El estrangulamiento en enero de 1970 del meandro del castillo de Aldovea en el río Henares

Abstract

The meandering planform evolution between 1877 and 1995 AD of the Castillo de Aldovea meander, at the lower reach of the Henares river, was studed. Topographic maps (form 1877 to 1995) and a series of aerial photographs (1945 to 1995) have been used in order to plot major historical changes in the recent past. Meandering evolution trough time have been characterised using planimetric properties such as meander wavelength, amplitude and radius of curvature. The Castillo de Aldovea meander cutoff occurred in January, 1970, due to extreme floods caused by continuous and persistent precipitacion asociated to Atlantic disturbances (frontal systems) affecting the Tagus Basin. This final reach of the Henares River has been greatly influenced by mining activity since 1975. It is confirmed that the bends of the abandoned meander are very scarce and vulnerable with an extraordinary biodiversity which should be conserved whith suitable management.