Inland Galicia has quietly produced one of Spain's more surprising swimming spots. Lake As Pontes, in the green hills of Spain's northwest, fills the void left by what was once the country's largest open-cast lignite mine. It now covers more than 2,100 acres, making it Spain's largest artificial lake according to energy company Endesa, which ran the mine and the power station it fed.

The transformation was a legal obligation turned into a small triumph. When mining finished, Endesa had to restore the land, so water was diverted from the nearby River Eume to flood the excavation. The pit was completely full by 2012. Restoration went further than the waterline: old dump sites were replanted into a mix of meadows, scrub, woodland and wetlands, and two islands were built inside the lake — one as a bird refuge, the other planted with native Galician flora.

The practical draw for visitors is the Playa del Lago de As Pontes, a sandy beach on the town-facing shore, a short walk from the centre of As Pontes de García Rodríguez. It stretches roughly 1,300 feet and currently holds a Blue Flag, meaning the water quality and general upkeep meet a recognised standard. Entry is free, lifeguards work seasonally, and there are restrooms, showers and kiosk-bars. Reviewers frequently mention that it stays pleasantly quiet compared with Spain's Mediterranean coasts.

On the water side, Nortegal Experiencias rents kayaks and stand-up paddleboards by the hour or half-day near the beach, while Hidropedales Lago de As Pontes hires out pedal boats. A nautical station, completed in July 2026, has added kayak steps, platforms and a wide ramp for launching small boats.

If you'd rather stay on land, the Senda da Memoria is a roughly 5.5-mile one-way trail along the shore, an easy way to take in the rolling green countryside and spot birdlife around the refuge island.

Who is this for? Anyone tired of fighting for towel space on the coast. Lake As Pontes suits swimmers, casual paddlers and walkers who want a water day with an unusual backstory — plus road-trippers touring Galicia. It's about an hour's drive from A Coruña and a little over an hour from Santiago de Compostela, so it pairs naturally with a coastal itinerary. A Coruña itself is worth the detour for the Tower of Hercules, the world's oldest functioning lighthouse.