The Gold Mine of Spain – Las Medulas

Spain is one of the most popular tourist spots of Europe. Beautiful natural areas, vast beaches, historical parks, museums, monumental buildings erected centuries ago and above all people with different religious backgrounds living in complete harmony are wonderful to experience.The city of Leon is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Spain.
When you visit the Leon, never forget to visit the historic gold mine Las Medulas. In Las Medulas mining was done by the Romans. In fact, according to historical records, Las Medulas was one of the most important mines with a very high yield of gold. The technology used was simple, although it called for patience to get the end result.

First the mountain containing gold deposits was identified. Then through the use of aquaducts, which were built to divert water from rivers hundreds of kilometers away, the river water was directed towards the mountain. After some time the mountain would collapse due to erosion by the water, gold was taken out and then the water was allowed to flow to the sea. This was an engineering marvel which did not involve huge amounts of digging or tunneling.

It also did not involve use of gun powder or any other explosives. In fact, during the Roman period gun powder was unheard of. After gold was extracted, it was washed using the water flowing in streams.

If a gold deposit was located below a rock, then the rock would be heated by fire. Rock is easier to break when heated. When the rock was hot enough, it would be chiseled and the gold deposit removed.

The UNESCO has declared the area as a world heritage zone. The government of Spain has declared the area as a protected area of historical importance. Some of the mines where the rock has been broken for extraction of gold have been preserved even to this day.

The place is very well connected by road from both Castile and Leon. The gold mine is located in the midst of beautiful natural scenery. Apart from the gold mine, both Leon and Castile provinces have many historical monuments. The tall mountain range is an added attraction. Las Medulas is one of the most popular tourist spots not only because of its historical importance but also because of its strategic location. The tourist will certainly enjoy this historical spot.