List of rivers of Catalonia
Encyclopedia
The rivers of Catalonia can be classified into four groups according to their source.
The Llobregat
deserves a special mention because of its importance: its basin covers most of the province of Barcelona
. It source is in the pyreneean Serra del Cadí
in the municipality of Castellar de n'Hug
(Berguedà
) and its valley is one the main north-south communication routes in Catalonia.
The Aran Valley is the upper valley of the Garonne
(la Garona in Catalan
, era Garona in Aranese
), an Atlanic river which meets the sea near Bordeaux
, France
. The boundaries of the comarca do not correspond exactly with the watershed
, and both the Noguera Ribagorçana
and the Noguera Pallaresa
have their sources on its territory.
The frontier between Catalonia and the Valencian Community
is formed for much of its length by the Sénia
, while the Noguera Ribagorçana
forms the frontier with Aragon for much of its length.
with the appropriate definite article
: Spanish
names are given in parentheses. Catalan names are usually preferred in English language
works, except for the Ebre which is usually referred to by its Spanish name Ebro: the Segre may also be referred to by its Spanish name, Segro, in older works.
has two words for "river", riu and riera. The word riera is used for smaller rivers and for streams, and often indicates a seasonal river. Of the above list, only the Gavarresa is commonly classified as a riera, all the others being qualified as rius. The grammatical gender
of Anoia is feminine, while that of Ebre is masculine.
pass either through the valley of the Llobregat
or that of the Besòs
, and the Francolí
valley is an important route inland from Tarragona
.
is important in the drier areas of Catalonia, notably in the Central Depression and in the south. The Canal de Aragó i Catalunya and the Canal d'Urgell distribute the waters of the Segre
across the comarques
of Noguera
and Segrià
where it is used for
growing cereals, almonds and olives. Irrigation is also important in the comarques of Baix Ebre
and Montsià
, where the cultivation of rice is widespread.
(Ribera d'Ebre
). Other dams include
- Rivers of the Ebre basin, which can be further divided into:
- the lower basin of the Ebre itself, which corresponds with the comarquesComarques of CataloniaThis is a list of the comarques of Catalonia . A comarca is roughly equivalent to a US "county" or a UK "district". However, in the context of Catalonia, the term "county" can be a bit misleading, because in medieval Catalonia, the most important rulers were counts, notably the Counts of Barcelona...
of Ribera d'EbreRibera d'EbreRibera d'Ebre is a comarca in Catalonia, Spain. The name in Catalan refers to its location on the banks of the river Ebre, usually referred to in English by its Spanish name, "Ebro.- Municipalities :Populations are from 2001.* Ascó - pop. 1,617...
, Terra AltaTerra AltaTerra Alta is a sparsely populated inland comarca in Catalonia, Spain. Its capital is Gandesa. It is also known as Castellania, a name dating back to its medieval status as a fiefdom held by the Order of Knights of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem under the Crown of Aragon.- Municipalities...
, Baix EbreBaix EbreBaix Ebre is a comarca , on the coast in southern Catalonia, Spain.- Municipalities :Populations are for 2001.* L'Aldea - pop. 3590* Aldover - pop. 814* Alfara de Carles - pop. 377* L'Ametlla de Mar - pop. 5835* L'Ampolla - pop. 2133...
and MontsiàMontsiàMontsià is the southernmost comarca of Catalonia in Spain. Its capital and largest city is Amposta.-History:The Montsià was first established as a separate administrative comarca in 1936 and was named after the Serra del Montsià mountain range...
. - the basin of the SegreSegreSegre may be* Beniamino Segre , Italian geometer* Corrado Segre , Italian geometer distantly related to Beniamino* Emilio Segrè , Italian American physicist* Segre River, a river in Catalonia...
and its affluents, which roughly corresponds, in CataloniaCataloniaCatalonia is an autonomous community in northeastern Spain, with the official status of a "nationality" of Spain. Catalonia comprises four provinces: Barcelona, Girona, Lleida, and Tarragona. Its capital and largest city is Barcelona. Catalonia covers an area of 32,114 km² and has an...
, with the province of LleidaLleida (province)thumb|250px|Monastery of [[Santa Maria de Bellpuig de les Avellanes]].Lleida is a province of north-eastern Spain, in the western part of the autonomous community of Catalonia. It is bordered by the provinces of Girona, Barcelona, Tarragona, Zaragoza and Huesca and the countries of France and...
: the basin of the Segre also covers much of AragonAragonAragon 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...
.
