embalses last year (too busy settling in!) but I can't say I've been aware of any being virtually empty!?
We've got some lovely photos of the embalses at Monragüe and Orellana (looking pretty healthy!) in 2005
However, obviously we take your point that water conservation is a very serious matter.
There's some thought provoking information in the following links, and admittedly it doesn't look great for this region.
http://sehumed.uv.es/eswetlands/7ES023.htm
http://www.thinkspain.com/news-spain/10460
http://www.fas.usda.gov/gainfiles/200508/146130518.pdf
It took some getting used to last summer, when the water was on and off at various times........especially when it was a 3 day stretch with NO water at all!!
Each time it came back on, we guessed "what shade of brown" it was going to be, and for how long!!
Makes you really appreciate how much you can take essentials for granted; and just how awful life must be for people living in parts of the world that are constantly facing drought conditions
I am married into a Spanish family and regularly travel backwards and forwards between Malaga & Galicia, through Extramadura and last year was doing those trips quite frequently.
Obviously whilst travelling you see and look for various points of interest, for me the most important thing over these last few years has been water.
During the past year we noted that the water in the various embalses(pantanos) had dropped considerably, to the point that one in particular the year before we had seen men sitting around it fishing, and this last year they were ploughing it up and seeding it
Now to me that is worrying.
Also down in Andalucia between Seville & Algeciras there are a couple more that were dry, pretty bad and on my return last Nov they were still very dry.
I hope that by now they will be a lot fuller, judging by the other comments on here.
Have fun and live well in Extramadura, fantastic Jamon & Salchicas & fiesta for these in March
a mi mi gusta
Feb 18th 2007 | 8:28 am
#17
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 1,742
From: Extremadura
Re: Where do Brits go in Spain
[QUOTE=Big_john;4419025]Hi,
[During the past year we noted that the water in the various embalses(pantanos) had dropped considerably, to the point that one in particular the year before we had seen men sitting around it fishing, and this last year they were ploughing it up and seeding it
Now to me that is worrying.]
You can say that again!!
[Also down in Andalucia between Seville & Algeciras there are a couple more that were dry, pretty bad and on my return last Nov they were still very dry.
I hope that by now they will be a lot fuller, judging by the other comments on here.]
Thought you might be pleased to know that I've been to Monfragüe today, and the embalse is looking pretty healthy
In fact, an ancient bridge that was visible above the water in 2005 is now completely submerged!
Good news for this area, I guess.
[Have fun and live well in Extramadura, fantastic Jamon & Salchicas & fiesta for these in March a mi mi gusta]
Thank you for your good wishes.
We're having a fantastic time, and loving every minute of our exciting new life. In fact, yesterday was our first anniversary here!
Unfortunately, I'll have to take your word for it about all the jamones etc, as I'm a non meat-eater!!! Picked a really daft place to live, didn't I!!?
It's made life even more interesting, trying to avoid jamon with everything, I can tell you!
Have been walking all day on the Sierra de Gredos (right in the very north of the region, on the border with Castilla y León)
Our walk started at 1275m, but we ascended a lot higher! Got wind burn, saw loads of snow(!) walked 15km and had an absolutely fantastic day!
We're very much looking forward to exploring GalicÃa and AsturÃas in the not too distant future - they both look like lovely regions.
All the best,
Sam.
[During the past year we noted that the water in the various embalses(pantanos) had dropped considerably, to the point that one in particular the year before we had seen men sitting around it fishing, and this last year they were ploughing it up and seeding it
Now to me that is worrying.]
You can say that again!!
[Also down in Andalucia between Seville & Algeciras there are a couple more that were dry, pretty bad and on my return last Nov they were still very dry.
I hope that by now they will be a lot fuller, judging by the other comments on here.]
Thought you might be pleased to know that I've been to Monfragüe today, and the embalse is looking pretty healthy
In fact, an ancient bridge that was visible above the water in 2005 is now completely submerged!
Good news for this area, I guess.
[Have fun and live well in Extramadura, fantastic Jamon & Salchicas & fiesta for these in March
a mi mi gusta]Thank you for your good wishes.
We're having a fantastic time, and loving every minute of our exciting new life. In fact, yesterday was our first anniversary here!
Unfortunately, I'll have to take your word for it about all the jamones etc, as I'm a non meat-eater!!! Picked a really daft place to live, didn't I!!?
It's made life even more interesting, trying to avoid jamon with everything, I can tell you!
Have been walking all day on the Sierra de Gredos (right in the very north of the region, on the border with Castilla y León)
Our walk started at 1275m, but we ascended a lot higher! Got wind burn, saw loads of snow(!) walked 15km and had an absolutely fantastic day!
We're very much looking forward to exploring GalicÃa and AsturÃas in the not too distant future - they both look like lovely regions.
All the best,
Sam.
