Rich in legends and landscapes, the Ebro river It immerses us in the imagination of beautiful landscapes, valleys, mountains and beautiful cities, having the privilege of seeing it travel its 930 km in length, making it the longest river in Spain. In second place, behind the Duero river in the Iberian Peninsula.
In this article we are going to tell you everything you need to know about the Ebro River, its characteristics, mouth and much more.
Key features
The Ebro River is considered the longest and largest river in Spain and its route is entirely within Spanish territory, which is one of the most important characteristics since it ranks first in the world in this line.
As for the location of the Ebro River, many people wonder where the Ebro River starts. It is born in Cantabria, and the Ebro river flows through the Mediterranean Sea to Tarragona, Spain. The course of the Ebro river begins at Pico Tres Mares at 2.175 meters above sea level, at the divide between three different basins of the Sierra de Hijar, where the water descends down the slope towards three seas that border the peninsula, the The Nanza and Cantabrian rivers are bordered by the sea, the Pisurga river is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean, and the Ebro river is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea.
It passes through the Campoo Los Valles or Valle de Campoo area until reaching the Ebro Gorge in the province of Burgos. It is also important to mention that the Ebro Valley It is an area rich in biodiversity and culture, which highlights the characteristics of rivers in Spain.
Departure from Burgos to La Rioja in the Spanish Community, from where Las Conchas de Haro or Conchas de Ebro is formed, a natural limestone pass that gives life to an incomparable natural landscape, which runs through several cities in Spain until reaching Logroño, the capital of La Rioja. From the latter to Navarra, it bathes in several towns along the way, each with its own character and history, until reaching Catalonia. In addition, the winds that impact this region can influence the natural environment. It is also important to know the hydrographic basins of Spain that are part of this landscape.
Mouth of the Ebro River
The mouth of the Ebro River is in the town of Tarragona, forming a delta at the mouth of the Mediterranean Sea. There is the largest island of Buda in Catalonia, and the flow of the river is divided into two arms called Golas Norte and Golas Sur. There is also the Ebro Delta Natural Park, which covers 20% of the delta and benefits from being a legally protected area. The Segura river still comes from this sea.
Created in 1983, the park is the largest wetland in Catalonia, with 7.802 hectares; agricultural areas, especially rice fields, occupy the remaining 80%, totaling more than 21.000 hectares, which says a lot about the importance of these crops in the region.
The flow of the Ebro river is about 600 cubic meters per second, but it stands out for its variability, since it can go from 440 cubic meters in one month to 2896 cubic meters in another. River floods are more frequent during the cold season, the most notable and destructive being those that occur in Castejón and Zaragoza, which has also been documented in the flooding of the Ebro River and impact in Zaragoza.
There has been a significant decrease since the 1960s (18.286,7 hm3/year) until this year 2017, the town of El Pilar had a minimum emission of 35 m3/s. The Duero is not in good condition, with a flow of 6 m3/s in August this year.
The Orinoco River was declared on alert for high water levels, as it came very close to surpassing the 1976 record when it reached more than 35 meters high, causing flooding in low-lying areas. To better understand the effects of climate change, it is also important to review the consequences that take place in other regions.
Ebro river basin
It is triangle and It has an area of 85.362 square kilometers and has a larger share in Spain. It also plays in a handful of venues in Andorra and France. Its most populous region or city is Zaragoza, which currently has over 700.000 inhabitants (2017). The largest river basin in the world is the Amazon River, which covers an area of 6,1 million square kilometers.
An estimated 1,7 million tourists visit the lower Ebro each year, both walking and traveling, using its thermal baths, fishing and camping to practice extreme sports such as canyoning, rafting, kayaking, and more. However, it is also vital to know the differences between estuaries and deltas, as well as the importance of learn interesting facts about the world.
Threats
The threats facing the Ebro River are many, including pollution, subsidence, and flooding, which threaten and cause numerous disasters, as detailed below. Zaragoza was the latest place to be affected by the river's severe flooding, which is becoming more frequent due to the continuous rains and the lack of foresight of residents, as well as the neglect of the state and the lack of a dredging program. which caused severe material and human damage, cleaning and protection of the river. This issue is crucial, especially when considering the impact of flooding and its relationship to climate change.
The possibility of sinking in the Ebro Delta is not far off, with at less than 50% of its surface below sea level. This is due to its sensitivity to climate change, which causes rising sea levels. Agricultural, livestock, and industrial activities continue to wreak havoc on the basin. In Spain, the Ebro river ecosystem is deteriorating, and the quality of the water supply for the basin's inhabitants is worsening. These are crucial to understanding the overall context.
The presence of nitrates, ammonium, nitrite, pesticides, and other elements in 3 million hectares of arable land also contributes to the deterioration of soil, reservoirs, and other sources. These can be seen in many rivers in the Americas, Europe, and other continents; in Argentina, the Paraná River is one of them. To better understand the context of water quality in Spanish rivers, it is useful to consult the .
dams
Contrary to the benefits of having more than 457 waterfalls and hydroelectric plants, it is considered a threat to the normal life of the river and its inhabitants, especially in Ribarroja, Flix and Mequinenza in the Lower Ebro. In addition to the existing one, Spain has proposed a hydrological plan for 2010-2015, in which it is planned to install more hydroelectric plants for increase its current capacity of 3.894,5 Mw, using 38.000 hm3 of water per year, which could significantly affect the ecosystem of the Ebro River.
As you can see, there are many reasons why this river is the most important in Spain. I hope that with this information you can learn more about the Ebro River, its characteristics and the importance of its mouth.
