Jiloca (river)
Encyclopedia
The Jiloca is a river in Aragón
, Spain
, a tributary of the river Jalón
, and part of the watershed of the Ebro basin
. The course of the river runs through the provinces of Teruel
and Zaragoza
. It has a length of 126 kilometres (78.3 mi) and an average flow rate
of 2.1 m3/s, although this varies between the seasons. The river flows in a generally north easterly direction from its source near Monreal del Campo
.
The valley was an historic route between the Meseta Central and the Mediterranean coast. Roman bridges remain in many pueblos and remains of watermills can be seen. The water is generally of good quality and supports a range of wildlife. Cleaning works by the regional government have been criticised by environmental organisations who claim that the ecology has been damaged. The watershed covers an area of 2957 square kilometre.
. The well is surrounded by an elliptical parapet wall built by the Italian engineer Domingo Ferrari. It is now thought that the stretch of river between Cella
and Monreal del Campo
is the remains of an 18th century canal which was cut to drain the Laguna Cañizar at Villarquemado
. It is currently accepted that the Jiloca raises at the Ojos (Eyes) of Monreal, 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) from the town. These are a series of ponds linked by channels. From Monreal the river flows northwards and near Luco de Jiloca (Calamocha
), the Jiloca is joined by its only tributary, the Pancrudo, which rises 46 kilometres (28.6 mi) away in the Sierra de la Costera. From this point there is an irrigation channel which waters a small valley near Daroca
.
The river flows on from Daroca in a north easterly direction, past Manchones
, Morero, Montón
, Morata de Jiloca
, Maruenda and Paracuellos de Jiloca
until it joins the Jalón between Carramolina and Calatayud
.
Towns named after the river are Morata de Jiloca
, Paracuellos de Jiloca
, Fuentes de Jiloca
, Torremocha de Jiloca
, Velilla de Jiloca
and Villanueva de Jiloca
.
of 2.1 m3/s, although there are seasonal variations, due to a long dry season and wet seasons in the spring and autumn in the Meseta Central. Annual rainfall in the watershed varies from around 400 millimetres (15.7 in) to 950 millimetres (37.4 in), with peak precipitation in May and June. The watershed covers an area of 2957 square kilometre.
, some 23 kilometres (14.3 mi) away. Thickets of poplar, willow and walnut trees give plenty of shelter. The water is considered in very good condition according to the assessment of the Plan Hidrológico de la Cuenca del Ebro (Hydrological Plan of the Ebro).
Further downstream in the valley between Manchones and Morero, birdlife includes goshawks, eagles, orioles, robins, finches, hoopoe and kestrels. Deer and bobcats are found in the Sierra Santa Cruz which borders the river, hedgehogs and shrews are to be found near the banks. Trees include poplars, elm, and ash.
In 2000, the Asociación Naturalista de Aragón strongly condemned cleaning works by the regional government, which they said were systematically destroying riparian vegetation, killing fish and upsetting the ecology of the river in the reaches between Daroca and Calatayud. In November 2009, an investigation into soil erosion in the Jiloca basin was announced, with the intention of determining suitable future land use strategies.
. Many Roman
bridges remain in the pueblos of the valley.
, the Pancrudo, which rises 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) above the pueblo of Pancrudo
, in Teruel province and flows generally north east past Torre los Negros
, Navarette del Rio and Lechago before joining the Jiloca at Luca de Jiloca after 46 kilometres (28.6 mi).
Aragon
Aragon is a modern autonomous community in Spain, coextensive with the medieval Kingdom of Aragon. Located in northeastern Spain, the Aragonese autonomous community comprises three provinces : Huesca, Zaragoza, and Teruel. Its capital is Zaragoza...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, a tributary of the river Jalón
Jalón (river)
The river Jalón is located in the northeast of Spain, and is one of the principal tributaries of the Ebro. It has a length of and drains a watershed of . The flow rate in Calatayud is , but is highly irregular due to the great range of Mediterranean rainfall patterns.The course of the river forms...
, and part of the watershed of the Ebro basin
Ebro
The Ebro or Ebre is one of the most important rivers in the Iberian Peninsula. It is the biggest river by discharge volume in Spain.The Ebro flows through the following cities:*Reinosa in Cantabria.*Miranda de Ebro in Castile and León....
. The course of the river runs through the provinces of Teruel
Teruel (province)
Teruel is a province of Aragon, in the northeast of Spain. The capital is Teruel.It is bordered by the provinces of Tarragona, Castellón, Valencia , Cuenca, Guadalajara, and Zaragoza....
and Zaragoza
Zaragoza (province)
Zaragoza is a province of northern Spain, in the central part of the autonomous community of Aragon.Its capital is Zaragoza, which is also the capital of the autonomous community. Other towns in Zaragoza include Calatayud, Borja, La Almunia de Doña Godina, Ejea de los Caballeros and Tarazona.Its...
