The Canary Islands

Fuerteventura and its Limekilns (Hornos de Cal)

Fuerteventura is not noted for it's mineral wealth. However the island does seem to have high-quality limestone and,using it wisely, a great many limekilns or 'Hornos de Cal' in Spanish. Some of the 300 that are estimated to have existed in the island have been restored, but by 1970 cement replaced lime, doing away with the office of the lime merchants, which began on the island around 1641. The two types of lime on the island are :-
“Albeo” Lime : used to whiten walls. It is an organic lime obtained from large sedimentary deposits of shells of marine animals. It is usually found by the coast. Higher temperature and longer cooking time is needed to get that king of lime.
Chemical Lime or lime stone: it’s found in the interior of the island, a few inches deep, and is used for construction, to purify water cisterns …

Similarly there are two types of kiln :-
“Caleras” or domestic wood kilns: mainly in the villages of the interior. Gorse, tamarisks and “matos” were used as fuel. They had a low production capacity per batch and the lime was destined to internal or domestic consumption. These kilns are circular and their height did not exceed 4m.
Coal-fired industrial kilns: also called continuous kilns, due to their production without interruption. They had a great capacity for lime production. They are usually rectangular and can reach 8 to 12 m high.

Isla de Lobos

Three of the four kilns on the Isla de Lobos survive, the Atalaya Grande, Las Lagunitas and Calera kilns. I believe this is the Las Lagunitas kiln

Isla de Lobos limekiln

Isla de Lobos limekiln

Isla de Lobos limekiln

Isla de Lobos limekiln

Ajuy

The coastal limekilns at Ajuy are different to any other kilns on the island, as they were dug straight into the cliff face above the sea. They are about 12 m deep and 3m in diameter. The boats that transported the finished lime drew up immediately below them in a narrow channel in the rocks.

A nicely preserved pair of limekilns at the side of the harbour (i.e. beach) carpark and a decaying kiln a little way inland from the sea kilns.	Ajuy harbour limekiln	Ajuy harbour limekiln	Ajuy harbour limekiln
Ajuy harbour limekiln	Ajuy harbour limekiln	Ajuy harbour limekiln	Ajuy inland domestic limekiln
The Ajuy coastal limekilns, dug straight into the cliff face above the sea	Ajuy coastal limekiln	Ajuy coastal limekiln	Ajuy coastal limekiln
Ajuy coastal limekiln	Ajuy coastal limekiln	Ajuy coastal limekiln

Caleta de Fuste

Caleta de Fuste was an important port for lime with some impressive and well-preserved beachside kilns. There are three sets of kilns, one triple pot, one single pot and one double pot set in the beach-front gardens to the South of the main town. They are quite proud of them as they are signposted off the main road.

The large beachside triple-pot kiln.	The triple-pot limekiln	The triple-pot limekiln	The triple-pot limekiln
The triple-pot limekiln	The triple-pot limekiln	The triple-pot limekiln	The triple-pot limekiln
The small beachside single-pot kiln.	The single-pot limekiln	The single-pot limekiln	The single-pot limekiln
The two-pot kiln. This kiln is set back from the beach.	The two-pot limekiln	The two-pot limekiln	The two-pot limekiln
The two-pot limekiln	The two-pot limekiln		Beachside limekiln buildings

La Laja Pereda

La Laja Pereda is a small cove to the South of the Salt Museum at Salinas del Carmen. At the cove was a large, chunky three-pot kiln right on the waterline. Unfortunately the seaward kiln has almost collapsed. Beyond the cove there are a coupe of small kilns, the smallest one has almost disappeared.

