ENIL Puzo do Lago

Puzo do Lago is a small lake in the parish of Lago, within the municipality of Maside, in the province of Ourense, Galicia. In 2014 the area surrounding the lake was officially declared an Espacio Natural de Interés Local (ENIL) — a locally protected natural space covering 30.60 hectares, the first of its kind to receive definitive approval anywhere in the province of Ourense. The designation followed years of community effort and was formalized through a decree issued by the Galician regional government in early 2014.

What is the history behind this site?

The lake occupies a former excavation site left behind by gold mining activity, one of several such workings once found in the wider Carballiño area — a history that also explains the presence of numerous ancient hillfort settlements nearby. Traces of this past mining activity are still visible around the lake, and part of the site's recovery work involved partially restoring the old mining spoil heaps that remained scattered across the landscape.

What kind of nature surrounds the lake?

The area around Puzo do Lago is defined by rich, native vegetation, with pines, oaks, and chestnut trees forming a varied woodland setting around the water. Its fauna includes amphibians such as frogs, along with water and wetland birds like herons and ducks. This ecological diversity, combined with the site's landscape value and archaeological heritage, was the basis for granting it protected status.

What can visitors do here?

Trails around the lake have been laid out and improved, allowing for a quiet walk through the surrounding greenery, and a bird observation point has been built for watching species tied to the wetland environment. Right next to the lake there is a golf course and a dirt track used for horse races and horseball matches. It is here that the Festa do Cabalo — the region's horse festival — is held every year, drawing more than 250 horses and their owners from across the area.

Is there a local legend connected to the lake?

Puzo do Lago carries a piece of local folklore tied to the night of San Juan. According to tradition, anyone who approaches the lake on that night can hear the bells of the parish church ringing — even though no church actually stands nearby. The legend is still passed down among the residents of Maside and remains part of the site's local identity.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is Puzo do Lago located? In the parish of Lago, within the municipality of Maside, in the province of Ourense, Galicia.

Is the site protected? Yes, since 2014 it has held the status of Espacio Natural de Interés Local (ENIL), covering 30.60 hectares.

What can be seen on site? A lake formed in a former gold mining excavation, walking trails, a bird observation point, and visible remains of past mining activity.

What events take place here? The annual Festa do Cabalo, a horse festival gathering more than 250 horses, along with horseball matches held on the nearby dirt track.