Irati (river) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Iratiko erreka |
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The gorges of Foz de Lumbier
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Course of the Irati in the Ebro basin
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| Country | Spain |
| Region | Sangüesa, Navarre |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | confluence Urtxuria and Urbeltza, Irati Forest 42°58′16″N 1°2′53″W / 42.97111°N 1.04806°W |
| River mouth | Aragón north of Sangüesa 400 m (1,300 ft) 42°35′26″N 1°16′24″W / 42.59056°N 1.27333°W |
| Length | 83.8 km (52.1 mi) |
| Basin features | |
| Progression | Aragón→ Ebro→ Mediterranean Sea |
| Basin size | 522.28 km2 (201.65 sq mi) |
The Irati River (Basque: Iratiko erreka) is an important river in Navarre, Spain. It's a "tributary," which means it's a smaller river that flows into a bigger one. The Irati flows into the Aragon River near Sangüesa. This river starts in the beautiful Irati Forest and helps fill the Itoiz reservoir.
The Irati River's Journey
The Irati River begins where two smaller rivers meet. These are the Urbeltza and Urtxuria rivers. Their names mean "black waters" and "white waters" in the Basque language. This meeting point is deep inside the Irati Forest.
As it flows, the Irati River gets water from a French river called l'Iratiko. A little further on, the river forms a pond called Lake Irabia. This pond was created in 1921. Another river, the Urrio, also flows into Lake Irabia from the north.
The Irati then travels through areas like Aezkoa and Oroz-Betelu. Along the way, it creates amazing views. It then reaches the Itoiz reservoir, where it is joined by the Urrobi and the Erro rivers.
Later, the Irati River meets the Areta and the Salazar rivers. Right after this, it enters the stunning gorges of Foz de Lumbier. Finally, after flowing for about 88 kilometers (55 miles), the Irati River joins the Aragon River.
Why the Irati River is Important
The Irati River is very special because its waters are clean and full of life. It has lots of plants along its banks and many fish. This makes it a great place for recreational fishing, which means fishing for fun. Because it's so important, the European Union has declared it a special area.
The river has also been used for making electricity for a long time. In 1911, a company called Irati S.A. started using the river's power. This company even gave its name to an electric train that used to run from Pamplona to Sangüesa. The Irabia dam was built around this time. It was made bigger more than five times to make sure there was enough water to float wood down the river to the Ekai sawmill.
Even today, you can still see old tubes, pipes, canals, and power plants along the river. These show how well these structures were built many years ago.
See also
In Spanish: Río Irati para niños
