Set in a breathtaking location with views of the surrounding Sierra de Contraviesa yet only 6km from the coast and the new motorway link.

This property has been 90% renovated and offers spacious accommodation which is tastefully presented to retain the typical Andalucian theme.

The Cortijo is in excess of 200 m2 and the land surrounding the property is 6,500 m2.

The internal accommodation comprises of a large lounge, dining room (with Chimenia), a small area which has been designated as a study, 3 double downstairs bedrooms, bathroom, and kitchen leading onto the shaded terrace. On this same level there is an umade room which is used for storage.

On the upper level there is a further bedroom with ensuite.

Externally there are 3/4 corales which can be renovated to create additional living space.

The land is on various tiers and to one side of the Cortijo is a large flat plateau whilst on the other side is an elevated garden area. In additional the land extends onto the hillside and there is an abundance of fruit trees and plenty of almonds.

An excellent South West facing property that enjoys sun for most of the day.

The property is sold with immediate possession and fully furnished.

The catastrophic flooding on the 18th of October, 1973, in the dry stream (rambla) ofAlbuñol caused the loss of 46 lives, the destruction of 91 houses and serious damages to
141. A layer of mud (2 to 3 metres thick) covered the streets of La Rabita ( the village most damaged). The roads and the bridges of comunication between the town and the rest of the province were destroyed along with 250 hectares of cultivated land. The damages were estimated at 300 millions of pesetas.

A heavy rainstorm (600 mm) produced the rapid development of a high density flow in the dry stream, with an elevated volume of sediments (1/3 of the discharge), that was the responsible factor of the high discharge reachedduring the flood (2580 m3/s).

The object of this study is not only the identification of the episode and the analysis of the disaster’s social impact, but also to analyse the different techniques to study the flooding in this type of fluvial system. The historic reconstruction of the event includes an analysis of the social impact and restoration works of the affected area. In addition the hydrologic analyses of the flooding that was based on the study of the greatest floods in small basins has been carried out.
Finally, a morphodynamic and sedimentologic reconstruction was
undertaken. The sedimentological study of deposits corresponding to the flash flood shows that the dynamic nature of these alluvial channels has important implications for floodplain management policy.
The potencial for dramatic changes in geomorphic and hydrologic
characteristics of alluvial channels must be considered in establishing procedures for flood hazard evaluation.
1 INTRODUCTION
Spain is periodically devastated by catastrophes. The measures taken to solve this natural risk are territory management policy by risk maps and the solutions of the emergencies once the catastrophe has happened. The flood of the 18th of October of 1973,in the dry stream (rambla) of Albuñol, constitutes a basic example of catastrophic flooding
– a catastrophe of a low frequency and high magnitude event exceeding the balance of the
fluvial system (Schumm, 1973) in a Mediterranean dry streams.
V.R.Thorndycraft, G. Benito, M. Barriendos and M.C. Llasat (2003). Palaeofloods, Historical Floods
and Climatic Variability: Applications in Flood Risk Assessment (Proceedings of the PHEFRA
Workshop, Barcelona, 16-19th October, 2002).
E. Romero Cordón
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2 THE HISTORIC RECONSTRUCTION OF THE EVENT
The rain started in the morning of the 18th October of 1973 after six months of drought.
In total 600 mm fell, according to the Comisaria de Aguas del Sur de España records. At about nine o’clock in the evening ( the river had half a metre of water) the rate of rain increased suddenly and the lights of the village went off. At midnight the river, about fifty
metres wide and seven metres deep, overflowed. The majority of the habitants took shelter in the castle tower, the graveyard and nearby hills to the village, but the villagers that lived in two blocks of flats near the river and those living in the fishing district (Rambla de la
Mochila) were left isolated. The rainfall became heavily torrential causing the formation of two massive waves over the river. The first wave went through the village at about half past three in the morning, razing crops, cars, houses, etc. The second wave pulled out a building,
near the river, from its foundations and swept it to the sea with twenty seven people inside.

