| Sumario: | [EN] Water is an essential element in gold mining in the Northwest Spain, as in most of the ancient mining operations. In fact, it is present at aU stages of the mining operations: preparation of deposits for extraction, extracting process, sediment washing and spoil disposal. In arid and semi-arid areas, the use of this energy source often requires significant works for ensuring water captation and transportation to the mining areas. In Northwest Spain, the hydrauhc systems built for mining purposes are huge networks including hundreds of canals (sometimes running over long distance) and basins for various purposes. The construction of these networks requires particular development works as well as photography and map interpretation techniques. We have applied them m various regions of which some examples will be presented. The study of the technical aspects (canal construction, applied topographical knowledge, etc.) involves legal aspects (status of lands crossed by canals, relationship with the territories of neighbouring ciuitates) and social aspects (groups in charge of canal control, manpower for construction and maintenance, etc.).
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