The Negratin swamp
The Negratín reservoir is located in the province of Granada, autonomous community of Andalusia, Spain. On the bed of the Guadiana Menor river.
Characteristics of the Negratin Reservoir
With an area of 2,170 hectares, it extends through the municipalities of Cuevas del Campo, Freila, Zújar, Cortes de Baza, Baza and Benamaurel. Its capacity is 567 hm³, the third highest figure in the autonomous community of Andalusia, only surpassed by the Iznájar Reservoir (981 hm³) and the Guadalcacín Reservoir (800 hm³). The dam is a mixed one built of gravity and loose materials with an asphalt screen for waterproofing. This solution was chosen because the left abutment was not stable enough to build a concrete dam.
It was inaugurated in 1984 and its construction meant the disappearance of Las Juntas (Zújar district), the old spa known as Baños de Zújar, the communication routes between Zújar and the Carramaiza district, and different farmhouses (La Gata, Cortijo de los Contadores, Cortijo Seco) that were left under the waters. Currently there are designated areas in the reservoir and its surroundings to practice sports such as canoeing, mountain biking, hiking and paragliding; and other leisure activities such as fishing, picnicking, and swimming on both Freila beach and the nudist-textile beach of Cuevas del Campo.
At dusk or dawn the color mixes with its turquoise waters, giving rise to a dream landscape. Walking through these places becomes a great delight.
