Lo Raig: the murmur of water in Arens de Lledó

The Avenida Cataluña, the main artery that winds through Arens de Lledó, surrounds us with an intriguing murmur. Is it the sound of water? We leave the Algars River behind, but this sound, mysterious and captivating, comes from something different: it is Lo Raig, a waterfall that forms part of the local irrigation channel.

The Algars River, which divides Aragon and Catalonia, is modest in its passage through Arens, shallow and peaceful. Further up the channel, there is an old flour and olive-oil mill, which in the 1920s also provided electricity, a testament to the engineering of bygone days.

Right here, beside the Palanca, a historic crossing over the river, we feel the pulse of time. The other bank belongs to our neighbours in Horta de Sant Joan, in the Catalan comarca of the Terra Alta, a reminder of the cross-border connection of the region and its cultural richness.

A kilometre upstream, along the road that takes us to Lledó and Horta de Sant Joan, the Algars River enters a deeper stretch, forming pools that are a true gift of nature and become a refreshing summer swimming spot. The stones surrounding this corner are witnesses to the river's eternal embrace, patiently sculpted over the centuries by its floods, creating a unique landscape.

The exceptional quality of the waters of our river is a gift of its origins in karstic springs in the Puertos de Tortosa – Beceite massif. These crystal-clear waters support a rich and vibrant biodiversity, from the riverside flora to the birds and other animals that call its banks home, contributing to the ecological richness of the Matarraña.

But the true symbol of life on the Algars River in this area is the otter, a majestic creature whose presence reflects the health and purity of this river ecosystem, a key indicator of the region's excellent natural conservation.

Lo Raig (spout) is the name given to this stretch of the Arens irrigation channel, which once had a small waterfall through which, according to popular memory, water always flowed. It is a two-level construction situated at the foot of the stone wall of the Vela garden plot. The structure is of dry stone. It was later reinforced with cement and a further section was added, using modern materials to carry the water further down, where it connects with a wide channel that also collects rainwater from the town centre. The date of its construction is unknown, although it may have its origins in the legacy of Arab culture.

This site was an important point for water supply and also the setting for much of local social life. In earlier times, and until the installation of running water in homes, it was a place frequently visited by residents; while the men watered the animals and the women washed the clothes or filled the water jug, young people had the opportunity to mix with the opposite sex and adults to share the latest news.

Near the Raig, following the channel upstream, there are some stones in the river where people used to go to wash clothes; alongside stands a flour and olive-oil mill that ran on the power of the water from a pond with which, from the 1920s onwards, electricity was also generated.

The irrigation channel, which waters the village gardens, takes its water from the Algars River, near the fuente del Canut, and runs parallel to the river between the gardens and the town centre.