The large La Laja Pereda limekiln	The large La Laja Pereda limekiln	The large La Laja Pereda limekiln	The large La Laja Pereda limekiln
The large La Laja Pereda limekiln	The large La Laja Pereda limekiln	The large La Laja Pereda limekiln
The small La Laja Pereda limekiln	The small La Laja Pereda limekiln	The small La Laja Pereda limekiln	The smallest La Laja limekiln

Gran Tarajal

One large industrial kiln on the outskirts of the town which was built in 1953 according to the datestone. A couple of smaller kilns can be found further inland beside the FV511 / FV4 road junction and one on the FV520 road.

This large industrial kiln is on the outskirts of the town and was built in 1953 according to the datestone.	The '1953' Gran Tarajal limekiln	The '1953' Gran Tarajal limekiln	The '1953' Gran Tarajal limekiln
The '1953' Gran Tarajal limekiln	The '1953' Gran Tarajal limekiln	The '1953' Gran Tarajal limekiln
Two smaller kilns between the town and the roads leading to the main highway, on on the FV511 / FV4 junction and one on the FV520.	Limekiln on the FV511	Limekiln on the FV511	Limekiln on the FV511
Limekiln on the FV511	Limekiln on the FV520	Limekiln on the FV520	Limekiln on the FV520
Limekiln on the FV520	Limekiln on the FV520	Limekiln on the FV520	Limekiln on the FV520

Other Limekiln Locations

Other limekilns I've heard about are :-
Four at Toston and at least one at Centolo Negro, near El Cotillo,
Puerto de Cabras, Hondura and “El Charco” in Puerto del Rosario
Plus many more dotted around I'm sure.

Wind and water power

Other than the dozens of limekilns, there's not a lot of industrial remains to see on Fuerteventura but the museum in Antigua is worth a visit. Wind power was widely used, primarily to pump water. Most of the water pumps are American 'Aeroter Windmill Co' products from Chicago but there are a few hand-powered wells too.

Windmill at Antigua museum	Windmill at Antigua museum	Wind pump at Antigua museum
Wind pump at Antigua museum	Wind pump at Antigua museum	Wind pump near Giniginamar
Ajuy well and pump gear	Betancuria, well and pump gear	Betancuria, well and pump gear

Ajuy sea caves

Ajuy has impressive sea caves, rumoured to be a WW2 German submarine base. A little work had been carried out with a blocked-off tunnel linking the caves to the village.

Ajuy sea caves	Ajuy sea caves	Ajuy tunnel to the sea caves
Ajuy tunnel to the sea caves	Ajuy tunnel to the sea caves

Quarrying

There are a few active quarries but this small quarry at the Giniginamar junction is disused.

A small quarry near Giniginamar

A small quarry near Giniginamar

A small quarry near Giniginamar

Pillboxes

A series of pillboxes defend La Laja Pereda. Obviously something worth defending but it's a deserted cove !

Pilboxes defending La Laja Pereda

Pilboxes defending La Laja Pereda

Pilboxes defending La Laja Pereda

Gran Canaria and La Gomera

Mostly ships but I did find a fragment of the electric tramway in Las Palmas and a windmill on La Gomera.

An Arabian ship at Las Palmas	'Christian Radich' at Las Palmas	Restored dockyard crane at Las Palmas	'Lady Lara' at Las Palmas
'May', 'Oak', 'Nasos', 'Boke', 'Boffa'	'P43 Relampago' at Las Palmas	'Tenacious' at Las Palmas	'Tenacious' at Las Palmas
'Thorco Winner' at Las Palmas	'Wisby Argan' at Las Palmas	Electric tramway at Las Palmas	Windmill at San Sebastian

Tenerife

Not much to do in a day on Tenerife except get a day ticket for the trams....

Tenerife tram 103	Tenerife tram 103	Tenerife tram 111	Tenerife tram 111
Tenerife tram 115	Tenerife tram 118	Tenerife tram 118	Tenerife tram 122
Brewery chimney, Tenerife

Corsica

Ajaccio Station

Another cruise, another day and the 12:10 pm arrival is still arriving but a little later and now in the hands of the new 'Panoramique' railcars.

