The ghost dam of Montejaque in the Serranía de Ronda has reached historical levels, forcing the evacuation of 200 people due to water retention issues despite being built over a century ago.
The article discusses the longstanding issue with the Montejaque dam, built in the early 20th century with the intention of supplying electricity to remote villages in the Serranía de Ronda and Grazalema. Despite its considerable height and advanced design for the time, the dam has never successfully retained water due to leakage problems. This lack of functionality has now led to a critical situation where the dam has reached a historical water level, prompting local authorities to evacuate around 200 residents from the surrounding area to ensure their safety. The dam, originally envisioned as a source of renewable energy, has not fulfilled its intended purpose for over a century, raising concerns about its maintenance, safety, and the impact on local communities in this rugged terrain. The plight of the Montejaque dam serves as a cautionary tale highlighting both the challenges faced in rural infrastructure development and the environmental implications of aging technology in the face of modern standards and expectations.
