An excursion from Sóller through Biniaraix into the Barranc de Biniaraix will offer you a plentitude of pleasures. The scenery is probably one of the most impressive on the island. The canyon-type gorge was formed by geological forces which formed the Serra de Tramuntana mountain range millions of years ago, leaving an indelible and pleasant mixture of cliffs, banks, terraces, mountain peaks and water torrents. Then there are the man-made dry-stone walls and the impressive Ruta de Pedra en sec, the old stone paths of the Serra de Tramuntana which form part of the GR 221 hiking route. The woods are a mix of olive, pine, oak and box trees in combination with ferns, plus a wealth of herbs and wildflowers.

The thing that impressed me most, apart from the occasional waterfall, was a narrow canaleta bringing water down to Sóller from es Verger. Water is so precious on the island that over hundreds of years, man had to be inventive and ingenious to channel and store the scarce resources. I believe that the water channeling system in Mallorca was first installed by the Moorish population in about 1100 AD. The Canaleta del Verger is of a more recent construction but probably goes back a long way in its original form.

The photo was taken near Sóller, Mallorca, Baleares, Spain. The date: March 19th, 2011. The time was 15:34:51.