- the lower basin of the Ebre itself, which corresponds with the comarques
- Rivers of the western Pyrenees: MugaMugaThe Muga is a river in Catalonia which rises in the Alberes mountains of the eastern Pyrenees and enters the sea at the Gulf of Roses.The river is 58 km long with its source below the summit of Montnegre...
, FluviàFluviàThe Fluvià is a river in Catalonia. It rises in the Serralada Transversal, passes through Olot, and flows into the Mediterranean Sea near Sant Pere Pescador.- See also :* List of rivers of Spain...
, Ter, roughly corresponding with the province of GironaGirona (province)Girona is a province of north-eastern Spain, in the northern part of the autonomous community of Catalonia. It is bordered by the provinces of Barcelona and Lleida, and by France and the Mediterranean Sea.... - Rivers of the Prelitteral Range: TorderaTorderaTordera is a town in the comarca of Maresme, province of Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, situated 64 km from Barcelona and 36 km from Girona on the edge of the Montnegre natural park...
, BesòsBesòsThe Besòs is a river flowing through Catalonia, Spain, formed by the confluence of the Mogent and Congost rivers. It ends in the Mediterranean. Its full watershed includes the following cities: Aiguafreda, La Garriga, Sant Fost de Campsantelles, Canovelles, Granollers, Montmeló, Mollet del Vallès,...
, FoixFoixFoix is a commune, the capital of the Ariège department in southwestern France. It is the least populous administrative centre of a department in all of France, although it is only very slightly smaller than Privas...
, GaiàGaiàGaià is a village in the province of Barcelona and autonomous community of Catalonia, Spain....
, FrancolíFrancolíThe Francolí is a river in Catalonia . Its source is in the Prades Mountains and it flows into the Mediterranean Sea at Tarragona.... - Rivers of the Coastal Range: these are very short and of only local importance
The Llobregat
Llobregat
The Llobregat is the second longest river in Catalonia, Spain. It originates in Castellar de n'Hug at an altitude of 1,259 meters in the Serra del Cadí, and ends in the Mediterranean Sea, in the municipality of El Prat de Llobregat, near Barcelona...
deserves a special mention because of its importance: its basin covers most of the province of Barcelona
Barcelona (province)
Barcelona is a province of eastern Spain, in the center of the autonomous community of Catalonia.-Overview:It is bordered by the provinces of Tarragona, Lleida, and Girona, and by the Mediterranean Sea....
. It source is in the pyreneean Serra del Cadí
Serra del Cadí
The Serra del Cadí is a mountain range running north of Catalonia, Spain, part of the Pre-Pyrenees. Its highest peak is the Vulturó, with an altitude of 2,648 metres....
in the municipality of Castellar de n'Hug
Castellar de n'Hug
Castellar de n'Hug is a municipality in the comarca of the Berguedà inCatalonia. It is situated on the southern slopes of the pyrenean range of the Creueta. TheLlobregat river has its source on the territory of the municipality...
(Berguedà
Berguedà
Berguedà is a comarca in the interior of Catalonia, Spain, lying partly in the Pyrenees and partly in Catalonia's Depressió Central.-Geography:...
) and its valley is one the main north-south communication routes in Catalonia.
The Aran Valley is the upper valley of the Garonne
Garonne
The Garonne is a river in southwest France and northern Spain, with a length of .-Source:The Garonne's headwaters are to be found in the Aran Valley in the Pyrenees, though three different locations have been proposed as the true source: the Uelh deth Garona at Plan de Beret , the Ratera-Saboredo...
(la Garona in Catalan
Catalan language
Catalan is a Romance language, the national and only official language of Andorra and a co-official language in the Spanish autonomous communities of Catalonia, the Balearic Islands and Valencian Community, where it is known as Valencian , as well as in the city of Alghero, on the Italian island...
, era Garona in Aranese
Aranese language
Aranese is a standardized form of the Pyrenean Gascon variety of the Occitan language spoken in the Val d'Aran, in north western Catalonia on the border between Spain and France, where it is one of the three official languages besides Catalan and Spanish...
), an Atlanic river which meets the sea near Bordeaux
Bordeaux
Bordeaux is a port city on the Garonne River in the Gironde department in southwestern France.The Bordeaux-Arcachon-Libourne metropolitan area, has a population of 1,010,000 and constitutes the sixth-largest urban area in France. It is the capital of the Aquitaine region, as well as the prefecture...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. The boundaries of the comarca do not correspond exactly with the watershed
Drainage basin
A drainage basin is an extent or an area of land where surface water from rain and melting snow or ice converges to a single point, usually the exit of the basin, where the waters join another waterbody, such as a river, lake, reservoir, estuary, wetland, sea, or ocean...
