Popularly known as the “Sea of the Altiplano,” the Negratín is the third-largest reservoir in Andalusia, with 2,170 hectares of water surface and a capacity of 567 hm³.
It was built on the Guadiana Menor River and inaugurated on December 31, 1984; this water project ended up submerging several farmsteads and the old spa town of Baños de Zújar beneath its waters .
Today, its turquoise hues, contrasting with the reddish slopes of the surrounding badlands, make it one of the most photographed landscapes in the Cueva Territory. Beyond its scenic value, the reservoir is a veritable outdoor sports complex: canoeing, sailing, fishing, hiking, and even paragliding coexist with the swimming areas that have been set up along its shores, such as Freila Beach and the Zújar Baths.
