Jalón (river)

The river Jalón (Latin: Salo) is located in the northeast of Spain, and is one of the principal tributaries of the Ebro. It has a length of 224 kilometres (139 mi) and drains a basin of 9,338 square kilometres (3,605 sq mi). The flow rate in Calatayud is 20.8 cubic metres per second (730 cu ft/s), but is highly irregular due to the great range of Mediterranean rainfall patterns.

This article is about the river Jalón in Castile-La Mancha and Aragón. For other uses, see Jalon (disambiguation).
Jalón
The river Jalón in Terrer, Zaragoza (province).
Path of the Jalón river
Location
CountrySpain
Physical characteristics
SourceBenamira
 • locationMedinaceli, Iberian System, Castile and León
 • coordinates41.092762°N 2.424388°W / 41.092762; -2.424388
 • elevation1,192 m (3,911 ft)
MouthEbro
 • location
Torres de Berrellén, Zaragoza, Aragón
 • coordinates
41.777476°N 1.062856°W / 41.777476; -1.062856
 • elevation
209 m (686 ft)
Length224 km (139 mi)
Basin size9,338 km2 (3,605 sq mi)
Discharge 
 • average20.8 m3/s (730 cu ft/s)
Basin features
ProgressionEbro→ Mediterranean Sea
Tributaries 
 • leftNágima, Henar, Manubles, Isuela
 • rightPiedra, Jiloca
River systemEbro

The course of the river forms the main communication route between the Castilian Plateau and the Ebro. Until the late twentieth century, roads and railways between Madrid and Zaragoza followed this path.[1]

Geography

The Jalón rises in one of the springs at the foot of the Sierra Ministra, called Fuente Vieja (Old Fountain) located at the base of Monteagudillo, a hill in Benamira, Medinaceli (Soria), and then runs through Arcos de Jalón, to Monreal de Ariza, province of Zaragoza, Aragón.

The tributary river Nágima joins at Monreal de Ariza and the Henar at Cetina before the river enters a limestone gorge at Alhama de Aragón. The Jalón then meanders through the Paleozoic zones of the Cordillera Ibérica near Bubierca, being joined by the Piedra and the Manubles at Ateca. At Calatayud, the river expands into a broad valley and is joined by the Jiloca, Perejiles and Ribota. The next section meanders through the Sierra de Algairén and the Sierra de la Virgen.

Once out of the mountains the river enters the Ebro valley and is joined by the rivers Aranda, Grío and Alpartir before joining the Ebro at Torres de Berrellén, a suburb of the city of Zaragoza.[2]

Ecology

Much of the course of the Jalón has been declared a Special Zone for Bird Protection. Birdlife includes falcons, eagles, and vultures. Other species include owls, wrens, and herons. Poplar, willow and ash. Carp, trout and eels were economically important in the past and are returning as pollution is being combated.[2][3] The Plan Hidrológico del río Jalón, a river management plan, was adopted by the Spanish Ministry of the Environment and the governments of Aragon, Castile and León and Castile-La Mancha in 2007.[4]

Etymology

According to E. Bascuas, "Jalón" is a form belonging to the old European hydronymy, and derived from the Indoeuropean root *sal- 'flowing water, stream'.[5]

See also

References
  1. "The Coombs of the River Jalon". CAI Tourism of Aragon. Archived from the original on 2007-04-20. Retrieved 2009-11-20.
  2. "Jalón". CAI Tourism of Aragon. Retrieved 2009-11-20.
  3. "Variables Ambientales". Confederación Hidrográfica del Ebro. Archived from the original (Spanish) on 2009-12-01. Retrieved 2009-11-23.
  4. "Plan Hidrológico del río Jalón" (Spanish). Ministerio de Medio Ambiente. 2007. Retrieved 2009-11-23.
  5. Cf. p. 541, "La Hidronimia de Galicia: tres estratos ..". http://www.mondonedoferrol.org/estudios-mindonienses/MINDONIENSES%2024%20[protegido].pdf
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