Urumea

Course of the river and water data

The river is 59.4 km long from its source in the Navarrese municipality of Goizueta, and 33 km of it runs through the province of Gipuzkoa. The average temperature is 13.5 °C (56.3 °F). The seasonal and year-to-year variations in water flow are less marked than in other basins of Gipuzkoa, and the natural regulation of this basin is very high.

The quality of the water is fairly good, despite a slight deterioration downstream near the mouth (moderately good condition) where the city of Donostia lies. However, lately, works have been done on the treatment and cleaning of water resulting in an outstanding environmental recovery.

Upstream river waves

The mouth of the Urumea river is known for its upstream river wave, which attracts river surfers. The phenomenon looks similar to tidal bores, but it's caused by ocean swells instead of tides. Similar to tidal bores, the waves form in the ocean and travel up the river.

Fauna

The current water quality allows for a stable fish fauna with five species populating the river, namely salmon (extinct in 1940 and restored thanks to the re-population programs of the 1980s), trout, common minnow, loach and eel.

Basin

The lower stretch of the river has wide and flat banks fit for crops and urban development, which has resulted in the most inhabited drainage basin in Gipuzkoa, with 212,564 inhabitants. The main towns on the river are Hernani with its first industrial estates located upstream on its banks (paper and chemical industry, an aluminium mill, lift manufacturing, etc.); Astigarraga, renowned for its cider houses; and Donostia with a final long stretch of the river snaking through different parts of the town. The main focus of cider houses concentrates on a strip along the left bank in Hernani and on a minor road sloping up from the right bank at the limit between Astigarraga and the outer lands of Donostia.

Gallery

File:Urumea ibaia Loiolan 06.jpg|The Urumea near Loyola File:Urumea_1961_(34344195043).jpg|The river in 1961 File:Urumea_itsasoratzea_001.JPG|Mouth of Urumea File:Ergobiko_zubia_2.jpg|Bridge over Urumea at Ergobi File:Urumea_2.jpg|River in Donostia / San Sebastian

References

References

1. (7 January 2012). "Surfing the river waves of Río Urumea". Surfer Today.
2. Pierson, Dashel. (6 April 2018). "Freshwater Froth: The World's Best River Surfing Waves". [[Surfline]].
3. (26 March 2019). "The rare phenomenon of upstream river waves". Surfer Today.