3726 x 5626 px | 31,5 x 47,6 cm | 12,4 x 18,8 inches | 300dpi
Aufnahmedatum:
15. Juni 2005
Ort:
El Chorro Railway Station in Andalusia, Southern Spain
Weitere Informationen:
One of the most beautiful spots of the province of Málaga is the gorge known as the Garganta or Desfiladero de los Gaitanes. In the narrowest part of the gorge is an old service road, which runs along at a height of some 100 metres. This picturesque path is known as the "Caminito del Rey". The Little Way of King is a step built into the walls of the Desfiladero Gaitanes in El Chorro, near Alora (Malaga). This is a step pedestrian 3 km. With long stretches with a width of 1 m barely hanging up to 100 m tall on the river, in a nearly vertical walls. It is now dilapidated, almost the entire route has no railing and there are segments that have collapsed, leaving only the support beam. All these factors have contributed to a black legend after hikers lost their lives trying to cross. The company Hidroelectrica del Chorro, owner of the Leaping Gaitanejo and Salto del Chorro needed access both to facilitate the passage of operatives maintenance, transportation of materials, and monitoring them. Work began in 1901 and was finished in 1905. The journey began with the tracks of Renfe and traveled the Desfiladero of Gaitanes, allowing access to both jumps. In 1921, King Alfonso XIII attended the inauguration of the dam of Count Guadalhorce crossing for the way it previously built. It was from this point that he began as apodar Caminito King, a name that remains in force today. The passage of time and neglect of maintenance made an impression on the Way: 90 years showed a perilous state, with the railing missing in virtually all its route, many sections collapsed and left threatening to do so. It was his dangerousness one of the factors contributing to its fame, many hikers were heading to El Chorro motivated to go the Caminito (but also for his climbing area, one of the most important in Europe). This led to many accidents (some fatal) over the years and increased its black legend.
