There was a time when Spain was a genuine natural paradise. If we go back a few centuries, before we took to building housing developments in every coastal corner, this country was covered in lush forests, fertile fields, and crystal-clear rivers. In the Middle Ages, for example, the Iberian Peninsula’s landscapes were the envy of Europe. We had everything: imposing mountains, unspoiled coastlines, and vast valleys where animals roamed freely.
But, being good Spaniards, it did not take us long to realize that nature is lovely… as long as it does not get in the way. With the arrival of industrialization, we began to understand that coexisting with nature was not really our thing. That was when we started chopping down forests left and right, building dams, and, of course, paving everything we could. For some reason, asphalt seemed more useful than any kind of biodiversity.
Naturally, we also had our fair share of pollution, courtesy of factories and the absence of environmental regulation. But come on, who thought about the environment in those days? The important thing was keeping the economy running, and clean air and toxin-free rivers were unnecessary luxuries. Let us be realistic: saving the planet was far too advanced an idea for us. Better to leave that to future generations, who would surely do a better job. Spoiler: they have not done all that well either.