, and both the Noguera Ribagorçana
Noguera Ribagorçana
The Noguera Ribagorzana or Noguera Ribagorçana is a river in northern Spain. For much of its course of 130 km it forms the administrative boundary between Catalonia and Aragon...
and the Noguera Pallaresa
Noguera Pallaresa
The Noguera Pallaresa is a river in Catalonia, Spain. Its source is at Era Font d'era Noguereta in the municipality of Naut Aran at an elevation of about 2000 m and barely a hundred meters from those of the Garonne...
have their sources on its territory.
The frontier between Catalonia and the Valencian Community
Valencian Community
The Valencian Community is an autonomous community of Spain located in central and south-eastern Iberian Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Valencia...
is formed for much of its length by the Sénia
Senia
Senia may refer to:* Count of Senia, a title of Maltese nobility* Es Sénia, a commune in Algeria...
, while the Noguera Ribagorçana
Noguera Ribagorçana
The Noguera Ribagorzana or Noguera Ribagorçana is a river in northern Spain. For much of its course of 130 km it forms the administrative boundary between Catalonia and Aragon...
forms the frontier with Aragon for much of its length.
List
Rivers are listed according to their estuaries, from north to south along the Catalan coastline, or according to the point of confluence, from the sea to the source, for rivers which do not flow directly into the sea. Names are given in CatalanCatalan language
Catalan is a Romance language, the national and only official language of Andorra and a co-official language in the Spanish autonomous communities of Catalonia, the Balearic Islands and Valencian Community, where it is known as Valencian , as well as in the city of Alghero, on the Italian island...
with the appropriate definite article
Definite Article
Definite Article is the title of British comedian Eddie Izzard's 1996 performance released on VHS. It was recorded on different nights at the Shaftesbury Theatre...
: Spanish
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
names are given in parentheses. Catalan names are usually preferred in English language
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
works, except for the Ebre which is usually referred to by its Spanish name Ebro: the Segre may also be referred to by its Spanish name, Segro, in older works.
- la MugaMugaThe Muga is a river in Catalonia which rises in the Alberes mountains of the eastern Pyrenees and enters the sea at the Gulf of Roses.The river is 58 km long with its source below the summit of Montnegre...
- el FluviàFluviàThe Fluvià is a river in Catalonia. It rises in the Serralada Transversal, passes through Olot, and flows into the Mediterranean Sea near Sant Pere Pescador.- See also :* List of rivers of Spain...
- el Ter
- la Tordera
- el Besòs
- el Congost
- el Ripoll
- el LlobregatLlobregatThe Llobregat is the second longest river in Catalonia, Spain. It originates in Castellar de n'Hug at an altitude of 1,259 meters in the Serra del Cadí, and ends in the Mediterranean Sea, in the municipality of El Prat de Llobregat, near Barcelona...
- l'Anoia
- el CardenerCardenerThe Cardener is a river in Catalonia, Spain. Its source is at Les Fonts del Cardener in themunicipality of La Coma i la Pedra at an elevation of 1050 m. It drains a basin of1500 km²...
- la Gavarresa
- el FoixFoix RiverThe Foix is a river in Catalonia, northeastern Spain. It flows into the Mediterranean Sea at Vilanova i la Geltrú.- See also :* List of rivers of Spain...
- el GaiàGaiàGaià is a village in the province of Barcelona and autonomous community of Catalonia, Spain....
- el FrancolíFrancolíThe Francolí is a river in Catalonia . Its source is in the Prades Mountains and it flows into the Mediterranean Sea at Tarragona....
- el EbroEbroThe 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....
- el Segre
- la Noguera Ribagorzana
- el Corb
- el Sió
- la Noguera PallaresaNoguera PallaresaThe Noguera Pallaresa is a river in Catalonia, Spain. Its source is at Era Font d'era Noguereta in the municipality of Naut Aran at an elevation of about 2000 m and barely a hundred meters from those of the Garonne...
- el CincaCincaCinca can refer to:* Cinca , a river in Aragon, Spain* Cinca River...
- el Rialb
- el Llobregós
- la ValiraValiraValira may refer to:* Valira, Greece* Gran Valira, the largest river in Andorra...
