Micro documentaries on seas, rivers and wetlands.
The word “pagensis” is of Latin origin and literally means “inhabitant of a pagus,” where pagus is understood as a village, district, or rural area in the Roman Empire. The term “pagensis” referred to people who lived in these territories, that is, villagers or peasants, the “payeses” or “paisanos.” From this same origin comes the … Continue reading Landscape and its people
We are on the southern slope of the Sierra de Gredos. We have climbed very high to visit the area where the Cuartos Gorge originates. A canal from an old mini hydroelectric plant—about whose construction I still wonder whether it was built in the name of progress or for private benefit—helps us ascend in an … Continue reading Shepherd’s hut
Wetlands are one of the most valuable and, at the same time, most threatened ecosystems. These environments act as true natural sponges, absorbing excess water during periods of heavy rainfall and releasing it during droughts, which helps prevent floods and recharge underground aquifers. Additionally, their vegetation and microorganisms filter and purify the water, improving its … Continue reading Current functions and challenges in wetlands
Undoubtedly, the construction of dams for water storage has been a driving force for human development since the dawn of civilizations. The earliest dams date approximately between 3000 and 2600 B.C., in Mesopotamia and Egypt. Stored water has many uses, with the primary one being the supply of potable water for human consumption. However, the … Continue reading Rivers without barriers
The footprints of our ancestors, even though they are distant in time, move us. We strive to identify with them, imagining how they lived, worked, and thought. However, we often fall into self-deception: we like to believe that they were like us, their descendants, and that archaeological vestiges reflect an existence similar to ours. This … Continue reading Beliefs
In the High Atlas of Morocco lies the famous Mount Toubkal, which, at over 4,100 meters in height, is the highest mountain in North Africa. Its proximity to Marrakech and the relative ease of its ascent have led thousands of mountaineers, and even tourists with little or no mountain experience, to visit this region each … Continue reading Valleys of the High Atlas
Spring shines green and watery in this small corner that then flows into the Cabrera. Small mountain trout and wolves up there or here beside us, watching us, invisible. The future of many Spanish rivers is uncertain, but today's present, in good company, maintains its minimal and fragile abundance of those few places for serenity … Continue reading Fishing with Juan Delibes
Limestone karsts primarily form through the action of slightly acidic water. When rainwater comes into contact with the atmosphere, it absorbs carbon dioxide (CO2), becoming slightly acidic. As this acidic water falls on the rock's surface, it slowly dissolves the calcium carbonate, forming calcium bicarbonate, which is soluble in water. A limestone karst is distinguished … Continue reading Hydrological functioning of limestone karst
The current diversity of Iberian ichthyofauna is the result of the functioning of its aquatic ecosystems and the intense human activities that have influenced the Iberian Peninsula for centuries. A high percentage of fish species are native, particularly those of the Cyprinidae family, mainly due to the geographical isolation of the Peninsula and the adaptive … Continue reading Iberian cyprinids
Heading out into the countryside, into the white world. Contemplating how the water emerges from the ice and snow, from the sponge that is the soil, the roots of the heather, the moss, and the lichens. Enjoying the luxury of drinking from it. Then sucking on the sleet that has clung to the branches, the … Continue reading Late Snowfall
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