Las Médulas, Las Médulas, Spain

Las Médulas is a historic gold mining site near the town of Ponferrada. It was the most important gold mine (and largest open pit gold mine) in the entire Roman Empire. Las Médulas Cultural Landscape is listed by the UNESCO as one of the World Heritage Sites.

The spectacular landscape of Las Médulas resulted from the ruina montium (wrecking of the mountains), a Roman mining technique described by Pliny the Elder in 77 AD. The technique employed was a type of hydraulic mining which involved undermining a mountain with large quantities of water. The water was supplied by interbasin transfer. At least seven long aqueducts tapped the streams of the La Cabrera district (where the rainfall in the mountains is relatively high) at a range of altitudes. The same aqueducts were used to wash the extensive alluvial gold deposits.

The area Hispania Tarraconensis was conquered in 25 BC by the emperor Augustus. Prior to the Roman conquest the indigenous inhabitants obtained gold from alluvial deposits. Large-scale production did not begin until the second half of the 1st century AD.

References:

Wikipedia

User Reviews

Begoña Gonzalez (2 years ago)
Expectaculares

Cristina Groza (2 years ago)
Amazing place in Leon, Spain. Fairy tale like!!❤️❤️❤️

Juancho (2 years ago)
Excelente place to walk, run, bike. Nice history place, excellent views

Аndrе Luiz Stabel (2 years ago)
Beautiful place with impressive history.

Frank S (3 years ago)
It’s tough to get to but both beautiful and interesting. If you can, give it a look!

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