At dawn the water had disappeared. The flood caused the following damages:
• The loss of 46 lives in the villages of Albuñol, La Rabita, El Pozuelo and in some
isolated houses.
• Destruction of 91 houses and serious damages to 141.
• The streets of the villages La Rabita, Albuñol and El Pozuelo were left covered with a
layer of mud (2 to 4 metres thick). Several cars were left buried.
• The water supply and drainage network were seriously damaged. Roads were
destroyed (the C-333 and N-340), 30 km of country lanes ruined, 250 ha of cultivated
land were devastated and covered by a layer of debris 2 to 3 m thick.
• Several industries were completely destroyed (Distillery, Gravel pit, etc).
• Creation of a delta over the sea about 200 metres long.

ADMINISTRATION TYPE OF DAMAGES EVALUATION
Devastated land recovery (3.265 has.) 173.638.000
Recovery of irrigation systems 58.000.000
National Institute of
Land Reform and
Development 30 Km of paths destroyed 12.000.000
Conditioning of the road Granada – La Rabita 7.083.000
New road Public Works between La Rabita and Albuñol 100.000.000
Bridge construction 35.000.000
Confederacion Channelling of the Albuñol rambla 450.000.000
Hydrografica del Sur Recovery of irrigation systems 16.000.000
House construction and access conditioning 34.400.000
Building repairs 3.177.000
Repairs in the La Rabita Church 3.165.000
Delegacion de Vivienda
School 30.000.000
Restitution of the electrical layout 4.536.000
Delegacion de Industria
Industries 15.870.000
Delegacion de Education
and Science Child maintenance until school conditioning 14.180.000
Council Structures 1.600.000
TOTAL COST 958.649.000
Table 1. Evaluated damages (in pesetas) caused by the flood event
The catastrophic flood event of 1973 in the Albuñol rambla
329
3 HISTORICAL RECONSTRUCTION
3.1 Damage evaluation
The evaluation of the catastrophic damages elaborated by the Gobierno Civil of Granada (1974) shows the resultant social impact. Table 1 shows the evaluation of the damages made by each participant public organisations.
3.2 Aid organisation during the first days after the catastrophe
Work carried out during the first days of the emergency (Table 2) show the actions needed to be taken in case of similar emergencies and the organisations who are responsible for implementing it.
ACTIONS ORGANISATION
Search and rescue of people Guardia Civil, Army Wounded evacuation to Motril Hospital (10 of a total of 25 seriously ill) Helicópteros ejército S.A.R.
Accommodation and social assistance Delegación Provincial de Acción Social y
Sección Femenina
Victims evacuation to Motril and Adra Cofradía de pescadores (por barco)
Medical assistance Delegación de Salud,
Wreckage clearance and cleaning of village (94
houses destroy)
Guardia Civil, Bomberos, volunteers OJE,
damnificados
Search and identification of mortal victims (46) Guardia Civil, Grupo de submarinistas del Ejercito
Distribution of clothes and first aid equipment Sección Femenina
Food distribution and organisation of a sufferers
dining room Guardia Civil, Sección Femenina
Incineration of dead animals Guardia Civil, volunteers
Provisional electrical installation Army
Repairs of the water supply network Motril City Council
Table 2. Work carried out in the first days after the catastrophe

4 CONDITIONING FACTORS: INTRINSIC BASIN CHARACTERISTICS, HYDROLOGICAL AND GEOMORPHOLOGICAL ANALYSES
The importance of the great volume of material in suspension (see Table 3) as the leading factor of the high river flow reached is conditioned by:
• Basin topography with dominant slopes between 20 and 40 %.
• Poor development of soils with a tendency to slide off a rocky subsoil.
• The use of crops incompatible with the retention of the ground.
• The Flow Basin of the Albuñol rambla lies over metapelitic rocks overlaying
carbonated materials, which outcrop at the base of the Aldayar and Agijón ramblas.
The intense crushing suffered by the materials increase their facility to be altered, therefore they are an important source of solid material for the floods.

