View source for Douro

{{Short description|River in Portugal and Spain}}
{{About|the river}}
{{Redirect|Duero|the municipality in the Philippines|Duero, Bohol}}
{{Infobox river
| name               = Douro
| native_name        =
| native_name_lang   =
| name_other         = {{native name|es|Duero}}<br/>{{native name|mwl|Douro}}
| name_etymology     =
| image              = Rio Douro - Portugal (32615481975) (cropped).jpg
| image_size         = 255
| image_caption      = The river flowing through the [[Douro DOC|Portuguese wine region]], designated as a [[World Heritage Site]].
| map                = Douro (fleuve).png
| map_size           = 255
| map_caption        =
| pushpin_map        =
| pushpin_map_size   = 255
| pushpin_map_caption=
| subdivision_type1  = Country
| subdivision_name1  = [[Spain]], [[Portugal]]
| subdivision_type2  =
| subdivision_name2  =
| length             = {{convert|897|km|mi|abbr=on}}
| width_min          =
| width_avg          =
| width_max          =
| depth_min          =
| depth_avg          =
| depth_max          =
| discharge1_location= [[Porto]]
| discharge1_min     =
| discharge1_avg     = {{convert|700|m3/s|cuft/s|abbr=on}}
| discharge1_max     = {{convert|17000|m3/s|cuft/s|abbr=on}}
| discharge2_location= [[Pocinho]]
| discharge2_min     =
| discharge2_avg     = {{convert|442|m3/s|cuft/s|abbr=on}}
| discharge2_max     =
| source1            = [[Picos de Urbión]]
| source1_location   = [[Sistema Ibérico]], [[Duruelo de la Sierra]], [[Soria Province|Soria]], [[Castile and León]], [[Spain]]
| source1_coordinates= {{coord|42|0|38|N|2|52|49|W|display=inline}}
| source1_elevation  = {{convert|2157|m|abbr=on}}
| mouth              = [[Foz do Douro]]
| mouth_location     = Atlantic Ocean, [[Porto (district)|Porto]], [[Grande Porto|Greater Porto]], [[Norte Region, Portugal|Norte]], [[Portugal]]
| mouth_coordinates  = {{coord|41|8|36|N|8|40|10|W|display=inline,title}}
| mouth_elevation    = {{convert|0|m|abbr=on}}
| progression        =
| river_system       =
| basin_size         = {{convert|98400|km2|abbr=on}}
| tributaries_left   = {{ill|Tera (Soria)|es|Río Tera (Soria)|lt=Tera}}, {{ill|Rituerto|es|Río Rituerto}}, {{ill|Riaza (river)|es|Río Riaza|lt=Riaza}}, [[Duratón (river)|Duratón]], [[Cega (river)|Cega]], [[Adaja]], [[Tormes]], [[River Huebra|Huebra]], [[Águeda (river)|Águeda]], [[Côa River|Côa]], {{ill|Torto (river)|pt|Rio Torto (Douro)|lt=Torto}}, [[Távora River|Távora]], {{ill|Varosa|pt|Rio Varosa}}, {{ill|Bestança (river)|pt|Rio Bestança|lt=Bestança}}, {{ill|Pavia (river)|pt|Rio Paiva|lt=Paiva}}, [[Arda River (Douro tributary)|Arda]], {{ill|Inha (river)|pt|Rio Inha|lt=Inha}}
| tributaries_right  = [[Pisuerga]], [[Valderaduey]], [[Esla River|Esla]], {{ill|Sabor (river)|pt|Rio Sabor|lt=Sabor}}, [[Tua River|Tua]], [[Corgo River|Corgo]], [[Tâmega (river)|Tâmega]], [[Sousa River|Sousa]]
| custom_label       =
| custom_data        =
| extra              = {{Infobox mapframe |wikidata=yes |zoom=5 |height=250 | stroke-width=1.5 |coord {{WikidataCoord|display=i}}}}
}}
The '''Douro''' ({{IPAc-en|UK|ˈ|d|ʊər|əʊ|,_|ˈ|d|ʊər|uː}}, {{IPAc-en|US|ˈ|d|ɔːr|uː|,_|ˈ|d|ɔːr|əʊ}},<ref>{{Cite American Heritage Dictionary|Douro|access-date=March 31, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.collinsdictionary.com/amp/english/douro|title=Douro|work=[[Collins English Dictionary]]|publisher=[[HarperCollins]]|access-date=March 31, 2019}}</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20190331175705/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/us/douro "Douro"] (US) and {{Cite encyclopedia |url=http://www.lexico.com/definition/Douro |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200730021935/https://www.lexico.com/definition/douro |url-status=dead |archive-date=2020-07-30 |title=Douro |dictionary=[[Lexico]] UK English Dictionary |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite Merriam-Webster|Douro|access-date=March 31, 2019}}</ref> {{IPA|pt|ˈdo(w)ɾu|lang}}, {{IPA|mwl|ˈdowɾʊ|lang|link=yes}}; {{langx|es|'''Duero'''|i=no}} {{IPA|es|ˈdweɾo|}}; {{langx|la|Durius}}) is the largest river of the [[Iberian Peninsula]] by discharge. It rises near [[Duruelo de la Sierra]] in the Spanish [[Soria Province|province of Soria]], meanders briefly south, then flows generally west through the northern part of the [[Meseta Central]] in [[Castile and León]] into northern [[Portugal]]. Its largest tributary (carrying more water than the Douro at their confluence) is the right-bank [[Esla (river)|Esla]].<ref>{{Cite journal|journal=Limnetica|issue=1|year=1992|url=https://limnetica.org/documentos/limnetica/limnetica-8-1-p-131.pdf|title=The Esla River Basin: From the Cantabrian Mountain to the Duero|first1=M.|last1=Fernández-Aláez|first2=C.|last2=Fernández-Aláez|first3=E. de|last3=Luis Calabuig|volume=8|page=131|doi=10.23818/limn.08.12|s2cid=245777871}}</ref> The Douro flows into the [[Atlantic Ocean]] at [[Porto]], the second largest city of Portugal.
