The river ran black

‘The River Ran Black’ is a long-term documentary project that explores the profound transformation of Asturias, a region in northern Spain once synonymous with coal mining, as it navigates the challenges of energy transition. Through a deeply personal lens, the project examines the human, cultural, and environmental impacts of the mining industry’s decline while documenting the innovative strides toward renewable energy and environmental restoration. My grandparents settled in Asturias’s mining basin in the 1950s, during a time when coal mining drove economic development. My father grew up in narrow valleys surrounded by mountains, where the river ran black, and the sound of the siren announced the workers’ descent into the Earth. From 1985 onward, Asturias experienced a wave of general strikes to fight against the industrial desertification of its mining basins. Despite these efforts, Spain’s entry into the European Economic Community triggered the countdown to the closure of the mines. In 2023, the last coal mine, San Nicolás, ceased operation, marking the end of coal mining in Spain. This decline has left its mark on the landscape and its people. Rusting mining towers still stand as symbols of a bygone era, while nature reclaims the space. Villages have been hollowed out, with shuttered houses and businesses, as young people leave in search of opportunities. Yet amidst these challenges, a new chapter is unfolding. The second part of the project focuses on the region’s ongoing transition to renewable energy and environmental restoration. Asturias is becoming a hub for green innovation, with projects such as green hydrogen production, district heating systems powered by geothermal energy from flooded mines, and the restoration of over 2,300 hectares of degraded land. By weaving together, the stories of these groundbreaking initiatives with the memories of a once-thriving mining community, this chapter examines how a region reinvents itself while preserving its cultural identity. Born in Madrid, far from these northern lands steeped in the symbolism of workers’ struggles, I felt compelled to return to the place where my paternal family’s story began. Through photography and storytelling, The River Ran Black captures both the end of an era and the hope for a sustainable future. Today, the river runs clean, but every day, there are fewer people to admire it. This project reflects on Asturias’s transformation while addressing the global challenges of energy transition, environmental restoration, and the preservation of cultural heritage.

Lys Arango