Spain's Former Coal Mine Is Now The Country's Largest Artificial Lake With A Gorgeous Swim Beach And Boating

Spain's Mediterranean beaches get the lion's share of the attention from travelers, but inland, lakes offer their own idyllic scenery without the usual seaside crowds. You might find a quieter corner of the country to spread out by the water, rent a boat, or go swimming. In Galicia, the magical Spanish northwest coastal region full of fairy forests, you can settle at a spacious lake getaway at Lago de As Pontes ("Lake As Pontes"). At over 2,100 acres, it's Spain's largest artificial lake, per energy company Endesa, occupying the enormous open-pit lignite (or brown coal) mine that once supplied a nearby power station. The transformation of the industrial site created a sandy lake beach open for swimming, facilities for boating, and a spot to take in views of the rolling green countryside.

The size of Lake As Pontes owes to the mine it was formed over, which was once Spain's largest open-cast lignite mine. When mining ended, Endesa was required to rehabilitate the land, and filling the abandoned excavation site became part of its restoration plan. Water was diverted from the River Eume, eventually filling the pit completely by 2012, according to a paper published in Mine Water and the Environment. But the restoration extended beyond the water itself — former dump sites were replanted, creating what Belén Soto, Endesa's Head of Environment, describes as a medley of meadows, scrub, woodlands, and wetlands along the shores. Two islands within the lake were also established, one intended as a bird refuge and the other for Galician flora.

The public beach, near the town center of As Pontes de García Rodríguez, is the reservoir's main recreational area. Walking access is also provided along sections of the shore, including the Senda da Memoria, a roughly 5.5-mile one-way route along the water, giving visitors a chance to take in the landscape on foot.

Lake As Pontes has a dedicated sandy beach ("Playa del Lago de As Pontes") on its town-facing shore, making it an easy place to spend an afternoon by the water. The beach stretches about 1,300 feet and, as of this writing, it holds a Blue Flag, a beach certification that tells you the water quality is high and the beach is well-kept. It looks out across the broad reservoir towards the green, gentle hills characteristic of Galicia's interior landscapes. Visitors can access the beach free of charge, and swimming is a hallmark, with seasonal lifeguard supervision. There are public restrooms, showers, and kiosk-bars. Some reviewers have also noted that it doesn't get too noisy.

Boating is another way to appreciate Lake As Pontes and its expansive, open water. Visitors can rent kayaks and stand-up paddleboards by the hour or for a half-day from Nortegal Experiencias, which operates near the lakeside beach. There's also Hidropedales Lago de As Pontes, which rents pedal boats for exploring the reservoir. A nautical station completed in July 2026 has added better water access, including steps and platforms for kayaks and a wide ramp for small boats, according to the Concello das Pontes.

Lake As Pontes is easiest to reach by car — around an hour from A Coruña on the coast or a bit over an hour from Santiago de Compostela, the capital of Galicia. Visitors coming from farther afield can combine the lake with a coastal stop in A Coruña to see the Tower of Hercules, the world's oldest functioning lighthouse.