domedtanks

Discovering Cartagena

More Articles By Phillip Bruce www.raxomnium.com

Domed Tanks Save Water

Many visitors traveling around the countryside near Cartagena ask about the curious domed structures that appear dotted around the fields.

In fact, these are aljibes. These water tanks or cisterns were probably brought to the region at the time of the Arab occupation and they are highly efficient in storing water and minimizing loss through evaporation and leakage.

Although modern water supply systems are very efficient today, the aljibes are regarded with much affection and are protected. They are not wells as they do not draw water up from an underground aquifer. But they were connected in the past to ditches that channeled valuable rainfall into the storage chamber below. Then, when water was short, farmers could draw on the water saved during the wet months to irrigate their fields.

Perhaps the largest aljibe can be seen at the town of Fuente Alamo, about half an hour’s drive north of Cartagena. This is a huge structure, built by craftsmen in the 19^th century and restored a few years ago. The inside is dry today and it has been turned into a museum of water management. Many domestic items such as jugs, vases and storage vats are on display, often richly decorated. However, the museum is only open by arrangement with the local town hall. The structure is known as the Aljibón de Corverica and it can be found across the bridge over the rambla at the southern end of the town, at the entrance to the popular Saturday street market.

Next to this giant aljibe an old drilling rig that was formerly used for drilling wells is on display with lots of big cogs and wheels to enjoy.

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