. It has a length of 126 kilometres (78.3 mi) and an average flow rate
Volumetric flow rate
The volumetric flow rate in fluid dynamics and hydrometry, is the volume of fluid which passes through a given surface per unit time...
of 2.1 m3/s, although this varies between the seasons. The river flows in a generally north easterly direction from its source near Monreal del Campo
Monreal del Campo
Monreal del Campo is a municipality located in the province of Teruel, Aragon, Spain. According to the 2004 census , the municipality has a population of 2,391 inhabitants....
.
The valley was an historic route between the Meseta Central and the Mediterranean coast. Roman bridges remain in many pueblos and remains of watermills can be seen. The water is generally of good quality and supports a range of wildlife. Cleaning works by the regional government have been criticised by environmental organisations who claim that the ecology has been damaged. The watershed covers an area of 2957 square kilometre.
Course
The source is disputed, tradition holds that it rises at an artesian well, the Fuente de Cella, at the base of the Sierra Albarracín in Teruel provinceTeruel (province)
Teruel is a province of Aragon, in the northeast of Spain. The capital is Teruel.It is bordered by the provinces of Tarragona, Castellón, Valencia , Cuenca, Guadalajara, and Zaragoza....
. The well is surrounded by an elliptical parapet wall built by the Italian engineer Domingo Ferrari. It is now thought that the stretch of river between Cella
Cella
A cella or naos , is the inner chamber of a temple in classical architecture, or a shop facing the street in domestic Roman architecture...
and Monreal del Campo
Monreal del Campo
Monreal del Campo is a municipality located in the province of Teruel, Aragon, Spain. According to the 2004 census , the municipality has a population of 2,391 inhabitants....
is the remains of an 18th century canal which was cut to drain the Laguna Cañizar at Villarquemado
Villarquemado
Villarquemado is a municipality located in the province of Teruel, Aragon, Spain. According to the 2004 census , the municipality has a population of 938 inhabitants....
. It is currently accepted that the Jiloca raises at the Ojos (Eyes) of Monreal, 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) from the town. These are a series of ponds linked by channels. From Monreal the river flows northwards and near Luco de Jiloca (Calamocha
Calamocha
Calamocha is a municipality located in the province of Teruel, Aragon, Spain. According to the 2004 census the municipality has a population of 4,256 inhabitants.Calamocha is the capital of the Jiloca Comarca.- Villages :...
), the Jiloca is joined by its only tributary, the Pancrudo, which rises 46 kilometres (28.6 mi) away in the Sierra de la Costera. From this point there is an irrigation channel which waters a small valley near Daroca
Daroca
Daroca is a city and municipality in the province of Zaragoza, Aragon, Spain, situated to the south of the city of Zaragoza. It is the center of a judicial district....
.
The river flows on from Daroca in a north easterly direction, past Manchones
Manchones
Manchones is a municipality in the province of Zaragoza, Aragon, Spain. According to the Spanish Statistical Institute , the municipality had a population of 123 inhabitants in 2010. The pueblo is in the comarca of Campo de Daroca, about northwest of Daroca and just southeast of Murero in the...
, Morero, Montón
Montón
Montón is a municipality located in the province of Zaragoza, Aragon, Spain. According to the 2004 census , the municipality has a population of 144 inhabitants....
, Morata de Jiloca
Morata de Jiloca
Morata de Jiloca is a municipality on the river Jiloca, located in the province of Zaragoza, Aragon, Spain. According to the 2004 census , the municipality has a population of 307 inhabitants.-See also:*Comunidad de Calatayud...
, Maruenda and Paracuellos de Jiloca
Paracuellos de Jiloca
Paracuellos de Jiloca is a municipality on the river Jiloca, located in the province of Zaragoza, Aragon, Spain. According to the 2004 census , the municipality has a population of 507 inhabitants....
until it joins the Jalón between Carramolina and Calatayud
Calatayud
Calatayud is a city and municipality in the province of Zaragoza in Aragón, Spain lying on the river Jalón, in the midst of the Sistema Ibérico mountain range. It is the second-largest city in the province after the capital, Zaragoza, and the largest town in Aragón other than the three provincial...
.
Towns named after the river are Morata de Jiloca
Morata de Jiloca
Morata de Jiloca is a municipality on the river Jiloca, located in the province of Zaragoza, Aragon, Spain. According to the 2004 census , the municipality has a population of 307 inhabitants.-See also:*Comunidad de Calatayud...
