Nestled on the southern fringes of Sierra Morena lies one of the world's most ancient mining districts. According to some historians, King Solomon of Jerusalem himself extracted gold from these grounds for his renowned temple, while the Romans delved into silver mining as far back as the 4th century BC. Following a period of relative dormancy, the landscape underwent a significant transformation in the late 19th century when the British Riotinto Company Limited elevated it to become a key global copper mining hub. The Brits left in 1954 and Franco as a dictator nationalised the mines. At the turn of the 21st century the mines were closed.
Nowadays, a portion of the former mining area is open to the public. You can admire the giant opencast mines which create a surreal, almost lunar landscape, take an amazing train ride on the mine's old railway line, visit a rather impressive mining museum, and a Victorian house where the mine engineers lived.
You can also see the extraordinary rusty-red river that gave the area its name - Rio Tinto, meaning “red river” in Spanish. Its unique red and orange colour comes from its chemical makeup that is extremely toxic, acidic and with very high levels of iron and heavy metals.
Rio Tinto river has recently become a focal point for astrobiologists and NASA exploring the limits of life and planetary habitability in diverse environments. This interest is caused by the presence of extremophile anaerobic bacteria thriving in the river’s acidic waters. The iron and sulphide minerals serve as a nutrient source for these bacteria. Scientists believe this is the closest they can get to a subterranean Martian environment, where water might be present and bacterial life sustainable. They’ve also tested space suits and robots here.
Please, note that the visit is tightly timed. If you want to see as much as possible, follow the instructions they give you when you buy your ticket. At the time of our visit (February 2024) there were only two train rides per day. You will need a car as the points of interest are scattered, all being within 10-15 minutes drive from the museum, but in different directions.
