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The stripes on the pillars that we see in Las Fotos de los Lectores de La Vanguardia mark the low level of the Baells dam (Berguedà), as if the bridge suddenly led us to the reality of the drought that Catalonia is experiencing. .
To get an idea, Baells is at 26% of its capacity, when a year ago it was at 51%. The comparison with the average of the last five and ten years, which is 88%, is even more significant.
In La Baells, not only the cultural heritage is visible, like the monastery of Sant Salvador de la Vedella. Founded in the year 830 by the monks of San Saturnino de Tavernoles, it is the only building left standing of the old town flooded during the construction of the swamp.
In reality, ruins of old houses from some of the three towns that were submerged are visible: Miralles, la Baells and Sant Salvador de la Vedella.
The drought also makes the marks of the lack of water very visible on the banks of the reservoir and on the bridge that crosses it. The purpose of this reservoir is to regulate the upper basin of the Llobregat river, supply water to the metropolitan area of ??Barcelona and produce hydroelectric power.
