Weir, channels and flour mills
The weir and the irrigation channels made it possible to use the water for the mills and for watering the land. Water power was part of how the city supplied itself. Recognising that relationship helps you read the setting of the river: this is not simply a watercourse in a spectacular landscape, but a resource that sustained essential activities.
From milling to electricity
Part of that use of the water was later converted to generate electricity. Hydroelectric installations added new structures and new uses to the landscape of El Tajo. This evolution shows how different eras found a source of power in the river, and how those changes left their mark on the territory.
The Mina del Agua, the orchards and the setting
The gorge is connected with the Mina del Agua and with cultivated areas belonging to the city. They form part of a wider heritage context that helps in understanding Ronda. Knowing about them does not mean that admission to the gorge includes visits to other monuments: arrange each activity and its access separately.
Water as part of the visit
The channel, the pools and the shifting light offer different ways of observing the gorge. Enjoy them from the walkway and the marked spaces. Bathing is not permitted. Keeping to the route protects both the visitor and the setting that makes the experience special.