The most precious resource of Las Alpujarras

The springs of crystal-clear water from the melting snows of Sierra Nevada were music to the Muslims’ ears. They held it in great esteem and respect. They loved its sound and reveled in its beauty. They became experts in channeling these waters through a sophisticated network of irrigation ditches or acequias. In some places they are still to be seen just as they were then and they remain the main source of irrigation today. In Los Güájares, for instance, the system dates back from the Almohad period.

Ancient water mills, water tanks, known as albergas, and irrigation channels or acequias dot the district of Las Alpujarras. In the villages and towns there are Fuentes (fountains), flowing ceaselessly with, on the main, drinking water and lavaderos (public wash houses) where until very recently women would wash their clothes. All a throwback to Arab times.

There are ferrous water springs in La Taha and in Pampaneira. The spa or Balneario de Lanjarón, with its mineromedicinal waters, is a very popular destination and a good example of how the waters of Las Alpujarras are made full use of. Lanjarón’s mineral water is also bottled and exported all over Spain and Europe.

Fountains and Drinking fountains

Bubión: Cuatro Caños fountain
Cáñar: Poyo Dios fountain
Cástaras: Los Caños fountain
El Golco: Los Llanitos, San Miguel and Los Remedios fountains
Lanjarón: Las Adelfas fountain
Laroles: Pilar de las Yeguas
Los Bérchules: Paraíso fountain, Las Carmelitas fountain
Murtas: Cuartel, Santa Cruz and La Golera fountain
Nechite: Las Margaritas fountain
Órgiva: Los Cantares fountain
Pampaneira: Los Poetas, Cerrilo and San Antonio fountain
Pórtugos: Agria fountain
Válor: La Tableta fountain
Yegen: Los Tres Caños, Fuente Agria fountain