Alcañiz facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Alcañiz
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 Alcañiz
Location in Aragon
Alcañiz
Location in Spain
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| Country |  Spain |
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| Autonomous community |  Aragon |
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| Province | Teruel | ||
| Comarca | Bajo Aragón | ||
| Judicial district | Alcañiz | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 472.12 km2 (182.29 sq mi) | ||
| Elevation | 340 m (1,120 ft) | ||
| Population
(2019)
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| • Total | 15 947 | ||
| Demonym(s) | Alcañizano | ||
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) | ||
| Postal code |
44600
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Alcañiz is a lively town and municipality in the Province of Teruel in Aragon, Spain. It sits right by the Guadalope River. Many people consider Alcañiz the unofficial capital of the Lower Aragon region. It's about 113 kilometers (70 miles) from Teruel, the main city of the province. It's also 92 kilometers (57 miles) from Zaragoza, the capital of Aragon.
Alcañiz is the main town of the Bajo Aragón area. It is the second-largest city in the Teruel province, after Teruel itself.
Contents
A Look Back in Time: Alcañiz's History
The town of Alcañiz as we know it today began during the time of Islamic rule in Spain.
Battles and Changes in Control
Christian troops led by Alfonso I of Aragon first captured Alcañiz in 1119. However, it was later taken back by the Moors. The town was conquered again by Ramon Berenguer IV of Barcelona in 1157. It was lost once more before his son, Alfonso II of Aragon, finally recaptured it. In 1179, Alfonso II gave the town to a special group of knights called the military Order of Calatrava.
Later, during the Peninsular War, a big battle happened in Alcañiz on May 23, 1809. Spanish forces, led by General Blake, fought against French troops. The French were commanded by General Suchet. During the time the French were in charge, General Suchet made Alcañiz the capital of its own province. This new province was short-lived, but it brought the Lower Aragon region together for a while. However, when Spain was divided into new provinces in 1833, Alcañiz was not chosen to be a provincial capital.
The Old Railway Line
There used to be a railway line connecting Alcañiz to Tortosa. This line was meant to give Aragon a new way to reach the sea. Work on the railway started in 1891. It took a long time, and the first trains between Alcañiz and Tortosa didn't run until 1942. The very last part of the line, from Tortosa to Sant Carles de la Ràpita, was never finished. The railway line was eventually closed down in 1973.
Jewish Community in Alcañiz
In 1380, several Jewish families living near Alcañiz came together to form a community. This community was protected by the Order of Calatrava. Even during difficult times in 1391, the Jewish community in Alcañiz was kept safe. A famous person from Alcañiz was Joshua Lorki, a Jewish scholar who later converted to Christianity. He was involved in important discussions between Christian and Jewish scholars. Over time, many Jewish people in the town chose to become Christian.
Population of Alcañiz
The word "demography" means the study of how populations change. In 2018, the population of Alcañiz was 15,939 people. The table below shows how the number of people living in Alcañiz has changed over many years.
| 1857 | 1860 | 1877 | 1897 | 1900 | 1910 | 1920 | 1930 | 1940 | 1950 | 1960 | 1970 | 1981 | 1991 | 2001 | 2011 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7,522 | 7,619 | 7,327 | 7,433 | 7,699 | 8,397 | 8,596 | 8,961 | 8,691 | 9,812 | 10,166 | 10,851 | 11,639 | 12,820 | 13,431 | 16,402 | 15,947 |
Geography and Climate
Alcañiz has a semi-arid climate. This means it has moderately cool winters with some rain. Summers are hot and mostly dry, with only a little rain and occasional thunderstorms. Heavy rains usually happen in spring and autumn, especially in May, October, and November.
It snows about once a year in Alcañiz. Some years might not have any snow, while others could have a few snowy days. Very heavy snow is rare.
| Climate data for Alcañiz, Teruel. 340 metres (1,120 ft) above sea level | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 12 (54) |
14 (57) |
17 (63) |
19 (66) |
24 (75) |
29 (84) |
32 (90) |
32 (90) |
27 (81) |
22 (72) |
16 (61) |
13 (55) |
21 (71) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 7.5 (45.5) |
8.5 (47.3) |
11.0 (51.8) |
13.0 (55.4) |
17.5 (63.5) |
22.0 (71.6) |
24.5 (76.1) |
25.0 (77.0) |
21.0 (69.8) |
17.0 (62.6) |
11.5 (52.7) |
8.5 (47.3) |
15.6 (60.1) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 3 (37) |
4 (39) |
5 (41) |
7 (45) |
11 (52) |
15 (59) |
17 (63) |
18 (64) |
15 (59) |
12 (54) |
7 (45) |
4 (39) |
10 (50) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 25 (1.0) |
22 (0.9) |
21 (0.8) |
34 (1.3) |
37 (1.5) |
21 (0.8) |
11 (0.4) |
14 (0.6) |
22 (0.9) |
28 (1.1) |
30 (1.2) |
26 (1.0) |
291 (11.5) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 1 mm) | 3.3 | 2.9 | 3.0 | 4.0 | 5.0 | 3.4 | 3.2 | 3.2 | 3.5 | 3.8 | 2.7 | 3.1 | 41.1 |
| Average snowy days | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.3 | 1 |
| Mean monthly sunshine hours | 171 | 171 | 215 | 234 | 259 | 276 | 315 | 288 | 235 | 202 | 167 | 155 | 2,696 |
| Source: Meteoblue | |||||||||||||
Main Sights to See
Alcañiz has many interesting places to visit:
- Castle of the Calatravos: This old castle has been a Parador (a type of luxury hotel in historic buildings) since 1968.
- Church of Santa María la Mayor: This church has a beautiful medieval Gothic tower.
- Lonja de Alcañiz: A historic building that was once a market or exchange.
- Casa Consistorial (Town Hall): Built between 1565 and 1570, this is the town's official government building.
- Underground passage: There's a secret underground passage that connects the Town Hall to the Church and the main street.
- A few kilometers from the city, you can find amazing rock paintings at the Val del Charco del Agua Amarga. These paintings are part of a UNESCO Heritage Site called Rock Art of the Mediterranean Basin on the Iberian Peninsula.
Notable People from Alcañiz
- Domingo Andrés (1525–1599): A smart writer and poet who lived a long time ago.
See Also
In Spanish: Alcañiz para niños
- Ciudad del Motor de Aragón
- Lower Aragon
