Los Ojos del Prao (The Eyes of the Meadow)

Los Ojos del Prao is one of the most interesting spots in the town, named after the five eyes or openings that make up the spring, also known in ancient times as the ‘Fuente de las Lumbreras’ (Spring of the Lights).

Located in the Prao district, it is the second most important underground water source or spring in the entire town of Viver, after the Manantial de San Miguel, offering a steady flow of around 160 litres per second, which varies depending on rainfall and the time of year.

 

The catalogue of heritage springs and water sources in Viver, compiled by the Viver Heritage Cataloguing Group in 2016, states that "it is a very unusual spring, with underground water that emerges in the form of holes, which have recently been refurbished in various projects, the last one in 2016. The westernmost spring is easily accessible, although there is another one that has been prepared for viewing.

The area where it is located is a very flat area of the Hurón ravine valley, with rough, coarse rocks. A little further up are the springs of Hochino and Franqueza, which are possibly related. Very close by and further down is the Aliaga spring. Not far away, but somewhat further apart, are the springs of Cristo and Tejería. There are also several other points where water emerges occasionally. The nature of the soil and the flatness of the terrain favour the abundance and dispersion of water.

 

 

”…Más abundante es aún la fuente de los Ojos, llamada así por los cuatro agujeros de 14 á 20 pies de profundidad, que se hallan en un dilatado prado casi seco en su superficie, que dista menos de una hora hacia el norte de la población. Mirando por dicho Ojos se ve correr con violencia un riachuelo, cuyo canal ó mina subterránea labró naturaleza sin ayuda de los hombres.” Botánico Cavanilles, 1785.

Even more abundant is the source of Los Ojos, so called because of the four holes 14 to 20 feet deep, which are found in a wide meadow that is almost dry on the surface, less than an hour north of the town. Looking through these Eyes, one can see a stream running violently, whose channel or underground mine was carved out by nature without the help of men." Botanist Cavanilles, 1785.

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