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| Bidasoa | |
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| Origin | Western Pyrenees |
| Mouth | Cantabrian Sea (Bay of Biscay) |
| Basin countries | Spain, France |
| Length | 66 km |
| Avg. discharge | 24.7 m³/s |
| Basin area | 710 km² |
The Bidasoa (French: Bidassoa) is a river in the Basque Country of northern Spain that runs largely south to north. Named as such downstream of the small town of Oronoz-Mugairi in the province of Navarre, the river actually results from the merge of several streams near the village Erratzu, the stream Baztan that rises at the north-eastern side of the mount Autza (1,306 m) being considered the source of the Bidasoa. The Baztan also provides the name for the whole valley. The Bidasoa flows through much of its 66 km length through Navarrese territory, except for the last 10 km, where it establishes the borderline between France and Spain, as well as the boundary between the Basque provinces of Gipuzkoa and Labourd. It joins the Cantabrian Sea (Bay of Biscay) between Hendaye and Hondarribia.
Before pouring its waters into the ocean, it forms a bay called Txingudi located between these towns and Irun, the site being designated Wetland of International Importance in 2002, with a total area of 1.28 km2. At this point, the banks of Hondarribia hold the minor San Sebastian Airport serving domestic flights and currently mired in controversy over its lengthening and upgrading scheme.
So the river is best known for establishing the borderline at its lower tract. This stretch is crossed not only by aircrafts at low height but by important European communication axes, namely AP-8 E-5 E-80 E-70 A-63 (motorway), N-1 RN-10 (main road) and major railways (connecting the ADIF and SNCF networks). Besides these major lines, other regional ones cross it too, eg regional railway Euskotren (terminal in Hendaia) and several road bridges joining the towns on the border.
Pronunciation and etymology
The river comprises an area of linguistic contact, so it is pronounced differently depending on the language, namely [βi'ðaʃoa] in Basque, [βiða'ʃoa] in Spanish and ['bidasoa] in French. Linguistic and historic research point to the name stemming from Latin phrase "Via ad Oiasso" (later corrupting into Basque Bidasoa) on account of the road that linked at Roman times Basque town Pompaelo with Oiasso, which ran along the river.
Course of the river and tributaries
But for the first 15-odd kilometres, the river clings to the north to south disposition of other neighbouring rivers of Gipuzkoa joining the Bay of Biscay, eg Urumea, Oria, etc. Strengthened by the waters harvested from the sides of the pass of Belate, downstream of Doneztebe the river heads north and crosses the town of Bera at the north end of Navarre before entering Gipuzkoa at Endarlatsa. From the town of Doneztebe on, the main road N-121 runs along till the roundabout across the river from the toll of Biriatu by the AP-8 (motorway). Next comes Behobia and the major towns on the shores of the estuary.
The main tributaries of the Bidasoa are the minor rivers Zeberia (length 10,80 km), Ezkurra (20,90 km), Latsa (11,10 km) and Endara (9,90 km). Additionally, further small rivers and streams feed the Bidasoa all along.
See also
