A vast open-pit coal mine in As Pontes, Spain, has been transformed into a large artificial lake. Engineers filled the enormous excavation with billions of litres of water over four years. This ambitious project created a lake, beach, and nature trails, repurposing the landscape. The former industrial site now serves as a recreational and tourism destination for the community.

Think of the biggest hole you’ve ever seen. Now make it nearly as deep as the Eiffel Tower is tall and spread it out over an area about the size of 1,600 American football fields.

El proyecto de recuperación cambió un paisaje devastado por décadas de minería en un nuevo ecosistema, donde hoy conviven humedales, bosques, praderas y actividades recreativas.