The Ebro (Catalan: Ebre) is Spain's most voluminous and second longest river. It starts at Fontibre (in the province of Cantabria) and passes Miranda de Ebro, Logroño, Zaragoza, Flix, Tortosa, and Amposta before ending in a delta on the Mediterranean Sea in the province of Tarragona.

Name

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The river is called Έβρος in Greek and Iberus in Latin. The Latin name may be related to that of Iberia, developing from the name of the pre-Romanic Iberians (and Celtiberians). It is based on the Basque word ibar which means 'valley'.

History

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One of the earliest Cistercian monasteries in Spain, Real Monasterio de Nuestra Senora de Rueda (Royal Monastery of Our Lady of the Wheel), is located on the banks of the Ebro in Aragon. This edifice survives to the present intact, having been established in the year 1202. The monastery is strongly connected to the Ebro, since it used one of the first large waterwheels established in Spain for the production of power. The monastery also diverts flow from the Ebro to create a circulating hydrological central heating system for its buildings.

Geography

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Delta

The Ebro Delta is one of the largest wetland areas (320 km²) in the western Mediterranean region. The Ebro delta has grown rapidly—the historical rate of growth of the delta is demonstrated by the town of Amposta. This town was a seaport in the 4th Century, and is now located well inland from the current Ebro river mouth. The rounded form of the delta attests to the balance between sediment deposition by the Ebro and removal of this material by wave erosion.

The modern delta is in intensive agricultural use for rice, fruit, and vegetables. The Ebro delta also hosts numerous beaches, marshes, and salt pans that provide habitat for over 300 species of birds. A large part of the delta was designated as Ebro Delta Natural Park in 1983. A network of canals and irrigation ditches constructed by both agricultural and conservation groups are helping to maintain the ecologic and economic resources of the Ebro Delta.

Tributaries

• Oca (left)
• Nela (right)
• Jerea (r)
• Bayas (r)
• Zadorra (r)
• Oja (l)
• Tirón (l)
• Najerilla (l)
• Iregua (l)
• Ega (r)
• Cidacos (l)
• Alhama (l)
• Aragón (r)
  • Arga
  • Irati
• Arba
• Jalón (l)
  • Jiloca
• Huerva (l)
• Gállego (r)
• Martín (l)
• Guadalope (l)
• Segre (r)
  • Cinca
    • Isábena
      • Ésera
  • Noguera
    • Noguera Pallaresa
    • Noguera Ribagorçana
  • Valira
• Matarraña (l)

Ecology

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The zebra mussel is an invasive species that is extending upstream in Ebro waters.

In popular culture

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The valley of this river is the setting for the short story Hills Like White Elephants by Ernest Hemingway.

External links

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• The River Ebro and Delta
• The Ebro Delta from Space
• The Ebro Delta at Google Maps

See also

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Hydrological transport model

References

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Rivers of Spain | Ebro basin

Ebro | Эбра | Ebre | Ebro | Ebro | Ebro | Ebro | Èbre | Río Ebro | Ebro | אברו | Ebro | エブロ川 | Ebro | Ebro | Rio Ebro | Ebro | Эбро (река) | Ebro | Ebro | Ebro | Ебро