Canal de Castilla

The Canal de Castilla ( Castilian channel) in north-central Spain, was built in the late 18th and early 19th century and was one of the most important infrastructure projects of his time in Spain. He is considered a masterpiece of engineering.

The channel was designed to facilitate the transport of grain of Castile in the port cities of the north coast, drive grain mills and serve as the main irrigation artery Castile. Since the advent of the railroad he only stayed the last two functions.

Location

The channel is located in the northern and central part of the Nordmeseta in the Autonomous Community of Castile and León and flows through parts of the provinces of Burgos, Palencia and Valladolid.

With three arms and a total length of 207 km, it is like a Y shaped. The substantially parallel to the river Pisuerga running northern branch begins in Alar del Rey in the north- east of the province of Palencia. In Calahorra de Ribas he crosses the river Carrión, who supplied him with water, and at Grijota near Palencia, the channel bifurcates. Palencia itself is connected via a branch canal. The southern arm continues parallel to Pisuerga to Valladolid. The Canal de Campos also called southwestern branch ends in Medina de Ríoseco in the province of Valladolid.

Prehistory

The preliminary to this channel dates back to the 16th and 17th centuries, the impetus was the development of artificial waterways in other parts of Europe. 1549 Bartolome Bustamante began with a feasibility study, such as the Pisuerga could be used for hydrographic projects. In the 18th century, at the time of Ferdinand VI. these considerations were dusted on the initiative of Marqués de la Ensenada and pursued. These were based on the idea to boost economic development in which you improve the infrastructure and the relevant economic centers better together. Were finally began two projects: the Canal Imperial de Aragón and the Canal de Castilla.

Construction of the canal

The construction of the canal began in 1753 under the direction of Carlos and Antonio Ulloa Lemour. The aim was to combine Reinosa ( Cantabria ) El Espinar (Segovia ). However, economic and political difficulties hindered the work and led to the reduction of the project. Ferdinand VII was forced by the lack of public funds, 1828, the Royal Society of Castilian channels ( " Real Junta de Canales de Castilla ") to establish and define the further construction and operation of the canal in private sector hands. In 1850, the successor Sociedad Anonima del Canal ( canal AG), after more than a hundred years full of difficulties and delayed construction to operate the channel and market.

Economic benefits

Until the inauguration of the railway line Venta de Baños - Alar del Rey in 1860, the cereal transport by ship is the most important economic benefit of the channel was by the competition weakened broke the trade with the commissioning of the railway line Valladolid - Medina de Rioseco completely together. That left only the energy at the locks (drive of flour mills, later, electricity ) and irrigation ( 23,000 ha) as an economic moments in contemplation of the channel.

Cultural and ecological importance

Today, the large inverted Y, which flows through the region of Castile -Leon in north-south direction, an important natural space forms. The shore area is overgrown with reeds and cattails, behind him is a kind of gallery forest with elm, poplar and white poplar, ash, willow, hazel and honeysuckle. At the edge of gallery forest, a third zone of shrubs close to. On channel live among other marsh harrier, heron, swans and geese birds.

The numerous locks, flour factories, mills, ports, warehouses and wharves have been involved through various projects along the canal in the cultural and tourist infrastructure of the region or intended. The towpaths along canals are increasingly used for cycling and walking holidays. Between the villages Boadilla del Camino and Frómista leads the Way of St. James on the southern shore path.

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