Salime reservoir

Under its waters lies the old village of Salime, which became the capital of the council. When the level of the reservoir falls, part of its houses re-emerge, creating an image that is as unique as it is evocative.

Construction of the dam began in 1946 and it was inaugurated in 1955, making it the largest in Spain and the second largest in Europe. A colossal work that mobilised more than three thousand workers and led to the creation of entire villages for their families. For its execution, surprising solutions were used, such as a 37-kilometre cable car to transport materials.

Today, the reservoir is much more than a hydroelectric infrastructure: it is a benchmark of industrial heritage in Spain, included among the 100 most important in the country. Inside, it houses real gems, such as the 60-metre mural by Joaquín Vaquero and his son, Joaquín Vaquero Turcios, in the turbine room, which visually tells the story of its construction.

The Virgen de la Luz, a symbol of protection for the workers who built the dam, is also preserved on the slopes. Currently, a small team is in charge of its maintenance, while production management is carried out remotely.

The Salime waterfall was once a key infrastructure for the electricity supply in the north of the peninsula. Although other reservoirs were subsequently built on the river Navia, such as Doiras and Arbón, the Salime reservoir remains the most emblematic, both for its size and for the profound mark it has left on the landscape and history of western Asturias. The reservoir occupies land in Grandas de Salime, Ibias and a little of Pesoz and Allande, in Asturias, and Negueira de Muñiz and A Fonsagrada, in Lugo.