Urumea facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Urumea |
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The Urumea at San Sebastian
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| Country | Spain |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Basque mountains 1,136 m (3,727 ft) |
| River mouth | Cantabrian Sea (Bay of Biscay) |
| Length | 59.4 km (36.9 mi) |
| Basin features | |
| Basin size | 279 km2 (108 sq mi) |
The Urumea is a river in the Basque Country in northern Spain. Its name comes from the Basque words "ur" (water) and "me(he)a" (thin).
This river is one of many Basque rivers that flow into the Bay of Biscay, which is part of the Atlantic Ocean. The Urumea is most famous for flowing right through the city of San Sebastian before reaching the sea.
Contents
River's Journey and Water Quality
The Urumea River is about 59.4 kilometers (37 miles) long. It starts in a place called Goizueta in Navarre. About 33 kilometers (20 miles) of the river flows through the province of Gipuzkoa.
The water quality in the Urumea is generally good. Even though it used to get a bit worse near the city of Donostia (San Sebastian), a lot of work has been done to clean and treat the water. This has helped the river become much healthier for nature.
River Waves for Surfing
The mouth of the Urumea River is special because it has an "upstream river wave." This wave forms in the ocean and then travels up the river, which is really cool for river surfers! It looks a bit like a tidal bore, but it's actually caused by ocean swells, not by the tides.
River Animals
Because the water quality is good, the Urumea River is home to several types of fish. You can find five main species living here:
- Salmon: These fish disappeared from the river in the 1940s. But thanks to special programs in the 1980s, salmon have been brought back!
- Trout
- Common minnow
- Loach
- Eel
The River's Surroundings
The lower parts of the Urumea River have wide, flat banks. These areas are great for growing crops and building towns. Because of this, the Urumea's river basin is the most populated in Gipuzkoa, with over 212,000 people living there.
Some of the main towns along the river include:
- Hernani: This town has some of the first factories along the river, including paper, chemical, and aluminum plants.
- Astigarraga: This place is well-known for its cider houses, where people go to drink traditional Basque cider.
- Donostia (San Sebastian): The river winds through different parts of this city before it reaches the sea. Many cider houses are also found along the river's banks near Hernani and Astigarraga.
See also
- List of rivers of Spain
- In Spanish: Río Urumea para niños