- el Segre
- la Sénia
Linguistic note
The Catalan languageCatalan language
Catalan is a Romance language, the national and only official language of Andorra and a co-official language in the Spanish autonomous communities of Catalonia, the Balearic Islands and Valencian Community, where it is known as Valencian , as well as in the city of Alghero, on the Italian island...
has two words for "river", riu and riera. The word riera is used for smaller rivers and for streams, and often indicates a seasonal river. Of the above list, only the Gavarresa is commonly classified as a riera, all the others being qualified as rius. The grammatical gender
Grammatical gender
Grammatical gender is defined linguistically as a system of classes of nouns which trigger specific types of inflections in associated words, such as adjectives, verbs and others. For a system of noun classes to be a gender system, every noun must belong to one of the classes and there should be...
of Anoia is feminine, while that of Ebre is masculine.
Economic importance
The main economic importance of the Catalan rivers is probably the role of their valleys as communication routes, particularly through the Coastal and Prelitteral Ranges. Hence routes inland from BarcelonaBarcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
pass either through the valley of the Llobregat
Llobregat
The Llobregat is the second longest river in Catalonia, Spain. It originates in Castellar de n'Hug at an altitude of 1,259 meters in the Serra del Cadí, and ends in the Mediterranean Sea, in the municipality of El Prat de Llobregat, near Barcelona...
or that of the Besòs
Besòs
The Besòs is a river flowing through Catalonia, Spain, formed by the confluence of the Mogent and Congost rivers. It ends in the Mediterranean. Its full watershed includes the following cities: Aiguafreda, La Garriga, Sant Fost de Campsantelles, Canovelles, Granollers, Montmeló, Mollet del Vallès,...
, and the Francolí
Francolí
The Francolí is a river in Catalonia . Its source is in the Prades Mountains and it flows into the Mediterranean Sea at Tarragona....
valley is an important route inland from Tarragona
Tarragona
Tarragona is a city located in the south of Catalonia on the north-east of Spain, by the Mediterranean. It is the capital of the Spanish province of the same name and the capital of the Catalan comarca Tarragonès. In the medieval and modern times it was the capital of the Vegueria of Tarragona...
.
Irrigation
IrrigationIrrigation
Irrigation may be defined as the science of artificial application of water to the land or soil. It is used to assist in the growing of agricultural crops, maintenance of landscapes, and revegetation of disturbed soils in dry areas and during periods of inadequate rainfall...
is important in the drier areas of Catalonia, notably in the Central Depression and in the south. The Canal de Aragó i Catalunya and the Canal d'Urgell distribute the waters of the Segre
Segre
Segre may be* Beniamino Segre , Italian geometer* Corrado Segre , Italian geometer distantly related to Beniamino* Emilio Segrè , Italian American physicist* Segre River, a river in Catalonia...
across the comarques
Comarques of Catalonia
This is a list of the comarques of Catalonia . A comarca is roughly equivalent to a US "county" or a UK "district". However, in the context of Catalonia, the term "county" can be a bit misleading, because in medieval Catalonia, the most important rulers were counts, notably the Counts of Barcelona...
of Noguera
Noguera (comarca)
Noguera is a comarca in Catalonia, Spain. It is the largest comarca and its area represents some 5,56% of Catalonia. Noguera is part of the historical county of Urgell and currently belongs to the Lleida province. Its capital is Balaguer....
and Segrià
Segrià
Segrià is a comarca in the west of Catalonia, Spain, bordering Aragon. , over two thirds of its population live in the capital city of Lleida, which is also Catalonia's largest municipality, and remains the most populated comarca in the Lleida province. It takes its name from the river Segre.-...
where it is used for
growing cereals, almonds and olives. Irrigation is also important in the comarques of Baix Ebre
Baix Ebre
Baix Ebre is a comarca , on the coast in southern Catalonia, Spain.- Municipalities :Populations are for 2001.* L'Aldea - pop. 3590* Aldover - pop. 814* Alfara de Carles - pop. 377* L'Ametlla de Mar - pop. 5835* L'Ampolla - pop. 2133...
and Montsià
Montsià
Montsià is the southernmost comarca of Catalonia in Spain. Its capital and largest city is Amposta.-History:The Montsià was first established as a separate administrative comarca in 1936 and was named after the Serra del Montsià mountain range...
, where the cultivation of rice is widespread.
Hydroelectric generation
All of the larger Catalan rivers, with the exception of the Llobregat, have been dammed for hydroelectric power. By far the largest dams are those on the Ebre at Riba-roja and at FlixFlix
Flix is a town in the comarca of Ribera d'Ebre, Catalonia. Situated on a promontory by the Ebre river, the town occupied an important strategic position...
(Ribera d'Ebre
Ribera d'Ebre
Ribera d'Ebre is a comarca in Catalonia, Spain. The name in Catalan refers to its location on the banks of the river Ebre, usually referred to in English by its Spanish name, "Ebro.- Municipalities :Populations are from 2001.* Ascó - pop. 1,617...
