Sopela facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sopela
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Saint Peter's church
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 Sopela
Location in Basque Country
Sopela
Location in Spain
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| Country |  Spain |
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| Autonomous community |  Basque Country |
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| Province | Biscay | ||
| Comarca | Mungialdea | ||
| Founded | 1841 | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 8.39 km2 (3.24 sq mi) | ||
| Elevation | 1.562 m (5.125 ft) | ||
| Population
(2018)
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| • Total | 13,643 | ||
| • Density | 1,626.1/km2 (4,211.6/sq mi) | ||
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) | ||
| Postal code |
48600
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Sopela, once known as Sopelana, is a cool town in northern Spain. It's part of the Basque Country region, located in the province of Biscay. This town is about 820 hectares big, which is like 2,000 football fields!
Sopela is found in an area called Mungialdea, northeast of Bilbao. It's near the Nervión river's mouth. Some smaller towns, like Larrabasterra, joined Sopela to make it bigger. In 2019, about 13,878 people lived here. Sopela is surrounded by green hills and beautiful beaches. It's a popular place to live because it's close to Bilbao, only a 35-minute metro ride away.
Contents
Sopela's Story: How It Grew
Since the late 1980s, more and more people have moved to Sopela. Today, over 13,000 citizens call it home. Long ago, many people moved to big cities for work. But now, Sopela has become a popular place to live. It's well-connected to larger towns and Bilbao.
At first, Sopela was mostly a holiday spot. People owned houses there just for summer vacations. But it has changed into a full-time residential town. Sopela is now one of the richest municipalities in Spain.
Where is Sopela Located?
Sopela is part of a region called Uribe. This region includes 15 different towns. Sopela is on the coast, bordering the Cantabrian Sea to the north. This means it has amazing cliffs and beaches!
Sopela's beaches include Barinatxe, Arrietara, Atxabiribil, and Meñakoz. To the northeast, you'll find the town of Barrika. Getxo is to the northwest, Urduliz to the southeast, and Berango to the southwest.
Sopela's Weather
Sopela has an oceanic climate, which is very different from southern Spain. Strong winds often blow along the coast. It also rains quite a lot throughout the year.
In winter, northern winds can make temperatures drop close to freezing. But summers are usually nice from late May to early September. Snow falls about three days each winter on average. Summer weather is warm, and cool sea breezes keep the temperatures comfortable.
Exploring Sopela's Beaches
Sopela is famous for its three main beaches: Atxabiribil, Barinatxe, and Arrietara. These beaches are open to the Bay of Biscay and are great for surfing. They often host regional surf competitions because the waves are so good.
There's also a fourth beach called Meñakoz. It has a pebble ground, so it's more popular with surfers than sunbathers. Sopela also has a secret little creek called Ikatza, known mostly by local people.
Getting Around Sopela
Sopela is well-connected to other places. It has two metro stations on Line 1 of the Bilbao Metro. These are Larrabasterra station and Sopela station.
Several bus routes also link Sopela to Bilbao and nearby towns. These include Barrika, Plentzia, Gorliz, and Armintza. The main bus lines are:
- Bizkaibus:
- A3451: Las Arenas - Arminza.
- A3531: Sopelana - Munguía - Gatica.
- A2166: Uribe Kosta - UPV/EHU
There's also a local bus that connects the town center to the beaches. It travels through neighborhoods like Larrabasterra, Arrietara, Sopelmar, Ugeraga, Moreaga, and the town center.
Fun Festivals in Sopela
The town's biggest celebration is for its patron saint, San Pedro (or Saint Peter). These festivals happen at the end of June and last for about a week and a half. The main day is June 29th.
The Larrabasterra neighborhood celebrates its patroness, Virgen del Carmen, in mid-July. The big day for this festival is July 16th.
Shopping in Sopela
Sopela doesn't have huge shopping malls. You can find bigger shopping centers in nearby towns like Getxo, Leioa, Barakaldo, or Bilbao.
However, Sopela's town center has many small shops. You can find all sorts of interesting things there! Along the main road to West Sopela, there are also several cool shops for young people and surf shops open all year.
Famous People from Sopela
- Oihane Hernández (born 2000) is a talented footballer. She plays for Real Madrid and the Spain national team.
See also
In Spanish: Sopelana para niños
