Interactive map of El Chorro
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In 1901 the building of the canal commenced. This canal crosses the
wall opposite to the railway wall, at about one hundred meters above
the river bed. Not only was the canal built but also the service road.
This was supported to the wall using metal brackets and was constructed
using cemented blocks.
A metal handrail ran along the exposed edge.
The works at “Los Balconcillos” lasted from 1901 to 1905 and many
specialized workers were hired.
These workers were even hired from
the local marina that was being rebuilt. Therefore, no prisoners were
used and no deaths were caused during the construction.
The workers used to hang in swings that were anchored from the formwork of sections that were going to be used as support for the next sections.
They worked in this manner until they reached a point where the two walls crossed. At this point the canal needed a large structure of wood or scaffolding and the use of reinforced concrete.
After King Alfonso XIII of Spain visited the area in the spring of 1921
in order to place the last stone for the dam, the monarch traveled across los Balconcillos.
He then honored the engineer acting as the
works manager for the El Chorro project, namely Rafael Benjumea Burin, the title of Earl of Gumalhorce.
From that time onwards, the canal surveillance footbridge was known as the
“Caminito del Rey” – The King’s pathway
We are, therefore, starring at an impressive natural site, apparently hostile to man.
However, from prehistory to present, we have all been attracted to this site where grandeur has reached the boundaries to supreme beauty.
The walls of El Chorro Gorge are the mythical symbol of the mountainous
Malaga. They rise as two large rock giants guarding the entrance from
mankind. , . ‘ ‘
From Neolithic times through to the nineteenth century its canyons
were used by hunters, shepherds, woodcutters and fishermen who
took advantage of the extraordinary presence of the fauna. Nowadays,
more than 120 different species have been protected. Standing out
are the various species of birds of prey and mammals such as the
Spanish Ibex, the wild cat, etc.
However, during the first half of the
twentieth century, animals such as the wolf, the lammergeier, the otter
and the electric eel disappeared . Also, even earlier in history, towards
the end of the Middle Ages the bear, the deer and the salmon also disappeared.
The name of El Chorro (The Spurt) originates from the fact that the
three rivers flowing through Malaga (Guadalhorce, Guadalteba and Turon) also flew together along the Los Gaitanes Gorge.
Before the dams were built the combination caused terrific floods as if there had
been a storm.
“When there was a torrential rain downpour in the inland
province, the floods reached the gorge, causing due to its
narrowness an extraordinary accumulation of water before
the first canyon and therefore an unavoidable rise in the
water level. As a result of the pressure of the water passing through the gorge a huge spurt was formed beyond. This
phenomenon that used to occur in the region that we can see from this view point
was very scary for the inhabitants of the Drainage Basin of Malaga.
¨They thought that when the water burst through the gorge their crops, houses and even lives
were going to be lost.
During the second half of the nineteenth century, the railway network
between Malaga and Cordoba was built. This finally allowed the city
to be linked with the rest of Spain. The railway literally crossed the
walls of the Los Gaitanes Gorge with a network of tunnels that were cut through the hard limestone and which are still being used by trains today.