The Arroyo Mayor Spillway is a hydraulic infrastructure of the Canal de Castilla located in the municipality of Paredes de Nava (Palencia), at kilometer 108.620. It is part of the system of elements designed to guarantee the safety and proper functioning of the canal, allowing the evacuation of excess water and regulating the flow level during periods of high water, especially in sections linked to natural courses such as the Arroyo Mayor stream.
Although it is an auxiliary structure, its function is essential within the canal system, as it acts as a hydraulic relief point, preventing overloads and protecting the stability of the main infrastructure. The spillway is constructed with robust and durable solutions, typical of the engineering of the Canal de Castilla, and preserves all of the original hydraulic works, thus reinforcing its heritage value.
For visitors, the Arroyo Mayor Spillway offers a unique opportunity to understand how the Canal de Castilla was not only a waterway for navigation and irrigation, but also a complex hydraulic engineering project. Integrated into the open landscape of Tierra de Campos, it invites one to calmly observe the relationship between engineering, water, and territory, and to discover the importance of these secondary elements in the overall functioning of the canal.