, Paracuellos de Jiloca
Paracuellos de Jiloca
Paracuellos de Jiloca is a municipality on the river Jiloca, located in the province of Zaragoza, Aragon, Spain. According to the 2004 census , the municipality has a population of 507 inhabitants....
, Fuentes de Jiloca
Fuentes de Jiloca
Fuentes de Jiloca is a municipality on the river Jiloca, located in the province of Zaragoza, Aragon, Spain. According to the 2004 census , the municipality has a population of 308 inhabitants....
, Torremocha de Jiloca
Torremocha de Jiloca
Torremocha de Jiloca is a municipality on the river Jiloca, located in the province of Teruel, Aragon, Spain. According to the 2004 census , the municipality has a population of 158 inhabitants....
, Velilla de Jiloca
Velilla de Jiloca
Velilla de Jiloca is a municipality on the river Jiloca, located in the province of Zaragoza, Aragon, Spain. According to the 2004 census , the municipality has a population of 114 inhabitants....
and Villanueva de Jiloca
Villanueva de Jiloca
Villanueva de Jiloca is a municipality on the river Jiloca, located in the province of Zaragoza, Aragon, Spain. According to the 2004 census , the municipality has a population of 85 inhabitants....
.
Hydrographics
The Jiloca has an average flow rateVolumetric flow rate
The volumetric flow rate in fluid dynamics and hydrometry, is the volume of fluid which passes through a given surface per unit time...
of 2.1 m3/s, although there are seasonal variations, due to a long dry season and wet seasons in the spring and autumn in the Meseta Central. Annual rainfall in the watershed varies from around 400 millimetres (15.7 in) to 950 millimetres (37.4 in), with peak precipitation in May and June. The watershed covers an area of 2957 square kilometre.
Natural history
The Ojos de Monreal are a series of artesian wells which form pools connected by small channels. This area is rich in wildlife, including waterfowl, grebes, wrens, kingfishers, owls, orioles and woodpeckers. There are frequently visiting wildfowl from the Laguna de GallocantaGallocanta
Gallocanta is a municipality located in the province of Zaragoza, Aragon, Spain. According to the 2004 census , the municipality has a population of 158 inhabitants.Just to the south of the village is the Laguna de Gallocanta, an endorheic lake....
, some 23 kilometres (14.3 mi) away. Thickets of poplar, willow and walnut trees give plenty of shelter. The water is considered in very good condition according to the assessment of the Plan Hidrológico de la Cuenca del Ebro (Hydrological Plan of the Ebro).
Further downstream in the valley between Manchones and Morero, birdlife includes goshawks, eagles, orioles, robins, finches, hoopoe and kestrels. Deer and bobcats are found in the Sierra Santa Cruz which borders the river, hedgehogs and shrews are to be found near the banks. Trees include poplars, elm, and ash.
In 2000, the Asociación Naturalista de Aragón strongly condemned cleaning works by the regional government, which they said were systematically destroying riparian vegetation, killing fish and upsetting the ecology of the river in the reaches between Daroca and Calatayud. In November 2009, an investigation into soil erosion in the Jiloca basin was announced, with the intention of determining suitable future land use strategies.
History
In the past many water-mills were powered by the river, but now only ruins of these remain. The valley of the Jiloca is an ancient route between the Meseta Central, the Ebro and the coast of the LevanteLevante, Spain
The Levante is a name used to refer to the eastern region of the Iberian Peninsula, on the Spanish Mediterranean coast. It roughly corresponds to the former Xarq Al-Andalus, but has no modern geopolitical definition...
. Many Roman
Ancient Rome
Ancient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....
bridges remain in the pueblos of the valley.
Tributary
There is one tributaryTributary
A tributary or affluent is a stream or river that flows into a main stem river or a lake. A tributary does not flow directly into a sea or ocean...
, the Pancrudo, which rises 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) above the pueblo of Pancrudo
Pancrudo
Pancrudo is a municipality in the Teruel Community comarca, Teruel province, Aragon, Spain.According to the 2010 census the municipality has a population of 136 inhabitants. Its postal code is 44720. Its distance from the provincial capital, Teruel is 56 kilometres.The mayor of Pancrudo is Mr....
, in Teruel province and flows generally north east past Torre los Negros
Torre los Negros
Torre los Negros is a municipality located in the province of Teruel, Aragon, Spain. According to the 2004 census , the municipality has a population of 94 inhabitants....
, Navarette del Rio and Lechago before joining the Jiloca at Luca de Jiloca after 46 kilometres (28.6 mi).