Embalse de Canelles

The Canelles Reservoir, known in Spanish as the Embalse de Canelles, began operating in the 1960s and supplies electricity to the provinces of Huesca and Lleida. It is the second-largest reservoir in the Ebro basin, after the Mequinenza Reservoir. But, as always, progress also has its downsides. For instance, the flooding of the surrounding fields destroyed the livelihoods of the residents of the village of Fet, which is why Fet has been a ghost town ever since. Whether it is ethically justified for a few to suffer for the benefit of many is a matter of debate.
In any case, the visually appealing off-road tour to the reservoir is both environmentally sound and morally acceptable. It follows wide, well-maintained gravel roads that are primarily used for the maintenance of the reservoir. Thus, we are not encroaching on remote, protected natural areas. The Start: From Benabarre on the N-123, we head south for a short distance and turn left onto a small road, which we leave after about two kilometers to take a gravel path on the right. After 15 kilometers, we reach the first scenic highlight—the bridge over the western arm of the lake. Shortly after that, a worthwhile side road branches off to the right, leading down to the abandoned village of Finestres. From there, you can clearly see the needle-like peaks of a row of cliffs down by the lake, which the Spaniards call the “Muralla de Finestres.”
Six and a half kilometers further on is the next turnoff. This time it’s the aforementioned village of Fet, which also offers a fantastic view of the reservoir. Back at the turnoff, there are just under twelve easy kilometers on gravel remaining—first a gentle climb and then, finally, downhill toward Viacamp on the N-230.