The ruins of the Gordejuela Water Pumping Station, which perches dramatically on a cliff in the north of Tenerife, has been named the most beautiful abandoned place in the world, according to a new global ranking.
The travel portal Civitatis recently published a list featuring the eight most stunning ruins worldwide, which also included the ruins of Belchite in Zaragoza, Bannerman Castle in New York, the Kolmannskop ghost town in Namibia and an abandoned locomotive in Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia.
Yet it was the historic structure, nestled in the protected landscape of the Rambla de Castro, that was declared the most beautiful.
It was built in 1903 for a total of one million Spanish pesetas, with the currency later being replaced by the Euro in 1999. One euro is said to be equivalent to 166 ESP, according to the CoinMill Currency Converter. It was designed by military engineer José Galván Balaguer.
Once a symbol of technological progress, the Gordejuela Station housed the first steam engine in Tenerife and was built to pump groundwater for agricultural irrigation – a groundbreaking innovation for its time.
It was built on the former location of the Juan de Gordejuela mill, adjacent to the Gordejuela waterfalls. The system was designed to raise water from the Gordejuela springs to the top of the cliff – some 200 metres above sea level – so that the fresh water could be used in banana plantations in the Orotava Valley, as well as to power a flour mill.
The water was stored in a reservoir around 1.2 miles away, at 290 metres above sea level, which had a capacity of 12,000 cubic metres. A 7.5-mile aqueduct then took the water to the plantations.
However, the building’s utility was short-lived, as it ceased operation when agricultural exports declined.
The facility originally had three buildings, as well as a warehouse and a chimney, along with connecting water-carrying structures. The building at the top of the cliff was designed to house workers. The western wall is attached to the ravine slope.
The second floor has two machinery rooms with ventilation while the third floor has four rooms, two of which have now been buried by the collapse of the vaults. The fourth floor is the main entrance level, with lighter walls and arched openings.
It was once one of the largest buildings in Tenerife, the biggest of the Canary Islands.
Despite its decay, the building’s remnants remain today, symbolising the blend of decay and beauty that enchants visitors.
The station sits amidst the stunning natural landscape of Los Realejos on the north coast of Tenerife. The Rambla de Castro is known for its rich biodiversity, with Canary Islands palm trees, dragon trees and numerous bird species including the common kestrel and the shearwater.
Visitors to the area can also enjoy other historical treasures. The walking route takes one past the Hacienda de Castro, the San Fernando fort, and the San Pedro chapel, which houses a valuable Baroque sculpture of the apostle.
The San Fernando fort, built in the late 18th century, was originally constructed to protect the coast from pirate attacks, including those led by the infamous pirate Cabeza de Perro. The fort still preserves three of its original five cannons.
