Reflections at the lake

Reflections at the lake
Moon sunset reflections at the lake
The lake or bog the Padul is located in the municipality of El Padul, in the... more

by Guido Montanes Castillo

Title

Reflections at the lake

Artist

Guido Montanes Castillo

Medium

Photograph

Description

Reflections at the lake
Moon sunset reflections at the lake
The lake or bog the Padul is located in the municipality of El Padul, in the province of Granada, in the autonomous community of Andalusia (Spain). It is considered as the main natural wetland in the province and is the largest expanse of reeds of Andalusia after Daimiel tables. It consists of a series of wetlands located mainly in deprived areas around the two existing turf farms, which are a remnant of an ancient lake system longer.
Historical evolution



Drainage channel of the lagoon, also known as "mother". Mother of Ventano.
The importance of this lake has had on people's lives is highlighted in successive attempts to desiccation, is known for one of the late eighteenth century, but whose project referred to earlier ones. This project is included in the Book of Councils of the City of Granada in 1779, as the municipality of El Padul belonged to this city, who bought his Majesty Philip IV as the royal decree of June 19, 1627. In that year the council met at the request of some residents of the Padul, among which is the Count of Villa Cozv�jar Amena, who owned most of the lagoon, to study the possible drying of this, I had an extension 16000-18000 of marshes. The project, after studying the report of the experts and m�dicos1 and the advantages and disadvantages that could result from desiccation, was approved, granting permission to take the count to practice.2
Thus, the gap appears already dried'm late eighteenth L�pez3 that Thomas says: "... preventing in honor of the truth, that the indicated salubilidad (Lecr�n Valley) to the Villa of the Padul excepted that because of being so immediately upon rreputada by Laguna has been sick, and indeed it was, but to be forsaken of haze from a few years in order to cultivate their land an desiccated the maior part of the Laguna ... "
This drying and drainage was performed through channels, called "mothers", which together form the River Lagoon or El Padul, which finds its outlet to the river Guadalfeo.
Historical data collected in the lagoon of the Padul indicate that this is not always all occupied initial depression, but was limited to an area of ​​a third or fourth.
The Distribution of a 15 714 says that land of the lagoon and the "Marxen" were only used by the residents to collect cattail and reed (reed). In terms of size, merely echoes the view very different from the neighbors, while some calculated as an area of ​​8,000 marshes, others limited to 2,000 marshes.
The Cadastre of the Marquis of Ensenada (1752) considered an extension to the surface of the lagoon uncultivated marshes 3550, equivalent to 187 Ha, almost entirely belonging to the Count of Villa Cozv�jar Amena, who also controlled another 500 hectares of land irrigated, ie practically had total depression. Note that this is the only noble title that appears between the owners of the Padul eighteenth century, a fact which is a bit strange, when you consider the abundance of them was in Spain at the time. His title and his residence in Cozv�jar explained because this town was the military core of the entire region after the Reconquista and, therefore, the most important, but then was overtaken by the Padul and D�rcal, to stay away from Granada-Motril road. Cultures of the valley of the Padul in this century were mainly wheat, barley, hemp, flax and fruit, with some vineyards and olive groves, which eventually watered when water left over.
In the nineteenth century, the 1881 Millage presents most of the lake drained and start growing, and the Count of Villa Amena of Cozv�jar still owns the land dried, though not grown directly, but by settlers , who has distributed small plots, almost all less than half a hectare. The crops are still very similar to the previous century, with the exception of cannabis, which has completely disappeared, in parallel with the decline of the Spanish navy. Instead they have introduced the cultivation of maize and habas.5
In the twentieth century, in addition to crops that were practiced in the previous century, the beet is of special interest, especially since the arrival of the tram for easy transport to the sugar of Santa Juliana, in the town of Armilla. Predominantly small property, as no owner has greater than 10 and more than three-quarters do not exceed an acre. The owners are the descendants of sharecroppers and tenant farmers who cultivated the land when they were owned by the Earl of Villamena of Cozv�jar. Many legalized land, although many were still basing their rights in a former lease document purely symbolic payment, they transmitted to their heirs or sell, acting as true owners of the land.

Uploaded

September 3rd, 2014