Ajaccio Station, unit 'AMG801-2'	Ajaccio Station, unit 'AMG815-6'	Ajaccio Station, unit 'AMG815-6'	Ajaccio Station, unit 'AMG815-6'
Ajaccio Station, unit 'AMG815-6'	Ajaccio Station, unit 'AMG815-6'	Ajaccio Station, unit 'AMG815-6'	Ajaccio Station, unit 'AMG815-6'

June 2007

A cruise and a day on land in Ajaccio, just in time to see the 12:10 pm. arrival from the other end of the island. As it was running a little late, it gave me time to look at their brand-new 'Panoramique' railcar, delivered two days ago.

The 1210pm train arriving	The 1210pm train arriving	The 1210pm train arriving	Motor car 97057 and trailer 9701
Motor cars 97052 and 97051	Motor car 97057	The new 'Panoramique'	Ajaccio station approach

Cyprus

Paphos

A week lounging around in Paphos, a beautiful area but seriously lacking in much of industrial interest.

Work barge near Paphos	Olive press stones at Episcopi	Stone makers plate at Episcopi	Olive press at Episcopi
Olive press makers plate	Ship as artificial reef	Ship as artificial reef	Possible limekiln at St Paul's Pillar

Madeira

Madeira's mountainside rack railway

Plaque on Monte Station	Monte Station, Madeira	Monte Station and up the line	Monte viaduct, Madeira
Monte viaduct, Madeira	Monte viaduct and down the line

Mallorca (or Majorca)

The Soller Railway

A train leaves Palma Station and a couple of other spots in 2019.

Soller Railway '4' at Palma	Soller Railway '4' at Palma	Soller Railway '4' at Palma	Soller Railway '4' at Palma
Soller Railway '4' at Palma	Soller Railway '4' at Palma	Soller Railway '4' at Palma	Soller Railway '4' at Palma
Soller Railway '4' at Palma	Soller Railway '1' at Soller	Soller Railway '2' at Son Reus	Soller Railway '2' at Son Reus

From Soller town to the outskirts of Palma, as far as we could go in 2016 by coach.

Soller Railway brakevan	Soller Tram No 6 in SR shed	Tower wagon, Soller, Mallorca	Soller Railway shed, Soller
Soller Rly No 3 and works car	Soller Rly No 3 and works car	Soller Rly No 3 and works car	Soller Station, Mallorca
Soller Railway No 4, Soller	Soller Railway No 4, Soller	Soller Railway No 4, Soller	Soller Railway No 4, Soller
Soller Railway No 4, Soller	Soller Railway No 4, Soller	Soller Railway No 4, Soller	Soller Railway No 4, Soller
Soller Railway No 2, Soller	Soller Railway No 2 en route	Soller Railway No 2 en route	Soller Railway No 2 en route
Soller Railway No 2 en route	Soller Railway tamper	Soller Railway wagons
Soller Railway PW trolley	Soller Railway PW trolley	Train at Son Reus

From Soller town to Palma, my first visit in 2003.

Soller Railway '1' at Soller	Soller Railway '2' crossing	Soller Railway '2' crossing	Soller Railway '4' entering tunnel
Soller Railway '4' at Palma	Soller Railway '4' at Palma	Soller Railway '4' at Palma	Soller station from loop above
Ex Lisbon '734' and '704' at Palma		Soller tickets from May 2003

The Soller Tramway

The Soller Tramway runs from the Soller Railway Station in Soller Town to Port de Soller. It drops down to the town square, a wonderful place to sit and watch the trams pass, on through the streets of Soller town and off to the port.