). Other dams include
- on the Noguera PallaresaNoguera PallaresaThe Noguera Pallaresa is a river in Catalonia, Spain. Its source is at Era Font d'era Noguereta in the municipality of Naut Aran at an elevation of about 2000 m and barely a hundred meters from those of the Garonne...
: Sallente, Cabdella, Molinos, Tavascan, La Pobla de SegurLa Pobla de SegurLa Pobla de Segur is a town and municipality located in the comarca of Pallars Jussà, province of Lleida, Catalonia, in northern Spain. According to the 2009 census , the town has a population of 3,237 inhabitants. It is situated at the confluence of the Flamicell and Noguera Pallaresa rivers in...
, TalarnTalarnTalarn is a municipality in the comarca of the Pallars Jussà in Catalonia, Spain. It is situated in the centre of the Tremp basin, on the Noguera Pallaresa river below the Sant Antoni reservoir. It is the site of a hydroelectric power station and of a training school of the Spanish army...
(Pallars JussàPallars JussàPallars Jussà is a comarca in Catalonia, Spain. It was established as a comarca in 1936, out of the old county of Pallars. The name means "Lower Pallars"; to the northeast and into the mountains is Pallars Sobirà. Its capital and largest municipality is Tremp.-Municipalities:Populations are...
), Terradets (ÀgerÀgerÀger is a municipality in the comarca of the Noguera in Catalonia, Spain. It is situated in the north-west of the comarca, and the territory of the municipality stretches between the Noguera Ribagorçana and Noguera Pallaresa rivers. The Terradets reservoir on the Noguera Pallaresa is situated...
, Noguera) - on the Noguera RibagorçanaNoguera RibagorçanaThe Noguera Ribagorzana or Noguera Ribagorçana is a river in northern Spain. For much of its course of 130 km it forms the administrative boundary between Catalonia and Aragon...
: Escales (below Pont de Suert, Alta RibagorçaAlta RibagorçaAlta Ribagorça is one of the comarques of Catalonia, Spain. Its capital is Pont de Suert. The highest peak is the Comaloformo in the massif of Bessiberri. Northeast of the region is the western part of the National Aiguas Tortas and Lake of San Mauricio...
), Santa Anna, Moralets, Baserca (Ivars de NogueraIvars de NogueraIvars de Noguera is a municipality in the comarca of the Noguera in Catalonia, Spain. It is situated on the left bank of the Noguera Ribagorçana river below the Santa Anna reservoir....
) - on the Segre: OlianaOlianaOliana is a municipality in the comarca of the Alt Urgell inCatalonia, Spain. It is situated in the Segre valley immediately below the Oliana reservoir....
(Alt UrgellAlt UrgellAlt Urgell is a comarca in Catalonia, Spain, a modern representation of part of the historic County of Urgell , seat of the Counts of Urgell and the historic region of Urgellet.- Municipalities :...
), SeròsSeròsSeròs is a municipality in the comarca of the Segrià in Catalonia, Spain. It is situated on the right bank of the Segre river in the south-west of the comarca. The Aragon and Catalonia canal provides irrigation water for growing fruit...
(Segrià) - on the TerTerTer is a prefix or suffix designating the third instance of a thing, thus following bis and preceding quater.Ter can also refer to:* River Ter, in Essex;* Ter , the debut album of American rock band Sweet Water...
: Sau (Vilanova de SauVilanova de SauVilanova de Sau is a town in the comarca of the Osona in Catalonia, eastern Spain. It is situated in the valley called Sau. The Ter river runs through the valley, now damed into a reservoir which is in the municipal territory of Vilanova de Sau, and is a tourist attraction and base for water...
, OsonaOsonaCounty of Osona was one of the Catalan counties of the Marca Hispanica in the Early and High Middle Ages. It was based around the capital city of Vic and the corresponding diocese, whose territory was roughly the current comarca of Osona....
), SusquedaSusquedaSusqueda is a municipality in the comarca of the Selva in Catalonia, Spain. It is located in the Guilleries Massif area, on the left bank of the Ter river in the north-west of the comarca. The Susqueda reservoir is on the municipal territory, and the associated hydroelectric power station is an...
(SelvaSelvaSelva is a coastal comarca in Catalonia, Spain, located between the mountain range known as the Serralada Transversal or Puigsacalm and the Costa Brava . Unusually, it is divided between the provinces of Girona and Barcelona, with Fogars de la Selva being part of Barcelona province, and all other...
)