A look at life in one of Europe’s least populated regions
A generation after the last of the sawmills that were its economic lifeblood shut down, a vast region of Central Eastern Spain less than two hours from Madrid has become one of the biggest population deserts in Europe, rivaling parts of the Arctic. For the area’s graying inhabitants — seniors outnumber primary schoolers 4 to 1 — the daily rhythms of work and play have grown more elongated — one boy, the only boy in his village, travels 40 miles to school — or less steady — an unemployed electrician tries his hand at taxidermy to make ends meet — but beat on nonetheless, as Getty Images photographer David Ramos documents in this intimate diary.
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- The landscape outside the village of Luzon on Feb. 14 near Molina de Aragon, Spain. (David Ramos/Getty Images)
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- A woman wearing a mask poses for a portrait as she takes part in a carnival in the village of Luzon on Feb. 14 near Molina de Aragon, Spain. (David Ramos/Getty Images)
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- A lone tree stands outside the village of Iruecha on Feb. 14 near Molina de Aragon, Spain. (David Ramos/Getty Images)
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- A picture of the Spain Footbal National Team hangs on a wall at the bar of the village of Anquela del Ducado on Feb. 23 near Molina de Aragon, Spain. (David Ramos/Getty Images)
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- Women perform physical exercises during a class for older people on Feb. 25, in Molina de Aragon, Spain. (David Ramos/Getty Images)
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- A mastiff sits among grazing sheep near the village of Codes on Feb. 14 near Molina de Aragon, Spain. Agriculture and ranching are the main economic sources all around the region. (David Ramos/Getty Images)
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- Mari Angeles Moreno, 44, and her son Juan Romero, 11, wait for the school bus outside the village of Selas on Feb. 23 near Molina de Aragon, Spain. Juan is the only boy in the village of Selas. The school in Selas was shut down in 1974 and moved to Molina de Aragon, the biggest village in the region. Juan travels more than 40 miles every weekday to go to school. (David Ramos/Getty Images)
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- Women play cards at the old schools of the village of Anquela del Ducado on Feb. 23 near Molina de Aragon, Spain. Population over 65 years represents 41 percent of the population whereas the population under 15 years is less then the 8 percent. (David Ramos/Getty Images)
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- A worker walks on as he cleans the forest near the village of Cobeta on Feb. 24 near Molina de Aragon, Spain. (David Ramos/Getty Images)
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- Mari Angeles Moreno, 44, and her son Juan Romero, 11, walk along a empty street in the village of Selas on Feb. 24 near Molina de Aragon, Spain. (David Ramos/Getty Images)
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- Poplar trees are seen outside the village of Luzon on Feb. 14 near Molina de Aragon, Spain. (David Ramos/Getty Images)
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- Juan Julian Munoz, 49, feeds his cows at his farm near the village of Selas on Feb. 24 near Molina de Aragon, Spain. (David Ramos/Getty Images)
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- The landscape is seen through the window of an abandoned house in the village of Selas on Feb. 26 near Molina de Aragon, Spain. (David Ramos/Getty Images)
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- A small chapel is seen next to the a road outside the village of Codes on Feb. 14 near Molina de Aragon, Spain. (David Ramos/Getty Images)
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- Carlos Valencia, 48, poses for a portrait as he chops pines near the village of Cobeta on Feb. 24 near Molina de Aragon, Spain. Sawmills and resin were the main industries for most of last century. The last sawmill shut down in 1980. (David Ramos/Getty Images)
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- The landscape near the village of Tordesilos on Feb. 26 near Molina de Aragon, Spain. (David Ramos/Getty Images)
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- Juan Romero, 11, kicks a ball against a wall in the village of Selas on Feb. 24 near Molina de Aragon, Spain. (David Ramos/Getty Images)
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- A frozen pond is seen outside the village of Iruecha on Feb. 24 near Molina de Aragon, Spain. (David Ramos/Getty Images)
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- Santiago “Cani,” 55, talks with his wife by phone as he leads his flock to graze near the village of Cobeta on Feb. 24 near Molina de Aragon, Spain. (David Ramos/Getty Images)
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- Dry branches are seen outside the village of Iruecha on Feb. 14 near Molina de Aragon, Spain. (David Ramos/Getty Images)
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- The landscape near the village of Cobeta on Feb. 25 near Molina de Aragon, Spain. (David Ramos/Getty Images)
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- David Oter, 21, holds a dried head of deer as he poses for a portrait in Castilnuevo on Feb. 25 near Molina de Aragon, Spain. The economic crisis has forced Oter, an unemployed electrician, and many others to emigrate or look for new jobs. Oter has worked as a taxidermist since 2013. (David Ramos/Getty Images)
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- A general view of the village of Tordelpalo on Feb. 26 near Molina de Aragon, Spain. (David Ramos/Getty Images)
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- Martina Mateo, 54, looks on as she has a break from making bread at her bakery in the village of the Rillo de Gallo on Feb. 25 near Molina de Aragon, Spain. (David Ramos/Getty Images)
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