La Hueta: Acequias

We’ve long been interested in the water-channeling system of acequias introduced by the Muslims during their rule here in Andalucía. In the Sierra Nevada in 2018, we were able to walk along high mountain acequias de careo that channel winter snow-melt to areas of underground infiltration where the water can emerge from springs lower down during the summer. Here today, in La Hueta, for the first time we were able to watch a farmer opening and closing his irrigation channels off the main acequia de riego. This system allows him to water his potatoes and tomatoes in spite of five months of no rain. I wish we had asked him if we could video the process, but we were so busy asking him questions that it never occurred to us until too late.

La Hueta is located about three kilometers farther up the Río Morles than Puente Honda. It is criss-crossed with old acequias dug out of the ground and the modern replacement - big black hoses. All of them feed the huertas (vegetable gardens) that I assume gave the village its name (minus the “r”).

As if that wasn’t enough good luck in meeting people for the day, on our way back from one of our walks we met the one person who still lives in La Hueta year-round. We had been told that she was a spry 86 year-old, and sure enough, we met her marching down the steep track to Puente Honda on a four kilometer walk with her liter bottles in a shopping bag to get the good water from the fountain there and to see friends who only come out to the village on weekends!

Today’s Wikiloc tracks:
https://www.wikiloc.com/hiking-trails/la-hueta-…
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