Close to our newly aquired holiday home I found a nice afternoon walk (a "sendero") along the old watering system (acequia) of the local town that the farmers used for terrace farming. It is an easy 5 km - mostly flat - with beautiful views of flora and fauna of the quiet lovely mountains behind busy Marbella.
The water coming down naturally in small rivulets from the mountains is diverted through a multitude of small channels and gates leading down into the Guadalmina valley and the mediterranean sea.
Careless ones are washed down the streams....
The water coming down naturally in small rivulets from the mountains is diverted through a multitude of small channels and gates leading down into the Guadalmina valley and the mediterranean sea.
Cork oak trees (Quercus suber) grow beside the path. Their bark is harvested every seven years from the trunk up to a certain height. The tree will recover and build up new cork.
The path often crosses the aquaeduct and in part leads over it.
In the distance one can see the firebreaks cleared of the dry undergrowth, crisscrossing the hills and protecting the urbanizaciones. In summer it can be very hot and dry here and the risk of wild fires is real.
In May, though, hundreds of frogs seem to gather in the refreshing water streams and pools.
Careless ones are washed down the streams....
Some areas are used for bathing in the summer but the water level is variable
the mediterranean sea in the far distance
Pastoral Scenes
