The Dark Water Dam of Malpaso // Calvillo Aguascalientes, Mexico
A random pile of memories
7/12/20262 min read
The Dark Water Dam of Malpaso: History, Drownings, and a Local Legend in Calvillo, Aguascalientes, Mexico
In Calvillo, Aguascalientes, a town located in the west of Mexico, you find the Presa de Malpaso. Some history to the reservoir draws tourism and of course local rumors surrounding the enigmatic sensation of this location. Malpaso is a dam east of the town of Malpaso, built on the Calvillo river, also known by the local region as the Gil River “Río Gil”, with a capacity of more than 6 million cubic meters and a masonry curtain over 30 meters high. Local historical accounts say its construction began in the 1800’s, approximately 1870, promoted by Raymundo and José María Velasco to store water for crops which this region’s economy relied on.
Today, Malpaso attracts families, hikers, boaters, and visitors looking for the dramatic view of water spilling over the stone curtain. But the same landscape has also become associated with tragedy. In April 2025, local newspapers reported that a man died after falling from a boat into the Presa de Malpaso; rescue teams searched the reservoir and later recovered his body. Another report from El Heraldo noted that Protección Civil (The Fire department, Safety and Rescue Unit) had reinforced warnings around dams and streams after multiple water-related deaths in the state, including those at Malpaso.
One story I was told by a person from that region describes how some hikers found many strange objects near the dam: things like dozens of photographs of unknown people, notes, loose papers, and abandoned several other belongings placed in a pile, almost like a shrine. It was very weird the way these objects were arranged, the pictures looked very old, some at least 20 years but others many more than that. The people in the pictures had serious expressions, no smiles. Interestingly enough, this was not the first time something like this was found, different people hiking through the area haver reported these findings on different occasions, and no one can provide a logical explanation. Some people described the scene as possible witchcraft or ritual work; others believed it may have simply been trash left behind by visitors, but the way these objects were carefully arranged made it disturbing. I could not verify this story in newspaper archives, so it should be treated as oral tradition rather than documented fact.
Still, the legend fits the mood of Malpaso. The area is already used as a stage for “Noches de Leyendas y Tradición,” (Nights of Legends and Tradition) where mystery, memory, and local storytelling are performed by the water. Whether the objects were ritual remnants or ordinary litter, remains a mystery. It mirrors Calvillo’s fears, grief, and imagination. Perhaps that is why the stories endure.
Here are some links to sites related to the origin of the dam and two of the reported drownings: