Puntos de Interés
Hydrography
Pozo de los Humos
There exists a utopian locale situated near the border between the municipalities of Peña de la Ribera and Masueco. To reach the destination, it is necessary to deviate from the route proposed by the Nature Trail. However, the effort will undoubtedly be worthwhile.
The Pozo de los Humos is a waterfall created by the river Uces when it encountered a sudden abyss in a granite fault. Nevertheless, despite its status as one of numerous waterfalls within this rugged landscape, the Pozo de Humos is the most renowned waterfall within the Arribes del Duero Natural Park.
The waterfall, which is approximately 50 metres in height, has acquired its name due to the cloud of steam that is generated when the water strikes the rocks. At the summit of the waterfall, the Uces River cascades with great force down the granite cliff face, plunging towards the eroded slate floor. This creates a natural pool, which is surrounded by small caves and escarpments, including Palla Rubia, which houses rock paintings with anthropomorphic figures.
In the vicinity, a bifurcation occurs, resulting in the emergence of another waterfall, designated as the Pozo de las Vacas. This designation is derived from a historical incident involving a cart pulled by two cows (“vaca” is Spanish for cow) that is said to have fallen off the cliff in the past. Once the waterfall has been constructed, the stream, which has been calmed by the waterfall, flows for 2.8 km along its final stretch to flow into the Duero river. However, this is not the end of the waterfall's journey, as it collects the waters of another waterfall, that of the Regato de la Cribera, a few metres downstream from the Pozo de los Humos.
The area surrounding the Pozo de los Humos is characterised by a diverse array of vegetation, including oak trees (Quercus pyrenaica), chestnut trees (Castanea sativa) and low thickets of rockroses (Cistus ladanifer) and broom (Cytisus scoparius). However, the most prevalent feature is the bare granite stone. The entirety of the Pozo de los Humos, including the vegetation, the crags, and the occasional bird of prey, can be observed from the footbridge that overlooks the void and was constructed for this purpose.
Access to this natural monument is possible from two routes: one from Pereña de la Ribera and the other from Masueco. Both locations offer parking facilities for vehicles shortly before arrival. The paths are relatively simple and of a short enough length to be completed on foot. The route that commences in Masueco is designated as the Senda de la Roblea, although it is also referred to as the Senda de Unamuno, in honour of the writer who visited Las Arribes and was inspired by the landscape, as evidenced by his observation in his work 'Andanzas y visiones españolas', "I saw the Pozo de los Humos and I seemed to see the origin of that world". Although the water regime is permanent, the strong seasonality of the area means that a visit is recommended during the months between December and May. This allows visitors to take advantage of the periods of intense rainfall, when the force of the water roars in all its splendour.