330
MORPHOMETRIC
CHARACTERISTICS
HYDRAULIC PARAMETERS
Basin area 116 km2 Maximum flow 2580 m3/s
Relief rate (Rr) 0.088 Liquid flow 1518 m3/s
Weigh slope 423 m/km Solid flow 1062 m3/s
Average slope 30-40% Drained total volume 17 Hm3
Elongation relation (Re) 0.51 Specific flow 13.4 m3/s/km2
Index of circularity (Cc) 0.45 Escorrentia coefficient 0.62
Index of compaction (Ic) 1.39 Stream flow velocity 3.44 m/s
Solids concentration 41% Period of return > 500 years
Index of torrentially 50 Calculated flow for 600
mm precipitation 2831 m3/s
Drainage density 10 km/km2<
Concentration time (Tc) 4
Table 3. Morphometric characteristcs of the basin and hydraulic parameters of the flood
5 MORPHODYNAMIC AND SEDIMENTOLOGICAL RECONSTRUCTION
5.1 Production zone
The production zone is identified by a predominance of erosive landforms (scars of
sliding, landslides and important development of grooves) that occur in the basin. As depositional landforms the solifluction mudflows and the accumulation of fell boulders are frequent.
During the flood in the gauges excavated in limestone (2 to 3 m wide) the water raised tens of metres favouring rock falls that once combined with water multiplied the erosive power.
5.2 Transference zone
The BRAIDED PLAIN covered most of the river valley. The morphological
adjustment of the braided channel to the flood, is changed into a channel surface increment that constitutes the braided plain. This erosive adjustment is produed as a consequence of the great magnitude of river flow and the high energy that had to be dissipated throughout the base of a relatively narrow valley.

The FLOODPLAIN takes up sheltered areas from the principal river flow, producing small terraces in the braided plain margins. The overflow deposit originated by the flood over those terraces was a layer of well graded sand and gravel with silt (10 to 30 cm thick).
On the surface boulders, of 2-4 m diameter, can be seen that have been pulled up from the walls that protect the crops, and transported tens of metres. Linked to the boulders crescent mark structures can be seen.
ALLUVIAL FANS form where streams confined by narrow valleys emerge onto a plain or mayor trunk valley. The development of a small fan in the Barranco de la Mochila opening should be noted, located to the northwest of the La Rabita village, which buried a great amount of houses before going into the sea were it originated a fan delta.
The catastrophic flood event of 1973 in the Albuñol rambla
331
The ACCUMULATION ZONE is formed by a delta which is the result of the
amalgamation of a series of lobes whose growth, during the flood, advanced 200 m into the sea (Figure 1) with a thickness of 4 m in the apical zone.
Two types of deposits can be distinguished:
1) Sheet flow deposits: produced as a consequence of the flow expansion and a fast diminution of the water sheet. They constitute the principal deposit type in the construction of the different deltaic lobes. The development of those is, at the same time, in relation with
the pass of the flow through La Rabita bridge and with the various destruction phases.
2) Overflow deposits: formed when the wall that was protecting La Rabita failed and the fine materials that were in suspension were deposited.
Figure 1. Distribution of erosive and depositional landforms caused by the 1973 flood at the Albuñol delta.
6 CONCLUSIONS
From the study of the 1973 catastrophic flood in La Rabita it can be deduced that the ramblas working system takes a drastic occupation of the valley bed, therefore it is important to take it into account for the territorial ordination of thoseareas looking for the
maintenance of natural conditions.

The areas with high rates of erosion as well as those with a high sedimentation rate (alluvial fans), should be considered as areas with a significant risk, not only for low magnitude floods but also for greater floods.
The risk mapping should be carried out from an analysis estimation of the probable discharge, and bearing in mind the hydraulics and hydrologic characteristics together with the record of deposits.

This is an ideal starter property for someone looking to relocate to Spain and take advantage of the rock bottom prices that can be gained on properties in the Costa Tropical region of Southern Spain.

The property has full title deeds, all connections are on site, (with the exception of a land line telephone that could be installed at a later date) and could be occupied more or less immediately with a small amount of refurbishment. Although the property is in a agricultural area this should not distract from the overall size and potential of the property.

