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Cinca (Spain)
Encyclopedia
The Cinca (ˈθiŋka; ˈsiŋkə, ˈsiŋka; , a ˈθiŋka) is a river
in Aragon
, Spain
. Its source is in the Circo de Pineta, in the Ordesa y Monte Perdido National Park
, in the Aragonese Pyrenees
. It is a tributary to the Segre River
, with its confluence at La Granja d'Escarp
, not far from the point where the Segre flows into the Ebro River. The Cinca River flows through a rich agricultural region.
The Cinca is born in the area of Pineta and begins its descent between cascades and torrents, in the mountains of the Tres Sorores. It flows across the entire Pineta valley. In Bielsa
it joins with the Barrosa, and somewhat later the Cinqueta. Upon reaching Aínsa
it is joined on the right side by the Ara River, where the Mediano Reservoir is located. Immediately after the Mediano, after crossing the throat of the Entremón, it is again dammed at the El Grado Reservoir near El Grado
. Just after this, it is joined on the left side by the Ésera River, the Cinca's most important tributary.
On the right side it is joined by the Vero River, and in Monzón
by the Sosa River on the left. Later, the Alcanadre
pours into it on the right. Finally, in Massalcoreig
, it joins the Segre to flow into the Ebro River.
The migratory villages, in the first Iron Age
, used the Cinca Valley in their path to the interior; they were populated by the Ilergetes
. The current name of the river comes from Cinga, because Julius Caesar
in his account of the civil war used that name. It underwent a change of name under the Moors because it came to have the name Az-Zaytum, which meant the River of Olives.
River
A river is a natural watercourse, usually freshwater, flowing towards an ocean, a lake, a sea, or another river. In a few cases, a river simply flows into the ground or dries up completely before reaching another body of water. Small rivers may also be called by several other names, including...
in Aragon
Aragon
Aragon is a modern autonomous community in Spain, coextensive with the medieval Kingdom of Aragon. Located in northeastern Spain, the Aragonese autonomous community comprises three provinces : Huesca, Zaragoza, and Teruel. Its capital is Zaragoza...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
. Its source is in the Circo de Pineta, in the Ordesa y Monte Perdido National Park
Ordesa y Monte Perdido National Park
Ordesa y Monte Perdido National Park is an IUCN Category II National Park situated in the Pyrenees of Huesca province, Aragon, Spain. There has been a National Park in the Ordesa Valley since 1918. Its protected area was enlarged in 1982 to cover the whole region amounting to 156.08 km².It has...
, in the Aragonese Pyrenees
Pyrenees
The Pyrenees is a range of mountains in southwest Europe that forms a natural border between France and Spain...
. It is a tributary to the Segre River
Segre River
The Segre is a river tributary to the Ebro with a basin comprising territories across three states: France, Andorra and Spain....
, with its confluence at La Granja d'Escarp
La Granja d'Escarp
La Granja d'Escarp is a municipality in the comarca of the Segrià in Catalonia, Spain.The town is located at the confluence of the Segre and Cinca rivers....
, not far from the point where the Segre flows into the Ebro River. The Cinca River flows through a rich agricultural region.
Path and tributaries
Bielsa
Bielsa is a municipality located in the province of Huesca, Aragon, Spain. According to the 2004 census , the municipality has a population of 463 inhabitants....
it joins with the Barrosa, and somewhat later the Cinqueta. Upon reaching Aínsa
Ainsa
Ainsa, Aínsa is the main town in the Aínsa-Sobrarbe municipal term, Aragon, Spain.It is located south of the Pyrenees, in a geologically interesting setting...
it is joined on the right side by the Ara River, where the Mediano Reservoir is located. Immediately after the Mediano, after crossing the throat of the Entremón, it is again dammed at the El Grado Reservoir near El Grado
El Grado
El Grado is a municipality located in the province of Huesca, Aragon, Spain. According to 2009 data , the municipality has a population of 506 inhabitants.There is a large reservoir, managing the waters of river Cinca in this town's municipal term....
. Just after this, it is joined on the left side by the Ésera River, the Cinca's most important tributary.
On the right side it is joined by the Vero River, and in Monzón
Monzón
Monzón is a small town in the autonomous community of Aragon, Spain. It has a population of 17,050. It is located in the northeast and adjoins the rivers Cinca and Sosa.-Historical overview:...
by the Sosa River on the left. Later, the Alcanadre
Alcanadre
Alcanadre is a town and municipality in La Rioja province in northern Spain. The town is located along the Ebro River, between Logroño and Calahorra. Alcanadre has a temperate, Mediterranean climate. Its major agricultural products are wine, olive oil, almonds, and grain...
pours into it on the right. Finally, in Massalcoreig
Massalcoreig
Massalcoreig is a village in the province of Lleida and autonomous community of Catalonia, Spain....
, it joins the Segre to flow into the Ebro River.
History
The presence of humans is not found in the upper stretches of the river, but only in the middle stretches, although it is known from ancient accounts.The migratory villages, in the first Iron Age
Iron Age
The Iron Age is the archaeological period generally occurring after the Bronze Age, marked by the prevalent use of iron. The early period of the age is characterized by the widespread use of iron or steel. The adoption of such material coincided with other changes in society, including differing...
, used the Cinca Valley in their path to the interior; they were populated by the Ilergetes
Ilergetes
The Ilergetes were an ancient Iberian people of the Iberian peninsula who inhabited the area around present-day Lleida. They are believed to be of Iberian language.-External links:*...
. The current name of the river comes from Cinga, because Julius Caesar
Julius Caesar
Gaius Julius Caesar was a Roman general and statesman and a distinguished writer of Latin prose. He played a critical role in the gradual transformation of the Roman Republic into the Roman Empire....
in his account of the civil war used that name. It underwent a change of name under the Moors because it came to have the name Az-Zaytum, which meant the River of Olives.