The Charca del Arroyal is located in the province of Palencia, in the Tierra de Campos region, along the Campos branch of the Canal de Castilla. Situated between the municipalities of Capillas and Villarramiel, and near the Capillas Bridge and lock number two of the branch, this site is part of one of the most representative sections of the canal from a landscape and environmental perspective.
Its origin is directly linked to the construction and operation of the Castile Canal between the 18th and 19th centuries. The excavation of the canal bed and its barrier effect altered the natural drainage of the land, favoring the accumulation of water in certain areas and leading to the formation of small pools that, over time, became naturalized.
The Arroyal pond features a seasonal water level, highly dependent on the canal’s water flow and climatic conditions. Its banks are covered with marsh vegetation, which creates a striking contrast in the open cereal-growing landscape of Tierra de Campos and contributes to the ecological diversity of the surrounding area.
For the visitor, the Charca del Arroyal is a discreet but significant stop on the walking or cycling routes along the towpaths of the Canal de Castilla, allowing one to understand the canal as a living system where engineering, landscape and nature are closely linked.