To provide an example of this we have a large 4 bed, 2 bath house on 3 levels with a communal pool which has just been reduced by 30% to the amazingly low price of 120,000 Euros. This is a great family property in a quiet part of the village with all amenities nearby and only 6km to the coast. This is one of the incredible bargains on offer in this totally unspoilt region.

The scheme assists individuals dependant upon their own financial circumstances. The banks supporting the new development will offer to prospective buyers up to 100% of the purchase price of the property. However should the bank only offer 80% for example, the Junta will offer a “top up” of between 9,000 – 15,000 and finance on this amount will only be paid on half the monthly payments for up to 3 years.

Thereafter, the amount financed by the Junta can be added to the value of the loan. The Junta are promoting the idea that the loan will be no more than an individual would pay for purchasing a Car!

The scheme covers 4,100 properties that are owned by promoters and 13,200 properties that are now owned by the banks.

The website that provides more information on this scheme is as follows:
tuviviendaenandalucia.es

Unfortunately the operator of the machinery suffered fatal injuries. The Fire Brigade together with the emergency services battled in terrible conditions to recover the machine with the body.

The Government having been battling to repair the road which is used as the main access points to the new motorway know for around 2 months, but due to the continuing rain it has been extremely difficult.

A delegation from the Costa Tropical promoting Cherry Tomatoes In Berlin.

Despite recent competition, and aggressive pricing from third world countries, the Spanish fruit specialists in attendance, are promoting the benefits of the produce from it’s region. Cherry Tomatoes from the Costa Tropical are already widely appreciated throughout Europe, but now the Spanish Government have realised that this respected product needs to try and distance itself from the competition, by promoting service, quality, innovation and above all a product with reliability.

“The Cherry Tomatoes are coming to Europe from distant sources at very low prices, but our argument is that we are providing service, proximity, freshness, and above all taste”, stated the Chief Executive David del Pino, who is being accompanied by Co-operative President Pedro Ruiz.

The main producing areas for the Cherry Tomatoes are in the costal municipalities of Motril, Albuñol, Gualchos & Castell de Ferro, and several varieties, colours and flavours from these producers were presented at Fruit Logistica 2010, which during the hussle and bustle of the fayre, left the people in attendance fairly impressed. Yesterday the Co-Granada-La Palma (the largest Fruit Logistics business in the region), unveiled their new brand of Cherry Tomato called ‘Topmate’, as well as returning to Berlin with their Gourmet Club ‘.

Let’s wait and see?

Yesterday the Councilor for Tourism of the Junta de Andalucía, Luciano Alonso, went ot Motril to announce an investment of 30 million euros which will completely transform the Costa Tropical as a tourist destination, making it larger and stronger. The regional government will provide up to 18 million euros of the total amount and the rest will be financed by the municipalities and entrepreneurs.

After hearing the good news that Alonso brought to the coast yesterday,the president of the association entrepreneurs, Julio Rodriguez, said that this means a lot to the region and it is a springboard to take that final leap in the tourism for many people working in the sector on the coast.

The Sustainable Tourism Initiative (STI)-aims to strengthen the competitiveness of the region as a tourist destination by promoting and offering quality accommodation that complements that of ‘ sun and beach ‘. As he told the counselor to provide kindness and good weather is not enough, so we must seek other avenues that may be attractive to tourists.

The initiative, which will be implemented over the next four years in collaboration with the Association of Sustainable Tourism on the Costa Tropical and will benefit the 19 municipalities in this area: Albondón, Albuñol, Almuñécar, Los Guájares, Gualchos, Itrabo, Jete, Lentegí, Lújar, Molvízar, Motril Murtas, Otívar, Polopos, Rubite Salobreña, Sorvilán, Turon and Velez de Benaudalla.

The adviser said the plan will prioritise action aimed at promoting a range of quality accommodation in all municipalities in the area, improving the range of leisure and development of segments and the interior, cultural, & gastronomic delights. Alonso made it very clear that the Costa Tropical has great potential: it is one of the sites which can grow and that “can and must do so” under two premises: the pursuit of excellence and not be great destruction. “It has sun, sand,and one of the most visited monuments in Spain, the Alhambra.

