Channel of Castile

Channel of Castile as it flows silently east of Fromista

The Channel of Castile, known in Spanish as the Canal de Castilla, became one of the most important civil engineering works of Modern Spain. It was constructed during the last half of the 18th century and the first half of the 19th century. It flows across the land of Burgos, Palencia and Valladolid, provinces which belong to The Community of Castile and León, (Spain). It was built to ease the wheat grain transport from Castile to the northern harbours and to other markets from there onwards.

When railroads were built in northern Spain in the nineteenth century, the Channel turned into the spine of a huge irrigation system due to its inefficiency as a means of transport. There are few canals for navigation in Spain because of the relative lack of water compared to northern European countries and the engineering challenges posed by Spain's mountainous terrain.

The channel stretches 207 km (129 mi), linking the towns of Alar del Rey (Palencia), which is considered to be the beginning of the Northern Branch, Valladolid and Medina de Rioseco, both lying at the end of the Southern Branch and Campos Branch respectively. (The channel has a shape similar to an inverted 'Y' letter).

Ecology

There are areas of ecological importance along the watercourse, including two Special Protection Areas for birdlife: La Nava-Campos Norte and La Nava-Campos Sur, as well as a SPA/SCI Lagunas del Canal de Castilla.^[1] Wetland habitats associated with the canal benefit the birds of the "steppes" of the Tierra de Campos and in particular the bittern (Botaurus stellaris) and the aquatic warbler (Acrocephalus paludicola). The European Union's Life Programme has funded restoration of wetlands in the province of Palencia with the aim of improving the channel's contribution to biodiversity.

Municipalities crossed over by Channel

Ordered North to South, East to West.

Northern Branch

Palencia Province

Alar del Rey San Quirce de Río Pisuerga Herrera de Pisuerga

Ventosa de Pisuerga Castrillo de Riopisuerga

Olmos de Pisuerga Naveros de Pisuerga

Burgos Province

San Llorente de la Vega

Melgar de Fernamental

Palencia Province

Osorno la Mayor Santillana de Campos Las Cabañas de Castilla Lantadilla

Requena de Campos Boadilla del Camino Frómista Piña de Campos

Amusco Amayuelas de Abajo Ribas de Campos.

Campos Branch

Palencia Province

Ribas de Campos Becerril de Campos Husillos Villaumbrales Becerril de Campos

Paredes de Nava Fuentes de Nava Autillo de Campos Abarca

Castromocho Capillas Castil de Vela Belmonte de Campos

Valladolid Province

Tamariz de Campos

Villanueva de San Mancio

Medina de Rioseco

Southern Branch

Palencia Province

Grijota Palencia

Villamuriel de Cerrato

Dueñas

Valladolid Province

Cubillas de Santa Marta Trigueros del Valle

Corcos del Valle Cabezón de Pisuerga

Cigales Valladolid

References

1. ^ Canal de Castilla - Wetland restoration and management

External links

• Channel of Castile. Castile and León Community Government Tourism Website.
• Canal de Castilla - Wetland restoration and management: Canal de Castilla Special Protection Area, The LIFE Programme

Bibliography

Several authors 1986, El Canal de Castilla, GREFOL S.A. (Móstoles, Madrid) Copyright Castile and León Community Government. Legal Deposit M-8.751-1986

Coordinates: 41°44′58″N 4°38′49″W / 41.7494°N 4.64694°W / 41.7494; -4.64694