Micro documentaries on seas, rivers and wetlands.
There was a time—distant or perhaps not so distant—when the water set the ancient machinery of the mill in motion. Pieces of hardwood, iron tempered in nearby forges, granite stones carved with great skill. In old tales, even the most ancient ones, there are millers—men and women—who live through adventures, heartbreak, betrayals, and proud deeds. … Continue reading Zarzalejo Mill
The heavy rains we have experienced over these past months of January and February have gifted us with striking scenes of rivers and streams flowing freely through green, life-filled landscapes. The other side of the coin has been the image of towns devastated by water due to a clear lack of urban planning and the … Continue reading The swollen Tagus river
In the year 2000, two scientists, Paul Crutzen and Eugene Stoermer, proposed the term Anthropocene to define a new stage in the geological history of our planet. The rationale for creating this new period was that human activity has become a dominant geological force, capable of irreversibly altering Earth's atmosphere, ecology, and geology. The underlying … Continue reading Anthropocene
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
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