A bath (or many) in the Bierge waterfall?
We may remember this summer for its high temperatures. To beat the heat when we are not near the beach, we can go to a swimming pool, but let us tell you that it has nothing to do with sensation of bathing in the middle of nature.
Let's find places together Aragon where we can immerse ourselves in idyllic surroundings and let us not forget, with so much joy, to marvel at the landscapes that surround the rivers, pools and swamps.
Let's start with the Pyrenees and end up next to the Teruel city . From North to South, through the almost 50,000 square kilometers of the autonomous community of Aragón in search of fresh waters where we can dive and forget about how high the mercury has been in recent weeks.
River beaches, pools… Wait a minute, is any sheet of fresh water worth it? Better we limit ourselves to the so-called ZBC (Controlled Bathing Areas) where access is conditioned and the waters are sampled to determine their quality. Or we can also look for a good bathing area among those registered in the Náiade census of the Ministry of Health
In Aragón we find more than a dozen of them: the Aragon river ravine Subbordan , the Bubal reservoirs, San Bartolome , Arquillo, Joaquín Costa, Lanuza, Mequinenza and Valbona as well as different sections of the rivers Ara, Aragón, Bellós, Bergantes, Cinca, Matarraña and the aforementioned Aragón Subordán. We have a lot to choose from.
LANUZA RESERVOIR (Alto Gallego, Huesca)
In this large body of fresh water located at almost 1,300 meters of altitude, there are some areas enabled for bathing at the tail of the reservoir. In addition it is a beautiful place to practice water sports such as canoes or paddle surfing.
Lanuza Reservoir
With the Peña Foratata in the background and the town recovered from the waters on one side, Lanuza offers scenes that are hard to forget. In summer the Festival Pirineos Sur is held on its waters, as one of the main stages floats on a platform on the surface of the reservoir.
BIERGE JUMP (Somontano, Huesca)
The waters of the Alcanadre River at the height of Bierge once moved the wheels of a flour mill and later a hydroelectric use was made of them. And today at the weir, we found a little paradise for swimmers.
The Salto de Bierge (we recommend seeing access conditions) is also the starting point for numerous pedestrian, equestrian and mountain bike routes.
Bierge jump
PÍGALO WELL IN LUESIA (Five Villas, Zaragoza) :
A leafy pine forest surrounds this fabulous pool formed by the Arba River in Luesia. In the middle of the protected landscape of the Sierra Santo Domingo , we find this crowded bathing area surrounded by rocks that serve as springboards for the most daring. It is located next to a campsite and there is a paid parking lot at the entrance.
Pígalo well in Luesia
MATARRAÑA AND ULLDEMO RIVERS IN BECEITE (Matarrana, Teruel)
Beceite is a privileged population. It has a medieval historic center surrounded by rivers and natural landscapes of great value. In the surroundings of the town there are different bathing options: on the one hand they have the natural pools in the L'Assut area , where the accesses to the Matarraña River have been conditioned.
In this area, the pertinent sanitary controls are carried out to guarantee and inform bathers of the state of the waters. On the other hand, the Ulldemó River, before converging into the aforementioned Matarraña River, has amused itself by giving bathers different natural pools, in the area called La Pesquera.
Matarraña and Ulldemó rivers in Beceite
**THE CANANILLAS OF THE BERGANTES RIVER IN AGUAVIVA** (Bajo Aragón, Teruel)
The Bergantes is a river that is frequently unleashed. He loves to arrive with power to the province of Teruel, coming from neighboring Castellón. This explains the beautiful landscape of eroded rocks of its bed: in its avenues it has molded pots, straits, caves and pools where to bathe.
The landscape changes every time the river experiences a flood: stones are moved, pools are filled with gravel and its banks are also naturally cleared of vegetation, making it easily accessible to swimmers. A mediaeval bridge crowns the most frequented bathing area.
The Cananillas of the Bergantes River in Agua Viva
ARQUILLO RESERVOIR (San Blas, Teruel)
We folded a hammock in the trunk of the car and headed a few kilometers from the city of Teruel to the Arquillo reservoir. We are greeted by the sparkles of the sun on the bluish surface of the reservoir that is fed by the Guadalaviar River. Count with one pleasant beach bar and shaded picnic areas of the pines, we can even rent skates to cross its calm waters.
In addition to those mentioned, we will find many other places throughout the Aragonese geography where locals and tourists bathe: river courses, waterfalls, reservoirs … but in all cases bathers do so under their own responsibility, when these areas are not controlled or their waters analysed.
In addition to possible poor sanitary conditions of the water, there are other dangers, such as the frequent internal currents of the reservoirs that can affect even the most experienced swimmers. The best advice is be informed and act with prudence and respect in natural environments conducive to bathing.
The Arch, Teruel