Visit to the Santa Engracia mine in Peñalen

Friday was an extraordinary experience that left us amazed at the impressive progress of the restoration of the Santa Engracia de Peñalén mine! All of this was possible thanks to the dedicated LIFE Ribermine team, led by the talented Dr. José Francisco Martín Duque of the UCM, who demonstrated his passion and commitment to the cause. ⛰️

What we witnessed was an advanced and pioneering performance in landscape design, an authentic work of art that seeks to reproduce the natural morphology of cliffs and slopes in the old mines and waste dumps. In addition, intelligent strategies were implemented to channel water flows and thus mitigate any uncontrolled contribution of waste to the nearby river. It's a truly revolutionary approach to environmental restoration!

These efforts not only benefit our environment, but also give us a privileged view of the exciting Cretaceous period of the Geopark. It is a true journey through time that transports us to fascinating times! I can't help but be excited to learn more details about this wonderful geological era and how it has left its mark on the land we walk on today.

It is amazing to see how science, dedication and collaboration come together in this mission of conservation and restoration. With initiatives as exciting as this one, it is shown that it is possible to combine environmental protection with the promotion of scientific knowledge.