Comments on: Spanish Water Works http://www.yachtmollymawk.com/2008/11/spanish-water-works/ The cruising log of the good ship Mollymawk Tue, 17 Jan 2012 12:52:27 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Jill Dickin Schinas http://www.yachtmollymawk.com/2008/11/spanish-water-works/comment-page-1/#comment-1149 Jill Dickin Schinas Tue, 25 Nov 2008 15:40:59 +0000 http://www.yachtmollymawk.com/?p=554#comment-1149 You're right, of course! The Spanish text book said that the Noria Grande was the biggest working "noria" in Europe, and I translated the word as water wheel. This is the usual translation - but in this instance I should have stuck with noria! The biggest working noria <b>in the world</b> is one of 17 which stand in the city of Hama, in Syria. Different websites give different diameters for this wheel. Most say "around 20m" but some give 21m. La Noria Grande at Abaran is only 12m in diameter. The norias at Hama use clay pots instead of wooden boxes but in all other respects they are very similar. The oldest is said to be 900 years old - but I would imagine that it is a bit like Grand-pa's axe, with its new blade and new handle. Laxey Wheel on the Isle of Man (in Europe) has a diameter of 70ft / 22m and is therefore bigger than either of the norias. Although its purpose is to lift water from a mine, Laxey Wheel is powered by water from a cistern standing alongside. In other words, it is actually an over-shot wheel. The description on wikipedia is rather inadequate, but as I understand it this wheel does not actually scoop up the water itself; it is used to power some kind of pump. You’re right, of course!
The Spanish text book said that the Noria Grande was the biggest working “noria” in Europe, and I translated the word as water wheel. This is the usual translation – but in this instance I should have stuck with noria!

The biggest working noria in the world is one of 17 which stand in the city of Hama, in Syria. Different websites give different diameters for this wheel. Most say “around 20m” but some give 21m. La Noria Grande at Abaran is only 12m in diameter.
The norias at Hama use clay pots instead of wooden boxes but in all other respects they are very similar. The oldest is said to be 900 years old – but I would imagine that it is a bit like Grand-pa’s axe, with its new blade and new handle.

Laxey Wheel on the Isle of Man (in Europe) has a diameter of 70ft / 22m and is therefore bigger than either of the norias.

Although its purpose is to lift water from a mine, Laxey Wheel is powered by water from a cistern standing alongside. In other words, it is actually an over-shot wheel. The description on wikipedia is rather inadequate, but as I understand it this wheel does not actually scoop up the water itself; it is used to power some kind of pump.

]]> By: G'pa http://www.yachtmollymawk.com/2008/11/spanish-water-works/comment-page-1/#comment-1142 G'pa Mon, 24 Nov 2008 20:29:50 +0000 http://www.yachtmollymawk.com/?p=554#comment-1142 Interesting - but not, I think the biggest waterwheel go to www.iomguide.com/laxeywheel.php - Your G'pa (Jill) took pics of this thing when in the IoM about 40 years ago. Interesting – but not, I think the biggest waterwheel go to http://www.iomguide.com/laxeywheel.php -
Your G’pa (Jill) took pics of this thing when in the IoM about 40 years ago.

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