The rescue of the suspension bridge to the Las Balsas wetland, in the coastal city of Gibara, constitutes a longed-for desire of its inhabitants that, after its completion, will return to Villa Blanca de los Cangrejos one of its most ancient hallmarks.
Built on the mouth of the Cacoyugüín River, its structure is visually integrated into the Bay of Gibara to welcome those who visit this peaceful spot, located in the north of the province of Holguín, baptized by Christopher Columbus as Río de Mares in his Navigation Diary. .
The bridge will be 75 meters long on its platform and 81 meters from one shore to the other, and for its reconstruction júcaro planks and 16-millimeter anticorrosive steel cables were used to avoid the action of aggressive saltpeter in the area.
For José Corella Varona, specialist in Nature of the Monuments Technical Team, in Gibara, crossing the bridge and reaching the beach is part of the traditions of this town, now being able to recover the family excursions that, with just a cauldron, a little flour and some spices, offer an unforgettable day in an environment rich in varieties of edible fish and shellfish such as mojarra, mullet, crab and coquina.
Andrés Ricardo Rivas, vice president of the Municipal Assembly of People's Power of Gibara, pointed out that the municipal government included its execution among the priorities to be executed in the territory because it constitutes an option for the residents of El Caliche and San Antonio, settlements located on the other side of the bay, which will have this alternative route to reach the city due to the impossibility of crossing by boat during bad weather.
The bridge will also have a kiosk to offer water to those who cross to Las Balsas to bathe in those beaches and fish in that area, in addition to selling corn flour and rice with seafood along with various traditional gastronomic offers of Giba's cuisine, he said.
Ricardo Rivas recognized the work of the NicaroTec company, in the execution of the work, together with the support provided by the Electric Company, the Inejiro Asanuma spinning mill, Fisheries, the Shipyard and especially highlighted the essential popular accompaniment movement that linked workers from Communal Services, the Inder and volunteers from the Cuban Red Cross.
According to historical data from the time, the first suspension bridge was built in the 19th century, which, thanks to the ingenuity of the residents of the area, created a wooden structure attached to a cable system that was used to transfer goods between the then prosperous town of Fray Benito and the flourishing Villa de Gibara.
Over the years, these footbridges were periodically devastated by the scourge of hurricanes and the last one built that has been referenced dates back around 20 years, when the project won the Popularity Award at a meeting of Cities of the Mar celebrated in Gibara.
The Las Balsas wetland is made up of three mosaics of flora species that, together, form an enormous protective barrier against storm waters in times of hurricanes and prevent the advance of salinity towards arable land.
In addition, in a bird sanctuary that offers refuge to many species that nest at certain times of the year in this place where there is one of the most important migratory corridors in Cuba.
Gibara, due to its varied attractions and high heritage values, was launched as a tourist product during FITCuba 2017; Every year it hosts the International Film Festival founded in 2003 by the renowned filmmaker Humberto Solás; and through this place the world learned about the tobacco leaf after the first voyage of the Genoese Admiral Christopher Columbus, in 1492. (Text and photos: ACN)