The scenic [[Douro railway line]] runs close to the river. Adjacent areas produce [[port wine|port]] (a mildly [[fortification (wine)|fortified]] wine) and other agricultural produce. A small tributary of the river has the [[Côa Valley Paleolithic Art]] site which is considered important to the [[archaeological]] pre-historic patrimony, designated a [[UNESCO World Heritage Site]]. Within Spain, it flows through the middle of the autonomous community of [[Castile and León]], with the basin spanning through the northern half of the [[Meseta Central]]. The latter includes wine producing areas such as the [[Ribera del Duero]] DOP.
== Name ==
The [[Latin]] name ''Durius'' might have been a [[Celt|Celtic name]] before the overwhelming Romanization of Iberia. If so, the [[Celtic languages|Celtic]] root could have been ''*dubro-'' (in that family of languages the final vowel sound often changes with context, as in Latin).<ref name="Ferguson1862">{{cite book|author=Robert Ferguson|title=The River-names of Europe|url=https://archive.org/details/rivernameseurop02ferggoog|year=1862|publisher=Williams & Norgate|pages=[https://archive.org/details/rivernameseurop02ferggoog/page/n34 26]–}}</ref> However, were that the case, the -''b''-, of which there remains no trace, would not have disappeared, as evidenced by place-names derived from [[Gaulish]] ''*dubron'' (plural ''dubra''), such as French [[Douvres]] and English [[Dover]] (3rd/4th-century ''Dubris''; ''Douvres'' in French), Spanish Dobra, German [[Tauber]] (''Dubra-gave'' 807), and Gaelic/[[Old Irish]] ''dobur'' "water" and river name ''Dobhar'' in Ireland and Scotland.<ref name="Delamarre">[[Xavier Delamarre]], ''Dictionnaire de la langue gauloise'', Éditions Errance, 2003, p. 151 - 152</ref> Modern [[Welsh language|Welsh]] ''dŵr'' "water" is cognate with modern [[Breton language|Breton]] ''dour'' and Cornish ''dur'' "water" and results from a later typical Brittonic evolution of ''*dubro-'',<ref name="Delamarre"/> unknown in the [[Continental Celtic languages]].
The possible origin is the [[hydronymic]] root ''*dur-'', which is [[Pre-Indo-European languages|Pre-Indo-European]] or [[Pre-Celtic]]. [[Albert Dauzat]] linked this river name to a Pre-Celtic hydronymic root ''*dor-'', which is well attested in [[Western Europe]]: in France [[Doire]], [[Doron (disambiguation)|Doron]], Douron, etc. and in Italy [[Dora Riparia|Dora]], etc.<ref name="Dauzat">[[Albert Dauzat]], Gaston Deslandes et [[Charles Rostaing]], ''Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de rivières et de montagnes en France'', [[Klincksieck]], Paris, 1978, p. 41b.</ref> The meaning of this element is, however, unknown.<ref name="Dauzat"/>
A [[False etymology|folk-etymological]] derivation suggests that the name comes from the Portuguese or Spanish term for "golden".<ref>Nick Timmons, ''Portugal'' (1994), p. 99: "The Douro... the Golden River (d'ouro means 'of gold')..."</ref><ref>''DK Eyewitness Travel Guide Portugal'' (2016), p. 239: "...the Douro or "Golden River" weaves its scenic path through deep-cleft gorges..."</ref>
==History==
[[File:Imagem255 Valbom, Ribeira d'Abade, Freixo, Campanhã, traineira, rio Douro. valboeiros. Postal antigo.1908 - 1.jpg|thumb|235px|left|A 1908 image of boats along the Douro River]]
In Roman times, the river was personified as a god, [[Durius]].
