History of an irrigation canal: the 'Real Canal de la Infanta', Barcelona, Spain

Abstract

A great agricultural development took place in the Llobregat river delta, near Barcelona, during the 19th century in order to fulfil the demand of the growing town and even to export vegetables and fruits to the north of Europe. This demand favoured the transformation of dry land agriculture into irrigated one through the construction of infrastructures for water distribution. In the lower part of the Llobregat river, a canal for supplying water to agricultural fields was built supported by the authorities and landowners. The Infanta Luisa Carlota de Borbón Canal (Infanta Canal) was 17 km long with several complementary minor canals and distribution facilities to irrigate around 3,000 hectares which allowed at least three crops per year. Apart from irrigation and industrial uses, this system was used to generate electricity. Over the years, agriculture disappeared from the area due to industrialisation and urban growth and the canal was partially transformed into a sewer. Its trace has been lost near the Mediterranean Sea, although there are still some remnants. Nowadays, several teams are trying to describe and recover this historical facility.