Infraestructuras hidráulicas y desarrollo regionalLa presa de Rules en la costa tropical (Granada, España)

Zusammenfassung

In Spain in the XXI century, and especially in some of its peripheral or historically underdeveloped regions, there is still an inexplicable confidence in the capacity of large infrastructure to generate development and new opportunities. Thus, almost magical powers are attributed to it in its role in the physical articulation and social cohesion of the territories. What frequently does not receive much attention from population in general, and from public administrators in particular, is the final cost / benefit ratio derived from such initiatives. The main hydraulic infrastructures, almost always publicly financed, also generate enormous impacts in scenarios highly affected by global change. To the south of Granada, next to the southernmost slopes of the Baetica mountains and along the riverbed of the Guadalfeo river, the Rules dam was built, measuring 132 meters, which can hold up to 117 hm3 in its reservoir, and whose ongoing construction has continued with considerable interruptions for over 30 years. The main goal of this contribution is to address, from a geographical point of view, the costs, impacts and possibilities that the Rules dam and reservoir (Granada) offers for regional development by analyzing its origin, construction process and the role it has as a support for fundamental activities of the local economy (urban growing, tourism and agriculture). Once established, we put together a critical analysis report based on the utility and viability of the project, the inability demonstrated in the development of its associated infrastructure and, ultimately, evaluating its environmental, economic and social return. All of this will make it possible to compose a complete scientific approach to its true capacity to promote regional development processes within the framework of the global challenges in which the Costa Tropical and its surroundings have to develop.