Drought in Galicia: Portomarin ruins emerging

[ouroboros]

This is Portomarin in Spain, through which we walked on the Camino de Santiago over that scary bridge in the distance...notice its two levels. Portomarin was flooded during Franco's era and rebuilt further above water level, hence the bizarre bridge. Camino pilgrims on the Frances route are in for an interesting journey this spring. We'll be walking through Galicia in a few weeks on the Camino Portugese.

http://elpais.com/elpais/2017/01/24/album/1485245003_741088.html?id_externo_rsoc=FB_CC

 

[Davey Boyd]

Wonderful pictures! When the water level is low it is possible to cross over the old bridge, I was lucky enough to cross this way in 2015.

Davey

 

[Anniesantiago]

I've seen the ruins exposed in the past, but not to that extent.
If one is interested in speaking to someone who lived in those ruins, go to Albergue Ultreia.
The lady who runs it lived in the village as a girl, and she has wonderful photos on the walls.
They took apart the church and carried it up to the current village.

 

[VNwalking]

I have never liked the modern Portomarin, finding it somehow depressing. But the old one looks like it must have once been quite beautiful. Thanks for sharing the link, @ouroboros .

 

[Fritz]

It was very low in mid November and dry enough to walk around on both sides of the river -- and the sun set / sun rise can give some beautiful views. On the town side of the new bridge are stairs leading down to the low ground and you can easily walk across the old bridge -- I also stayed at and recommend Albergue Ultrea both in '13 and last year. Both the Alburgue and the private rooms are very nice.

Portomarin in low water

• Fritz
• Mar 11, 2017
• 7

November 14, the new and old bridge at Portomarin

A quick snapshot from the far side:

 

[Bradypus]

It is an eerie and fascinating sight. Water levels in many of the reservoirs in Galicia are very low this year. It is worrying to see such a level at this time of year. What will it be like in summer unless spring is unusually wet? I saw the shortage for myself last month on the Camino Sanabres. A couple of days of torrential rain in a dramatic storm did almost nothing to top up the supplies.

 

[Deleted member 56069]

This is interesting as with all the environmental laws today and the desire to preserve all heritage sites, a project like the flooding of this valley would never be approved today.

They would study it for a hundred years, but it would not get approved even it there were economic benefits.

 

[Pelegrin]

It is an eerie and fascinating sight. Water levels in many of the reservoirs in Galicia are very low this year. It is worrying to see such a level at this time of year. What will it be like in summer unless spring is unusually wet? I saw the shortage for myself last month on the Camino Sanabres. A couple of days of torrential rain in a dramatic storm did almost nothing to top up the supplies.

The reservoir capacity in Galicia on February 1 was 43%, very low. Now it is 63%, so the situation is improving.

 

[Anniesantiago]

This is interesting as with all the environmental laws today and the desire to preserve all heritage sites, a project like the flooding of this valley would never be approved today.

They would study it for a hundred years, but it would not get approved even it there were economic benefits.

Unfortunately, I think you may be wrong.
Unless things have changed, on the Aragones route, the court approved the YESA dam which will put some family's dwellings under water for a second time.

 

[ranthr]

I have walked past Portomarin both on high and low water watching the old town when possible. It is of special interest to me since we about 50 years ago had the same coincident in the small pueblo Masi in Finnmark, Norway. The government wanted to put this small community under water but the there was a strong fight against it so it ended up with a less damaging solution, though not wanted, better then putting a whole community under water.
Enjoyed the pictures! Walking the high bridge is what I dislike most on the camino.

 

[ouroboros]

Thanks for your most interesting responses, all!

@ranthr, I too really disliked walking over that higher bridge.
@Viranani, yes, I felt the same way about Portomarin.