Izki (river) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Izki |
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View of the Aranbaltza reservoir
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| Country | Spain |
| Autonomous community | Basque Country |
| Province | Álava |
| Physical characteristics | |
| River mouth | Ega river near Bujanda |
| Length | 15.74 km (9.78 mi) |
| Basin features | |
| Progression | Ega→ Ebro→ Mediterranean Sea |
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Invalid designation
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| Designated: | May 2003 |
| Part of: | Ega-Berron ibaia / Río Ega-Berron |
| Reference #: | ES2110020 |
The Izki River is a beautiful river located in Álava, which is a province in the Basque Country region of Spain. It's like a smaller stream that flows into a bigger river called the Ega. The Ega then joins an even larger river, the Ebro.
Most of the Izki River flows through a special protected area called the Izki Natural Park. This river is also part of something called a "Special Area of Conservation" (SAC). This means it's a very important place for nature.
What's Special About It?
The Izki River is home to some amazing animals. One of them is the European mink, which is a critically endangered species. This means there are very few of them left in the world. The Eurasian otter, another cool animal, also lives here. Protecting the river helps these animals survive.
Its Journey
The Izki River is about 15.74 kilometers (about 9.78 miles) long. It's like the main path through the Izki Natural Park, covering about 60% of the park's area. The land around the river is mostly made of a rock called sandstone, and much of it is covered by thick forests.
Most of the smaller streams that flow into the Izki River are quite short. As the river gets closer to a town called Korres, it flows through an area with a different type of rock, called calcarenite. Here, it forms a cool gorge, which is like a deep valley between two mountains named Soila and Muela.
After passing through this gorge, the river reaches a wide, flat area called an alluvial plain. This is where it meets the Ega river. On average, about 610 liters (about 161 gallons) of water flow past this point every second. During the summer, which is the dry season, some parts of the river and its smaller streams can even dry up completely.
Power from Water
There's a small dam called Aranbaltza located in the gorge. This dam helps to direct some of the river's water, about 200 to 300 liters per second, into a canal. This canal then carries the water to a reservoir near Bujanda. Another canal from the Ega river also feeds this reservoir.
The water stored in this reservoir is used to create electricity! It flows down from a height of about 70 meters (about 230 feet) to power a small hydroelectric plant in Antoñana. This plant was first built a long time ago in 1905, and it was fixed up and started working again in 2015. It's a great example of how we can use nature's power to help us.
See also
In Spanish: Río Izki para niños
