Embalse de Contreras

The Contreras reservoir holds the Cabriel at its meeting with the Guadazaón, by Villargordo del Cabriel. The dam dates from 1972, stands 129 m high and the lake reaches 2,710 ha with 943 hm3 of maximum capacity, among the largest sheets of water inland. It generates power and feeds the Júcar-Turia canal, which carries drinking water to the city of València.

A reservoir almost always low

You will usually see it far below its maximum: it rarely tops 20% because of the permeable rock, which forced a second dam about 500 m west of the main one. The lake is shared between Villargordo del Cabriel and Cuenca municipalities such as Minglanilla, La Pesquera, Mira and Enguídanos.

The visit

• It is a road-viewpoint stop rather than a swimming spot: no swimming regime is confirmed and no equipped zones are verified.
• View it from the lay-bys along the A-3 and N-III corridor; never leave the car outside safe areas.
• You get there by car; no public transport to the viewpoints is confirmed.
• It borders the Hoces del Cabriel Natural Park, covered by the viewpoints route, based in Venta del Moro.