Cane/Rum
Also indicated was the need to seek to publicise details of indigenous identity as sugar cane and rum, which will promote the use of new technologies and to install energy saving systems clean. Commonwealth President and Mayor of Motril, Carlos Rojas, said on behalf of the district be “very pleased and very grateful” for the investment to be made on the Coast. “The largest of the province of Granada”.

The investment managed by the Sustainable Tourism Association in which the entrepreneurs in the region have an important role. The current president, Julio Rodriguez, recalled how long it has been demanding a firm commitment of the Government of Andaluia and yesterday has finally made palpable. It has come after much previous work, which has been very difficult to combine different political ideals and thoughts. Thus, in his words, made a statement to each of the mayors of the municipalities in the district who have put their efforts in making tourism initiative a reality.

Recent studies have revealed a very mixed bag in terms of current infastructure, between the fairly affluent Motril, Salobreña and Almuñècar areas, and the less well endowed areas like the Contraviesa, and coastal areas further East from Motril. It has been noted that currently the main income in this region is from farming, but tourism needs to be increased, and not just treated as a second line of income. It was stated that this part of the Costa Tropical is still virtually untouched virgin territory, and therefore needs careful planning to exploit it’s rich landscape.

Proposed projects include the following:-

Motril – Commercial Centre for both commercial and leisure use built on 40 hectares to be built in the Cortijo del Conde area. 100 hectares in Playa Granada to build new hotels with minimum of 400 rooms, sports facilities but no proposed housing.

Albondón, Los Guájares, Lújar, Polopos and Sorvilán – These regions to receive hotels and rural tourism complexes, and become recognised tourist zones.

Albuñol – 20 hectares to be allocated for hotels, homes and other facilities to further boost tourism in this vicinity.

Gualchos, Itrabo & Jete – To have the necessary infrastructure put in place to promote tourism geared towards adventure and lesiure activities.

Salobreña & Molvizar The area of Los Palmares has a plans for a tourist centre, private hospital, bilingual school, residencial home for the elderly and a botanical garden. Plans to build a golf course in this area are still in place.

The long term goal is to achieve sustainable tourism, and think what each region needs to attract tourists and visitors on a global scale.

The Costa Tropical has complicated ground, geologically speaking, and is something the professionals have to check daily. This was realised in the building of the Citadel bridge located on the stretch of A-7 between Albuñol and Adra, that moved because the mountain on which it was located, slipped.

One of the areas with unstable soil is between Polopos & Sorvilán. In this area there are continuous potholes caused by ground movement and wide slopes that were built to avoid or correct, in part, these landslides.

In this area of Albuñol-Polopos there have already been three different landslides.The stretch is being completed by the construction company Ferrovial-Agroman and was awarded in December 2005 amounting to 137.3 million euros.

In particular, movements of land following the path from Albuñol starting with the first ravine along El Saltadero near to Melicena, and various others including the end of the section, after the link with the Haza del Trigo.

Throughout the nearly 15 km stretch, from west to east, the works are very advanced in places like the area of La Guapa, near Castillo de Baños, where they have even already completed the level crossing linking the current N-340 with Haza del Trigo.

Fences to prevent stones
At La Mamola this area is more rugged and they have had to install hundreds of meters of fencing to avoid falling rocks on the current national road 340 and the urban area. The work is concentrated from the tunnels “The Ramoncillo” of 650 meters in length which is situated near Melicena. From here and saving the incidents outlined the route of the highway tends to lower with respect to the current path of the road by the sea, reaching the future Albuñol link, north of La Rabita.
Of the five bands running along the Costa Tropical from La Gorgoracha to Adra, the Albuñol Polopos stretch is the longest of all. It consists of a dual carriageway of 7 meters wide, two lanes wide and 3.5 meters by 2.5 meters wide outside and inside of 1 meter. In this area there will be nine viaducts, with a total length of 2,357 meters.