Part of the [[drainage basin]] might have been severely depopulated in the 8th century. According to [[Claudio Sánchez-Albornoz]] this was a deliberate act by [[Alfonso I of Asturias]] for the defence of his [[Kingdom of Asturias|Kingdom]], which led the area to be named [[Repoblación]].
The Douro ''vinhateiro'' (vine-land) of the [[Douro Valley]] in Portugal, long devoted to [[vineyard]]s, has been designated by UNESCO as a [[World Heritage Site]]. The wine was taken downriver in flat-bottom boats called ''[[Rabelo Boat|rabelos]]'', to be stored in barrels in cellars in [[Vila Nova de Gaia]], just across the river from [[Porto]]. Nowadays [[Port wine|port]] is transported there in tanker trucks.
In the 1960s and 1970s, [[dam]]s with locks were built along the river, allowing river traffic into the upper regions in Spain and along the border.
In 1998, [[Portugal–Spain relations#Present|Portugal and Spain]] signed the Albufeira Convention, an agreement on the sharing of [[trans-boundary river]]s to include the Douro, [[Tagus]] and [[Guadiana]]. The convention superseded an agreement on the Douro, signed in 1927, that was expanded in 1964 and 1968 to include tributaries.<ref>{{cite web|title=Spanish-Portuguese Albufeira Convention|url=https://www.un.org/waterforlifedecade/water_cooperation_2013/albufeira_convention.shtml|publisher=United Nations|access-date=18 February 2015}}</ref>
==Geography==
[[File:Douro SPOT 1123.jpg|thumb|235px|left|A SPOT Satellite image of the Douro River]]
[[File:Perfil del Duero.gif|thumb|235px|left|Profile of the Douro River, from its source in the mountains of the [[Sistema Ibérico]] to Foz do Douro]]
It is the third-longest river in the Iberian Peninsula after the [[Tagus River|Tagus]] and [[Ebro]]. Its total length is {{convert|897|km|mi}},<ref name=in/> of which only sections of the Portuguese section, being below a fall/rapids line, are naturally navigable, by modest rivercraft.<ref name=latin/> The Douro River basin encompasses an area of approximately 97,290 square kilometres.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Morán-Tejeda |first1=Enrique |last2=Ceballos-Barbancho |first2=Antonio |last3=Llorente-Pinto |first3=José Manuel |date=May 2010 |title=Hydrological response of Mediterranean headwaters to climate oscillations and land-cover changes: The mountains of Duero River basin (Central Spain) |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0921818110000792 |journal=[[Global and Planetary Change]] |volume=72 |issue=1–2 |pages=39–49 |doi=10.1016/j.gloplacha.2010.03.003 |access-date=6 January 2023}}</ref>
In its Spanish section, the Douro crosses the great [[Castile (historical region)|Castilian]] ''[[Meseta Central|meseta]]'' and meanders through five provinces of the autonomous community of [[Castile and León]]: [[Soria Province|Soria]], [[Burgos Province|Burgos]], [[Valladolid Province|Valladolid]], [[Zamora Province|Zamora]], and [[Salamanca Province|Salamanca]], passing through the towns of [[Soria]], [[Almazán]], [[Aranda de Duero]], [[Tordesillas]], and [[Zamora, Spain|Zamora]].
The most important tributaries in this region are the [[Pisuerga]], passing through [[Valladolid]], and the [[Esla River|Esla]], which passes through [[Zamora Province|Zamora]]. This region is generally semi-arid plains, with [[wheat]] and in some places, especially near ''[[Aranda de Duero]]'', with [[vineyard]]s, in the [[Ribera del Duero]] wine region. [[Sheep]] rearing is also still important.
The [[drainage basin]] borders those of [[Minho (river)|Miño]] to the north, [[Ebro]] to the east, and [[Tagus River|Tajo]] to the south.<ref name=in>{{cite web|url= http://www.iberianature.com/material/rivers.html |title=Rivers in Spain|work=www.iberianature.com |access-date=12 August 2017}}</ref><ref name=latin>{{cite web|url= http://www.iberianature.com/material/guided.htm#duero |title=Guide to Spain CO-CU|work=www.iberianature.com |access-date=12 August 2017}}</ref>
For {{convert|112|km|mi}}, the river forms part of the [[Portugal–Spain border|border between Spain and Portugal]], in a region of narrow [[canyon]]s. It formed a historical barrier to invasions, creating a cultural/linguistic divide. In these isolated areas, in which the [[Aldeadávila Dam]] impounds the river, there are protected areas: the [[International Douro Natural Park]] (on the Portuguese side) and the [[Arribes del Duero Natural Park]] (on the [[Zamora Province|Zamoran]] margin).
