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The
Guadiamar Green Corridor
A
Restoration Story
©
Antonio Sabater/Enfoque 10
Several years have passed since the ecological catastrophe of Doñana,
Spain. On 25 april 1998, six billons liters of toxic mud and acid waters
came out through the broken walls of a huge reservoir by the Aznalcollar
pyrite mine. More than 4600 ha were flooded with washing mineral waste
having a high concentration of heavy metals.
They stopped at the door of the Doñana National Park, the most
important wetland in Europe and a UN World Heritage Site. The spill
caused a serious damage to the riparian ecosystem of the Guadiamar river.
Thirty tons of agonizing fishes were collected a few hours later.
The consequences of the spill on many other organisms are still to be
assessed.
A numerous staff of national and international experts has studied which
biological and chemicals processes have been affected, and how damages
could be neutralized. As a result, the Corredor Verde project, an
ambitious plan to restore the flooded area, was born.
A
wide selection of unpublished pictures tells the story of one of the
largest ecological catastrophe in Spain and of the biggest environmental
restoration in Europe.
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