Ribeira, Galicia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ribeira
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| Concello de Ribeira | |||
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Location of Ribeira within Galicia
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| Parroquias | 9 | ||
| Country |  Spain |
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| Autonomous community |  Galicia |
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| Province | A Coruña | ||
| Comarca | A Barbanza | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 65.1 km2 (25.1 sq mi) | ||
| Population
(2018)
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| • Total | 27,067 | ||
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+1 (CEST) | ||
| Website | Concello de Ribeira | ||
Ribeira is an important town in northwestern Spain. It is located in Galicia, which is an autonomous community (like a state or region). Ribeira is the main town of the Barbanza area in the A Coruña province.
The biggest part of Ribeira is called Santa Uxía de Ribeira. Another important area is San Martin de Oleiros. The town is split into nine smaller areas called civil parishes. These are Aguiño, Artes, Carreira, Castiñeiras, Corrubedo, Oleiros, Olveira, Palmeira, and Ribeira.
Ribeira is one of the southernmost towns in its province. It shares borders with the towns of Pobra do Caramiñal and Porto do Son. It has a very important port for inshore fishing, meaning fishing close to the coast. Also, a lot of tuna is brought here to be used in canning factories. The town provides important services for its people, like tax offices and courts.
Contents
What's in a Name?
The name Ribeira comes from a Galician word. This word, ripariam in Latin, means 'bank' or 'shore'. People first used this name in 1387, calling it Santa Ougea de Ribeira.
The name Uxía comes from an old Galician word, Ougia. This is the local way to say the name Eugenia. So, Santa Uxía means Saint Eugenia. The church in the area, Saint Eugenia, was first mentioned in a document from the year 1200. It was called Sancte Eugenie de Carraria back then.
Ribeira's Past
You can find signs of ancient cultures in Ribeira. These include the Dolmen de Axeitos and the Pedra das Cabras petroglyph. A dolmen is a type of ancient stone tomb. A petroglyph is an image carved into rock. These show that people lived here a very long time ago.
Until the 1600s, Ribeira's port was not very important. This was partly because of attacks from vikings, saracens, and pirates. These attacks happened from the 11th to the 18th centuries. But Ribeira's port grew steadily. By the late 1700s, it became one of Galicia's most important fishing ports. Around that time, business people from Catalonia came to Ribeira. They started a very successful business of salting fish. In 1906, King Alfonso XIII gave Ribeira the special title of "City."
How Ribeira Makes Money
Ribeira's economy relies a lot on the sea. It has one of the most important shallow-water fishing ports in Spain. This means many fishing boats catch fish in waters that are not very deep.
Growing mussels and turbot (a type of flatfish) is also a big way for people to earn money here. In recent years, more and more tourists are visiting Ribeira. This means tourism is becoming an important part of the town's economy too.
People of Ribeira
Ribeira has about 28,000 people living there. Nearly 14,000 of them live in Santa Uxía, which is the main town area.
Many people from Ribeira have moved to other countries. A large number of them live in places like Newark, New Jersey, Harrison, New Jersey, Carteret, New Jersey, and Lyndhurst, New Jersey, in the United States.
Visiting Ribeira
In recent years, the tourism industry has become very interested in Ribeira. It is a great place for visitors.
Historical Sights
You can explore Ribeira's past by visiting the Dolmen de Axeitos. Some people call it "The Parthenon of Megalithic" because it's so impressive. You can also find remains of Celtic culture and old forts around Ribeira. There are also petroglyphs (rock carvings) for those who like to see ancient art.
Natural Beauty
Ribeira is also a starting point for enjoying beautiful nature. The natural park of the Dunes and Lagoons of Corrubedo and Vixán is a must-see. This park covers 1000 hectares and has 5 kilometers of coastline. It is home to the largest moving sand dune in northwestern Spain. This dune is 1.2 kilometers long and 15 meters high!
Festa da Dorna
Another big attraction in Ribeira is the 'Festa da Dorna'. This is a major festival that happens one week before July 24th. July 24th is a local holiday and the biggest day of the event. The festival has been happening since 1948. In 2005, it was named a Galician Festival of Tourist Interest.
Many fun activities take place during the festival. People form groups called "peñas." They wear colorful t-shirts and have fun names related to the sea.
Delicious Food
Ribeira is located at the mouth of the Ria de Arousa. This area is known for having the most shellfish in Spain. Since Ribeira is one of the top inshore fishing ports, its food is very connected to the sea. You can find many delicious seafood dishes here.
Famous People
- Ana Peleteiro, an athlete
- Andrés Torres Queiruga, a writer and expert in theology
See also
In Spanish: Ribeira para niños