Soller trams '2' and '9'	Soller tram '2'	Soller tram '2'	Soller tram '2'
Soller tram '2'	Soller tram '3'	Soller tram '22'	Soller tram control desk
Tramway through Soller Square	Tramway through Soller Square	Tramway through Soller Square
Tram '24' at Soller, Mallorca	Tram '24' at Soller, Mallorca	Tram '24' at Soller, Mallorca	Tram '24' at Soller, Mallorca
Tram '24' at Soller, Mallorca	Tram '24' at Soller, Mallorca	Tram '24' at Soller, Mallorca	Tram '20' at Soller, Mallorca
Tram '20' at Soller, Mallorca	Tram '1' at Soller, Mallorca	Tram '22' at Soller, Mallorca	Tram '22' at Soller, Mallorca
Tram '23' at Soller, Mallorca	Tram '23' at Soller, Mallorca	Tram '23' at Soller, Mallorca	Tram '23' at Soller, Mallorca
Tram '22' at Soller, Mallorca	Tram '22' at Soller, Mallorca	Trams '1' and '21' at Soller	Tram '3' at Soller, Mallorca
Tram '3' at Soller, Mallorca	Tram '3' at Soller, Mallorca	Tram '20' at Soller, Mallorca	Tram '20' at Soller, Mallorca
Trailers '8' and '9' at Soller		Tram '2' at Port de Soller	Tram '2' at Soller
Tram '3' at Port de Soller	Tram '20' at Port de Soller	Tram '21' at Soller

Soller town

A small factory or mill near the tramway depot

Factory at Soller, Mallorca

Factory at Soller, Mallorca

TIB, The Mallorca Railway

New and not-so-new - Inca Station in 2019 and Palma and the new line to Manacor in 2003

TIB '81-20' at Inca	TIB '81-20' at Inca	TIB '81-20' at Inca	TIB '81-xx' at Inca
The old TIB station at Palma	The old TIB station at Palma
Manacor Station awaiting opening	TIB test train to Manacor	TIB unit '61-12' at Palma	TIB unit '61-20' at Palma

Son Servera

The railway line from Manacor to Arta has ben converted to a 'green way' for walkers and cyclists. I joined it at Son Servera and walked up to the tunnel and back.

Son Servera Station	Son Servera Station	Son Servera Station	Son Servera Station
Railway trackbed, Son Servera	Railway trackbed, Son Servera	Railway trackbed, Son Servera	Railway trackbed, Son Servera
Railway trackbed, Son Servera	Son Servera tunnel	Son Servera tunnel	Son Servera tunnel
Son Servera tunnel	Son Servera tunnel	Son Servera tunnel	Son Servera tunnel
Old farm equipment, Son Servera

Mallorca's windmills, pillboxes and an aqueducts

There must be over a thousand windmlls on Mallorca, most of them now in ruins but one or two have been restored to their former glory.

Palma's windmills	Palma's windmills	Palma's windmills	Palma's windmills
Palma's windmills		Sa Calobra aqueduct	Sa Calobra reservoir dam
Pill box at Cala Bona	Pill box at Cala Bona	Pill box at Cala Bona	Pill box at Cala Bona

Ibiza and Formentera

The saltpans on Formentera used this 750mm narrow-gauge loco, believed to have been built by Krauss.

Gun battery at Ibiza harbour	Gun battery at Ibiza harbour	Gun battery at Ibiza harbour	Gun battery at Ibiza harbour
Salinera Espanola '2'

Minorca

An old well on the coast at Cala Turqueta

Well at Cala Turqueta, Minorca

Well at Cala Turqueta, Minorca

Well at Cala Turqueta, Minorca

Well at Cala Turqueta, Minorca

And a couple of very big guns at La Mola Fort, just outside Mahon

The generator at La Mola Fort	The overhead hoist on its track	A shell carrier at La Mola Fort	A shell carrier at La Mola Fort
Bite the bullet !	Call that a gun?	This is a gun !	'Once more into the breech'
Looking down to the magazine	And how they kept Napoleon at bay

Acknowledgments, sources and further reading.

Thanks for addition information to :- 'Fuerte Charter' History Blog for details of the Fuerteventura limekiln industry.