BIODEMOGRAPHIC ALTERATIONS DERIVED FROM RESERVOIR BUILDING IN A RURALSETTLEMENT IN SPAIN

The building of dams to collect water for hydroelectricity and irrigat ion brings about environmental alterations and hence the appearance of a new ecosystem. These changes affect the human environment and resul t in demographic, social and economic alterations of the original sett lements. In the mountainous regions of Palencia in the north of Spain, three dams have been built this century. This paper analyses the biod emographic modifications in the settlement directly affected by the co nstruction of these dams, and compares it with nearby control settleme nts with similar demographic and social structure, in order to establi sh the effects of the flooding of extensive areas.