Fortunately, we Spaniards do not need to leave our borders to find truly magical places. During the last weeks we have told you about some of them (the Cabrera Archipelago National Maritime-Terrestrial Park, the beautiful Sierra de la Demanda in Burgos, the Castilla Canal …), but we still have many more places to show you.
Today, for example, we want to move to Huelva, where the Riotinto Mines are located, one of the most curious places in our country. Of course, unlike many other enclaves of our geography, this place has acquired this lunar landscape, with red lands and waters due to the hand of man, which has modified the place since the Copper Age, when it began to explode. Do you want to know more details about the Riotinto Mines ? Well, do not miss anything that we tell you below!
A town related to mining activity
Minas de Riotinto is a town in Huelva that has always been related to mining activity. Located near the border with Seville and 70 kilometers from the City of Huelva, this town rose to fame after the filming of "The Heart of the Earth", although the truth is that it should have been made known much earlier, since it has with a lot of interesting tourist attractions .
Riotinto Mining Park
If you have the opportunity to travel to Minas de Riotinto, you cannot miss its Mining Park, created in 1992 to protect the identity of the region and promote cultural tourism in the area. Here you will discover the tradition of the mines and the important British heritage that has remained in the province. During the visit to the park you can travel on an old railway , go into one of the mines, visit a Victorian house (House 21) and learn about the history of the region, which was completely transformed due to mining activity, in the Museum , nestled in a former British hospital.
Iron Rock
One of the mines that you can visit is that of Peña del Hierro, which dates back to Roman times. Of course, it was not until the late nineteenth century when it experienced its greatest exploitation . Today it is one of the most beautiful places in the entire region, being able to contemplate spectacular landscapes and visit an underground gallery of about 200 meters in length. In addition, it is here where the source of the Rio Tinto is located and where NASA and the CAB carry out research for the MARTE project.
Railway
As we have just mentioned, in the Mining Park you can enjoy a trip on the old railway. Specifically, the RĂo Tinto Foundation has recovered some kilometers of track, two locomotives and different wagons that it has restored and that today are used for tourist trips. If you have the opportunity to travel on these trains, you will be able to enjoy the most impressive landscapes.
Short Watchtower
In Minas de RĂotinto you can also visit the impressive Corta Atalaya mining operation, which was once the largest open-pit mining in the world. As you can see in the images, despite being inactive, it continues to leave you with your mouth open thanks to its crater , which is 1,200 meters in diameter at the widest part, in addition to 345 meters deep.
Other places of interest
In addition to all of the above, we recommend a visit to Cerro Colorado, the Bella Vista neighborhood, the Roman Necropolis of La Dehesa, and the Construction Building. Then we leave you with our gallery , where you will find more images of the Riotinto Mines. Do not miss it!
