Mequinenza

Mequinenza
Mequinenza
Mequinensa
Municipality

Flag
Coat of arms
Mequinenza

Location in Aragon

Coordinates: 41°22′0″N 0°18′0″E / 41.36667°N 0.30000°E / 41.36667; 0.30000Coordinates: 41°22′0″N 0°18′0″E / 41.36667°N 0.30000°E / 41.36667; 0.30000
Country  Spain
Community  Aragon
Province Zaragoza
Comarca Bajo Cinca/Baix Cinca
Area
 • Total 307.2 km2 (118.6 sq mi)
Elevation 75 m (246 ft)
Population (2007)
 • Total 2,492
 • Density 8.1/km2 (21/sq mi)
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
 • Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
Website www.mequinensa.com

Mequinenza (Spanish: [mekiˈnenθa]) or Mequinensa (Catalan: [məkiˈnɛnsə], locally: [mekiˈnɛnsa]) is a town and municipality of the province of Zaragoza, in the autonomous community of Aragon, Spain. It is located by the confluence of the rivers Segre and Ebro.

History and features

It was conquered from the Moors by the Count Ramon Berenguer IV of Barcelona in 1149.

In 1412, during the Compromise of Caspe, Antonio de Luna and supporters of James of Urgell created in Mequinenza his own parliament of Aragón (the parliament of Alcañiz supported to Ferdinand of Antequera), but they weren't recognized by the parliament of Tortosa.[1]

In the Siege of Mequinenza in May and June 1810, a French army under Marshal Louis Gabriel Suchet wrested the town and castle from Colonel Carbon and 1,000 Spanish defenders.[2]

During the Battle of the Ebro in the Spanish Civil War (1936–39) there were violent battles in the Auts, south across the river from Mequinensa.

This town is located in La Franja, the local dialect is a variant of Catalan. The town celebrates festivals in honor of Santa Agatoclia (called simply “La Santa”) from September 16 to 20.[3]

Mequinenza Reservoir

View of the town

Many fishing guides operate in this area using boats due to the large expanse of water created by the building of an artificial dam, the Mequinenza Reservoir.

A little further downriver are the towns and villages of Flix, Asco and Vinebre, where exceptional fishing can be enjoyed in more scenic surroundings.

The town is most well known amongst northern European fishermen for the large but elusive Wels catfish (Silurus glanis), which are found in the vast reservoir.

This area is now very heavily fished as a result and it seems that many fishermen are travelling further down river to the less frequented places to catch almost equally large fish. This is only if you don't know the river exceptionally well though.

Local council

Mayor: Magdalena Godía Ibarz, Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)

Councillors:

PSOE

United Left (IU)

Aragonese Party (PAR)

References

  1. ↑ Jerusalén, hora cero: nueve brindis por un rey, de Jaime Salom (1995). Editorial Fundamentos
  2. ↑ Smith, Digby (1998). The Napoleonic Wars Data Book. London: Greenhill. p. 343. ISBN 1-85367-276-9.
  3. ↑ Culture
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