In the province of Ourense, in the autonomous community of Galicia, an abandoned quarry has become a pilgrimage destination for social media users. This refers to the Cantera de Cartelle reservoir, located in the communal lands of A Teixugueira. Its vibrant turquoise water has turned it into a phenomenon on Instagram and TikTok, where hundreds of photos and videos showcasing its picturesque beauty appear daily.
However, its sudden fame has brought not only likes, but also serious problems. The sharp increase in visitors eager to capture a striking photo forced the concession company to take emergency measures. The quarry area has been fenced off, and a private security firm was hired to patrol the perimeter. The head of the local municipality, Jaime Sousa, confirmed that the constant flow of tourists made a security guard’s daily presence necessary.
Despite its appeal, this place is not a recreational zone. Officially, it is private property, as the mining concession is still in effect, even though operations stopped long ago due to unprofitability. Therefore, any entry beyond the fence is illegal. Security guards have repeatedly reported incidents of people—including tourist groups and even newlyweds during wedding photo shoots—cutting through the fence to reach the water, ignoring warning signs and putting their own safety at risk.
Local authorities, represented by the Cartelle Council (Concello de Cartelle), do not rule out the possibility that this area may be converted into an official tourist zone with designated swimming and recreation spots in the future. However, at present, this remains only a preliminary plan with no specific timeline for implementation. For now, the ‘blue lake’ remains a treasure to be admired from a distance, without trespassing on private property.
