Viñuela is a small municipality, population around 2,000, in the Axarquia district of Málaga province. The backdrop is La Maroma and it is also the site of La Viñuela (Lake Viñuela) reservoir, an important and integral part of the water supply for the district.
La Viñuela is dominated by La Maroma, part of the Sierra de Tejeda mountain range and at a height of 2,068 metres (6,785 ft) is the highest mountain in Axarquía.
The lake is also a popular leisure area, with picnic and barbecue areas. Swimming and some (non-motorised) sports are also permitted with kayaks available for hire.
The village itself became a town in 1764 and was centred around a building called La Venta La Viña, a watering hole for travellers en route between the coast and inland Granada and which still exists today.
The reservoir can get very low during drought conditions. As of March 2023, the level is a very low 10.3% of capacity…