Medical Hydrology and Balneology: Environmental Aspects

Sustainable Tourism and environmental aspects
in the thermal capital Ourense
Araujo PA (1) , Vázquez-Barquero JA (2) , González-Diéguez E (3)
(1) Faculty of Sciences. University of Vigo, Ourense, Spain
(2) City Council of Ourense, Ourense, Spain
(3) TERMATALIA International Thermal Tourisme Fair, Ourense, Spain
emmag@expourense.org
The development model of Ourense as a thermal town and its projection is based
on three key players that are driving the exploitation and enhancement of the hydrothermal
resources of the city in a sustainable way: the actions of the Council of
Ourense, the International Fair of Thermal Tourism, TERMATALIA and the University
of Vigo who created the Water Campus.
Currently there are 10 springs owned by municipalities which are used by locals
and tourists on the concept of "Outdoor Thermalism". The area of operation of
thermal projects are concentrated in two points: the center of the city with the
Spring called “As Burgas”, which is particularly renowned for its flow rate of 300
liters per minute of water that emerges at 67 °, and the Thermal Bank of the “Miño”
River, where we can find several "Spa" with temperatures ranging from 43 to 69.3
degrees. Approximately 4 million liters of mineral water that arise spontaneously in
several enclaves, situate Ourense as the second thermal capital Europe (after the
city of Budapest). The water arising in Ourense is mainly sodium bicarbonated
water, sulfure water and fluoride water which are coexisting in historical and natural
sites, with greenways through which users can access to Spas.
This natural potential has been projected internationally by TERMATALIA, a
unique exhibition specialized in Hydrotherapy and Thermalism, which brings
together experts from around the world and which has been a driving force of the
know-how for the development of various companies related to mineromedicional
water resource.
The lastest plan which will strengthen the city of Ourense as a Sustainable
Thermal destination will be the creation of the " Water Campus," which is currently
made up by 4,595 students, 33 degrees, 49 research groups, 339 researchers and
over 120 R & D projects. The project is built on five areas of collaboration that will
shape its future R & D clusters: Tourism, Computer Science, Social and Educational
Innovation, Environment and Food. This project will be involved in the thermal
development of Ourense and growing environmental requirements.
Balnea
2012, núm. 6, 225
225
ISBN: 978-84-669-1887-0
978-84-669-3482-4