Imagine three stunningly beautiful turquoise coloured
lakes bordered by pine forests. A tranquil retreat where you can
swim or fish, or picnic on the lake shore. Hardly sounds like a
typical Andalucian scene, does it! But west of Alora that is what
you will find. Malaga's "Lake District" is in fact three artificial
lakes created by a dam built across the dramatic 200 m. high Guadalhorce
river gorge, known as the Garganta del Chorro.
Watch out for the eagles which continually circle around the sheer
cliffs.
From your journey through the Valle de Abdalajis
you will arrive at the small village of El Chorro and your first
sight of the dam and gorge area. There is a small bridge across
the middle of the gorge, built during the construction of the reservoir
between 1914 and 1921. The dam was officially opened in 1921 by
King Alfonso XIII of Spain and on this occasion he took a walk along
the specially constructed catwalk pinned to the face of the gorge
some 100 m. above the river.
It is no longer possible to walk along the Camino
del Rey (The King's Path), as it has been closed, pending
repairs. However it can still be found by driving across the lower
dam into the village of El Chorro, take the track on the left before
the railway station, continue past the camp site until you can drive
no further. Walk the last few hundred metres. The path drops down
and skirts the iron girder railway bridge (take care crossing the
line, Von Ryans express was filmed here).
To reach the lakes, drive over the dam and follow the road round to the left of the gorge. Just keep on this road and you will come to the lakes, about 4 km. drive. Even though the lakes are very popular in the summer, their shores are so vast that it is easy to find a quiet place to sunbathe, swim and picnic.
We recommend a delightful waterside restaurant El
Kioskoll, a particular good choice for the winter visit
as a blazing log fire and their excellent roast lamb and pork go
down well after a walk along the shores of the lake. But equally
delightful is their summer terrace with views to the lake. To find
El Kioskoll continue east along the lakes, through a tunnel under
a lakeside restaurant and cross over another dam. You will find
El Kioskoll on the right hand side of the road.
Take the minor tarmac but pot-holed road up to the upper lake of this
hydroelectric pump storage project for exceptional views. There is a restaurant, now abandoned due to lack of passing trade and the site of the deserted village of Bobastro.
Nearby interesting villages to visit are Ardales, Alora, and Teba.
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Holidaysinmalaga.com:
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Inland Andalucia
Comprehensive range of Village houses, Fincas, Villas and Exclusive New developments in Inland Andalucia, covering Cordoba, Granada, Malaga and Seville provinces. |
Singing Frog Properties
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