05. Las Lagunetas - Utiaca
GENERAL CHARACTERIZATION..
This is a very humid area, with low temperatures in winter (8-10°C) and high temperatures in summer. Some days can exceed 35°C, although the average temperature normally hovers around 30°C. This climate favors laurel forest vegetation and pine forests in the upper reaches.
Steep slopes characterize the landscape. From the time of the Spanish Conquest to the present day, dryland agricultural production has occupied the terraced hillsides. This agriculture is based on traditional techniques such as crop rotation, the most common being year-round, biennial, and triennial crops. In addition to the above, the association of several crops on the same plot is also practiced. These farming methods aim to prevent soil depletion and maintain its fertility, while producing the greatest possible quantity and variety of products. Utiaca is a neighborhood with extensive agricultural production—fruit, vegetables, tubers, and legumes—that preserves many of the traditional values of rural areas on the island of Gran Canaria.
Bartering, or the exchange of products without the need for money, has been a common practice here.
Crafts are represented by wicker basketry, embroidery, and loom work. The artisans have generally been the farmers themselves, making the tools necessary for their work and for carrying out their other activities.
Water, coming from both galleries and springs, is a very abundant resource in this area, and it can be seen flowing through the La Mina Ravine.
The architecture of the houses largely retains its traditional flavor, with many dry-stone houses with gabled Canarian tile roofs still remaining.
Section 1: Las Lagunetas - Estación de agua
The route begins in the church square of Las Lagunetas, in front of the church facade. We take a staircase that descends to the paved street. Walking northeast, toward the bottom of La Mina Ravine and toward La Yedra, after about 200 meters, we reach a bend where the road ends and a dirt track begins.
Along this path, we descend to the bottom of the ravine. From the path, both slopes can be seen, covered with abundant vegetation, both natural and introduced. This area is rich in rural heritage and is primarily dryland agriculture. Along the way, we find some sheds with cows, although sheep and goats predominate.
Two kilometers along this path, we reach a bridge that crosses the ravine, where a supply station is located. This bridge is used to pipe part of the ravine's water to supply the local population and the island's coastal strip. This is a relatively new bridge. Nearby is another, now disused, stone bridge built in the 19th century.
You can see the water running at the bottom of the ravine, with the sao (Salix canariensis) occupying its banks.
Section 2: Estación de agua - La Yedra
After passing the water station, we enter a narrow path with a dirt surface that shows signs of having been paved in sections. We must sharpen our eyes to discover, about 200 meters further on, a fork to the right, heading towards the bottom of the ravine, half-hidden by undergrowth.
Descending along this path, we find a house with a porch and, finally, a concrete path with a staircase at the beginning. The slope is steep, so it is recommended to descend slowly and carefully. Upon reaching the ravine bed, a track—some sections paved and others cemented—runs parallel to the watercourse. There are several forks leading to farms and private homes. We must continue towards La Yedra, ignoring all the intersections of small paths we encounter.
Section 3: La Yedra - Utiaca
In this final stretch, the track is dirt and has a gentle slope. First, we see a dirt parking lot and then a bar-restaurant. Near this establishment, in Utiaca, we find a laundry that uses the water that flows down the ravine.
