Calcination ovens in the mines of the Plazaola

The Leitzaran valley in Gipuzkoa is rich in mining deposits, mainly iron. Before the arrival of the Pamplona - San Sebastian railway, it was intended for consumption by local ironworks. These mines located on the muga (border) between Navarre and Euskadi gave rise to the construction of the "Plazaola" railway to transport the mineral to the town of Andoain. The Bizkotx mining deposit (Berastegi municipal area) was the largest of all those exploited in the Leitzaran valley. In the image Bizkotz calcination ovens, located very close to the Plazaola Greenway.