Barxas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Barxas |
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| Country | Portugal, Spain |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Sierra del Laboreiro Portugal |
| River mouth | Minho 42°9′15″N 8°11′54″W / 42.15417°N 8.19833°W |
| Length | 14 km (8.7 mi) |
| Basin features | |
| River system | Minho |
The Barxas river, also known as Trancoso or Troncoso, is a small but important river. It flows in the northwestern part of the Iberian Peninsula. This area includes both Portugal and Spain. The Barxas is a "tributary" of the Minho River. A tributary is a smaller river or stream that flows into a larger river.
The Barxas river is special because it is an "international river." This means it flows through or forms a border between two or more countries. For most of its lower part, the Barxas river creates the border between Portugal and Spain. This border area is often called the Raia in Portuguese or Raya in Spanish.
Contents
Where Does the Barxas River Flow?
The Barxas river is located in the northwestern part of the Iberian Peninsula. This peninsula is a large landmass in Europe that includes Spain and Portugal. The river starts in the Sierra del Laboreiro mountains. These mountains are found in Portugal.
The river then flows towards the Minho River. The Minho River is a much larger river. The Barxas river joins the Minho River as a "left-bank tributary." This means it flows into the Minho River from the left side if you are looking downstream.
The Border River: Portugal and Spain
A big part of the Barxas river's journey is along the border. It separates the Portuguese town of Melgaço from the Spanish town of Padrenda. This makes the river a natural dividing line between the two countries.
The border doesn't follow the river for its entire length. Near where the river starts, the border leaves the water. Instead, it follows the tops of the Laboreiro mountains. This part of the border is called the 'dry' Raia. It means the border is on land, not along a river.
How Long is the Barxas River?
The Barxas river is not very long. It has a total length of about 14 kilometers (which is about 8.7 miles). Even though it's short, it plays an important role in the geography of the region. It helps define the border between Portugal and Spain.
See also
In Spanish: Río Troncoso para niños
