Castilla y Leon information
Channel of Castilla
This impressive piece of hydraulic engineering was built in the 18th and 19th century to get rid of surplus grain.
Nowadays, this artificial river which flows 205km along the Meseta
between the province of Palencia and Valladolid, has become an
interesting cultural trail, offering the architectural diversity
of its three branch roads which take tourists along the Ramal
del Norte, the Ramal del Sur and the Ramal de Campos. The route
combines the natural environment found along the riverbanks with
the history and tradition of the towns.
The unusual attraction of this canal is the system used to solve
the problem of uneven ground. This system consists of 49 sluices,
constructed to form waterfalls which, sometimes, manage to even
off gaps of up to 87m.
Such a spectacular system of sluices does not however take away from the architectural ensemble of bridges, aqueducts, dams, irrigation channels, factories, milestones, docks and buildings which the three branch roads of the Canal de Castilla offer tourists, despite activity having ceased.
The nature of this artificial river makes hiking, canoeing, cycling
and boat trips along different sections of the river, some of
the activities available to tourists. These activities do not
however prevent the old canal from irrigating the crops in the
area.
Source: Web server of Instituto de Turismo de España, TURESPAÑA.