Hydrography

Rivera de la Pescadera

All the streams and brooks that flow between Trabanca and Villarino ultimately converge with the river Tormes, which flows in a parallel course for approximately 4 km along the Camino Natural between the two villages. One of these tributaries is the Rivera de la Pescadera.

The stream in question is approximately 11 km in length and winds its way through the rugged landscape of La Ramajería in Salamanca. It is occasionally dotted with holm oaks (Quercus ilex), Pyrenean oaks (Quercus pyrenaica) and cress groves, which help to maintain the green colour of the wide watercourses despite the seasonal nature of the livestock grazing in the area. Indeed, in certain sections, granite blocks are visible in a linear arrangement across the riverbank. These blocks serve a specific purpose: to act as a passage when the water flows down the La Pescadera riverbed.

A mill, designated as Molino del Pasadero, is situated at the midpoint of the Rivera de la Pescadera river course. The edifice is a modest structure erected in the 19th century in accordance with the traditional local architectural style, which involved the use of granite blocks laid one on top of the other by hand. The mill, which has stood for centuries, has long ceased to be used for grinding flour. Nevertheless, it remains a testament to the resilience of the Industrial Revolution. Not even the machinery that was still in use during the brief period of three months when the flooding of the Rivera de la Pescadera presented an opportunity for exploitation. In contrast, the structure has become a symbol of tradition, serving to preserve the cultural memory of this remote region of Castile and León.

A little further on, after the Rivera de la Pescadera and the Camino Natural end at a high bend and after climbing the Peñita Redonda, one encounters the Cascada del Desgalgadero, a place name that means "stone cliff". At this juncture, the terrain bifurcates into a vertical fault line along which the waters of the Rivera de la Pascadera cascade. A visit necessitates a slight deviation of approximately 600 metres, but this is justified by the opportunity to observe the 50-metre-high waterfall at its fullest during periods of heavy rainfall. The waterfall is situated at the foot of a mountainous region, from which the Rivera de la Pescadera flows into the River Tormes.