The Anoia () is a
river
A river is a natural stream of fresh water that flows on land or inside Subterranean river, caves towards another body of water at a lower elevation, such as an ocean, lake, or another river. A river may run dry before reaching the end of ...
in
Catalonia
Catalonia is an autonomous community of Spain, designated as a ''nationalities and regions of Spain, nationality'' by its Statute of Autonomy of Catalonia of 2006, Statute of Autonomy. Most of its territory (except the Val d'Aran) is situate ...
,
Spain
Spain, or the Kingdom of Spain, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe with territories in North Africa. Featuring the Punta de Tarifa, southernmost point of continental Europe, it is the largest country in Southern Eur ...
, a tributary of the
Llobregat
The Llobregat () is the second longest river in Catalonia, Spain, after the Ter. It flows into the Mediterranean south of the city of Barcelona. Its name could have originated in an ancient Latin word meaning 'dark', 'muddy' or 'slippery', or ...
. Most of its course lies within the
''comarca'' of the
same name. Its has four sources, in the
municipalities
A municipality is usually a single administrative division having municipal corporation, corporate status and powers of self-government or jurisdiction as granted by national and regional laws to which it is subordinate.
The term ''municipality' ...
of
Calaf
Calaf () is the main town in the northern portion of the Comarques of Catalonia, ''comarca'' of the Anoia in
Catalonia, Spain, situated on the Calaf Plain. The town holds an important weekly livestock market.
It is served by the main N-II road ...
,
Sant Martí Sesgueioles
is a municipality in the ''comarca'' of the Anoia in Catalonia
Catalonia is an autonomous community of Spain, designated as a ''nationalities and regions of Spain, nationality'' by its Statute of Autonomy of Catalonia of 2006, Statute of ...
,
Montmaneu, and
Argençola, and these streams join together in
Jorba to form the Anoia proper. Major towns along the river include
Igualada
Igualada () is a municipality and capital of Anoia county in Penedès, Catalonia, Spain. It is located on the left bank of the Anoia River and at the western end of the Igualada-Martorell-Barcelona Railway. Igualada is the capital and central ...
;
Capellades, where it crosses the
Pre-Coastal Range;
Sant Sadurní d'Anoia;
Gelida; and finally
Martorell
Martorell () is a municipality, county, and city that forms part of the Baix Llobregat Comarques of Catalonia, comarca, in Catalonia, Spain, primarily known for its medieval Pont del Diable, Devil's bridge. It lies at the confluence of the Llobr ...
(
Baix Llobregat), where it joins the
Llobregat
The Llobregat () is the second longest river in Catalonia, Spain, after the Ter. It flows into the Mediterranean south of the city of Barcelona. Its name could have originated in an ancient Latin word meaning 'dark', 'muddy' or 'slippery', or ...
from the right.
Economy
The Anoia was once a backbone of industry in Catalonia, especially the paper industry. At its height, there were 65 paper mills along the river, particularly in Capellades.
As a result of both downstream industry and intensive agriculture in its headwaters, the Anoia became quite polluted. In Igualada, tanneries and textile manufacturing dumped lignin and lime into the river, and in Capellades, the paper and cardboard industry dumped a waste product called "black liquor." Closer to Martorell, the automotive industry added electrolytics, nickel, chromes, and cyanides to the water.
Fortunately, improvements in technology and manufacturing processes have reduced the level of pollution in recent years.
Tributaries
*
Riera de Carme
* Riera Gran, which meets the Anoia at
Copons.
* Riera de Lavernó, located between Espiells (
Sant Sadurní and Torre-ramona (
Subirats).
* La Rierussa, which meets the Anoia near Gelida.
* Riu de Bitlles
* Torrent de Can Llopard
* Torrent de Santa Maria
See also
*
List of rivers of Spain
This is an incomplete list of rivers that are at least partially in Spain. The rivers flowing into the sea are sorted along the coast. Rivers flowing into other rivers are listed by the rivers they flow into. Rivers in the mainland Iberian Peninsu ...
References
Rivers of Spain
Rivers of Catalonia
{{Spain-river-stub