Hydrography

Tormes River

The River Tormes is one of the most significant watercourses in Spain, ranking 14th in length and 21st in terms of the surface area it occupies within its basin. The Tormes river is most notable for its role in the historic city of Salamanca and for providing the inspiration for one of the most celebrated literary characters in the picaresque novel of the Golden Age: Lazarillo de Tormes. The Tormes River, which flows for 284 km along the Castilian provinces of Ávila, Salamanca and Zamora, ultimately discharges into the Duero River at the natural border between Portugal, Salamanca and Zamora.

The source of the Tormes River is situated in the Sierra de Gredos, within the municipality of Navarredonda de Gredos in Ávila. From Tormejón meadow, situated at an altitude of 1,600 metres, the waters of the Gredos Regional Park converge at the Tormella spring, marking the point at which the River Tormes begins its course. The area of the river extends over 7,096 km², irrigating the south-western fields of the northern plateau and supplying numerous towns and cities, including El Barco de Ávila, Guijuelo, Alba de Tormes, Ledesma, Fermoselle and, of course, Salamanca. The river's final stretch, a few kilometres from its mouth in the Duero, is characterised by canyons, formed when the water meets the hard granite Hercynian rock, entering and establishing the border with the Arribes del Duero natural park.

During the second half of the 20th century, the river Tormes saw its natural course held back by up to four reservoirs (San Fernando, Santa Teresa, Villagonzalo and Almendra) with the aim of retaining much of the water for use in the surrounding crops, but above all with the intention of using the waterfalls to generate hydroelectric power to supply electricity to an entire region. This event led to the proliferation of fish species associated with these large bodies of fresh and deep water, including the barbel (Luciobarbus bocagei), the pike (Esox lucius), which has been designated an invasive species, and the carp (Cyprinus carpio).

On the other hand, numerous species of Iberian fauna come to the river Tormes to quench their thirst or find food and shelter. From amphibians such as toads, frogs and newts to all kinds of mammals such as squirrels (Sciurus vulgaris) and wild boar (Sus scofa), birds such as the white stork (Ciconia ciconia) and reptiles such as the bastard snake (Malpolon monspessulanus).

The flora, meanwhile, is typical of Mediterranean holm oak groves, with a few specimens of oak (Quercus pyrenaica) and cork oak (Quercus suber) scattered in small redoubts. The riverine landscape is characterised by the presence of shrubs and herbaceous plants, including blackberries (Rubus ulmifolius) and other Rosaceae species, which contribute to the vibrant colouration of the riverbank during the spring and summer months.