Riaño, León facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Riaño
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Municipality
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New Riaño, the new village built to replace the submerged Riaño. The old village is located under the bridge. The mountain on the left is Peak Gilbo.
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 Riaño
Location in Spain
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| Country | Spain | ||
| Autonomous community | Castile and León | ||
| Province | León | ||
| Comarca | Montaña de Riaño | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 97.63 km2 (37.70 sq mi) | ||
| Elevation | 1,112 m (3,648 ft) | ||
| Population
(2018)
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| • Total | 474 | ||
| • Density | 4.855/km2 (12.575/sq mi) | ||
| Demonym(s) | Riañéses | ||
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) | ||
| Postal code |
24900
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Riaño is a small town located in the mountains of northern Spain. It is found in the province of León, within the area called Castile and León. The town sits next to the Esla River.
Riaño is about 1,112 meters (3,650 feet) above sea level. It is nestled in the Cantabrian mountains, close to the famous Picos de Europa mountain range. The town you see today is actually "New Riaño."
The Old Village of Riaño
In the 1980s, a big project was planned for the area. A large dam was going to be built on the Esla River. This dam would create a huge reservoir (a large artificial lake).
The main reasons for building the dam were to help control floods and to create hydroelectric power. Hydroelectric power is electricity made from the force of moving water.
However, the old village of Riaño and its nearby farmlands were in the way. They would be covered by the new lake. Six other villages in the area also faced the same fate.
Moving to New Riaño
Because of the dam project, the people living in the old Riaño had to move. A new village, called New Riaño, was built for them. This new village was placed higher up, away from the rising waters of the reservoir.
The old village of Riaño was then submerged under the water. Today, if you visit, you will see New Riaño. The reservoir is a major feature of the landscape. In 2010, about 532 people lived in the village.
Famous People from Riaño
- Imanol Arias, a well-known film actor, was born in Riaño.
See also
In Spanish: Riaño (León) para niños
