kids encyclopedia robot

El Oso, Ávila facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
El Oso
Municipality and Town
1. Centro lagunas de la moraña.png
El Oso is located in Castile and León
El Oso
El Oso
Location in Castile and León
El Oso is located in Spain
El Oso
El Oso
Location in Spain
Country  Spain
Autonomous community  Castile and León
Province  Ávila
Municipality El Oso
Area
 • Total 18.49 km2 (7.14 sq mi)
Elevation
893 m (2,930 ft)
Population
 (2018)
 • Total 172
 • Density 9.302/km2 (24.09/sq mi)
Time zone UTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST) UTC+2 (CEST)

El Oso is a small town and a municipality in Spain. It is located in the province of Ávila, which is part of the Castile and León region. In 2018, about 172 people lived there.

The name El Oso means "the bear" in Spanish. This interesting name comes from a special stone monument found near the town's church.

The Mystery of the Bear Stone

The town of El Oso gets its name from a large, ancient stone monument. This monument is located just outside the local church. Even though the town is called "the bear," this stone might not have been made to look like a bear at all!

What is a Verraco?

The monument in El Oso is known as a Verraco. A verraco is a type of prehistoric stone sculpture. These sculptures are often found in central Spain and Portugal. They usually look like animals, especially pigs or boars. The word "verraco" itself is the Spanish word for a boar.

Local Legends

Despite the monument likely being a boar, local stories in El Oso say it represents a bear. This is why the town is called "the bear." It's a fun example of how old legends can shape a place's identity!

Find Out More

A friendly robot to help you learn more!

kids search engine
El Oso, Ávila Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.