The origins of the construction of Salime Dam go back to an agreement between the Electra de Viesgo and Hidroeléctrica del Cantábrico electricity companies, which, in 1945, decided to work together to exploit the upper section of the River Navia, undertaking a pioneering project in terms of technology and design.
The design was the work of a team of engineers at Hidroeléctrica del Cantábrico, who had to overcome more than a few building "pitfalls". The finishing touches were given by Asturian architect Joaquín Vaquero Palacios, in collaboration with his son, Joaquín Vaquero Turcios. Both masterfully integrated art in this stunning industrial facility, and their paintings were ground-breaking, turning a hydroelectric plant into an unusual "art gallery".