The Douro fully enters Portuguese territory just after the confluence with the [[Águeda River]]; once the Douro enters Portugal, major population centres are less frequent along the river. Except for [[Porto]] and [[Vila Nova de Gaia]] at the river mouth, the only population centres of any note are Foz do Tua, Pinhão and [[Peso da Régua]]. Tributaries here are small, merging into the Douro along the canyons; the most important are [[Côa River|Côa]], [[Tua River|Tua]], [[Sabor River|Sabor]], [[Corgo River|Corgo]], [[Tavora River|Tavora]], [[Paiva River|Paiva]], [[Tâmega River|Tâmega]], and [[Sousa River|Sousa]]. None of these small, fast-flowing rivers is navigable.
===Human geography===
[[File:Douro estuary.jpg|thumb|Aerial view of the Douro estuary, Porto]]
Major Spanish riverside towns include [[Soria]], [[Almazán]], [[Aranda de Duero]], [[Tordesillas]], [[Zamora, Spain|Zamora]] and major Portuguese towns include [[Miranda do Douro]], [[Foz Côa]], [[Peso da Régua]], [[Lamego]], [[Vila Nova de Gaia]], and [[Porto]]. The most populous cities along the Douro River are Valladolid and Zamora in Spain, and Porto and Vila Nova de Gaia in Portugal. The latter two are located at the mouth of the Douro at the Atlantic Ocean.
In Portugal, the Douro flows through the districts of [[Bragança District|Bragança]], [[Guarda District|Guarda]], [[Viseu District|Viseu]], [[Vila Real District|Vila Real]], [[Aveiro District|Aveiro]] and [[Porto District|Porto]]. [[Porto]] is the main hub city in northern Portugal. Its historic centre has been designated as a [[UNESCO World Heritage Site]] because of its significant architecture and history.
==Economy==
{{See also|Port wine|Agriculture in Portugal|Tourism in Portugal|Tourism in Spain}}
[[File:Ribera area along the river Duoro, Porto, Portugal, 2019.jpg|thumb|The Ribeira (meaning riverside). Its tall, colourful-building terraces is the main part of the river bank in the major city of Porto; it attracts numerous tourists]]
These reaches of the Douro have a [[mesoclimate]]{{specify|date=March 2011}} allowing for cultivation of [[olive]]s, [[almond]]s, and especially [[grape]]s, which are important for making [[Port wine|port]]. The region around Pinhão and [[São João da Pesqueira]] is considered to be the centre of port, with its ''quintas'' (or farms/estates) that extend along the steep slopes of the river valleys. In the 21st century, many of these are owned by multinational, reputed wine companies.
Recently, a prosperous [[tourism|tourist]] industry has developed based on river excursions from Porto to points along the Upper Douro valley.
The [[Douro railway line]] ({{lang|pt|Linha do Douro}}) was completed in 1887; it connects Porto, Rio Tinto, Ermesinde, Valongo, Paredes, Penafiel, Livração, Marco de Canaveses, Régua, Tua and Pocinho.
Pocinho is near the very small city of Foz Côa, which is close to [[Côa Valley Paleolithic Art]] site. This is considered important to the [[archaeological]] pre-historic patrimony, and it has been designated as a [[UNESCO World Heritage Site]].
===Dams===
Fifteen dams have been built on the Douro to regulate the water flow, generate [[hydroelectric power]], and allow [[navigability|navigation]] through [[canal lock|locks]]. Beginning at the headwaters, the first five dams are in Spain: [[Cuerda del Pozo Dam|Cuerda del Pozo]], [[Los Rábanos Dam|Los Rábanos]], [[San José Dam|San José]], [[Villalcampo Dam|Villalcampo]] and [[Castro Dam]]s. The next five downstream are along the Portuguese-Spanish border; the first three are owned and operated by Portugal: ([[Miranda Dam|Miranda]], [[Picote Dam|Picote]] and [[Bemposta Dam]]s), while the next two belong to Spain: ([[Aldeadávila Dam|Aldeadávila]] and [[Saucelle Dam]]s).
The Douro's last five dams are in Portugal, and allow for navigation: [[Pocinho Dam|Pocinho]], [[Valeira Dam|Valeira]], [[Régua Dam|Régua]], [[Carrapatelo Dam|Carrapatelo]], and [[Crestuma–Lever Dam|Crestuma–Lever]] dams. Vessels with a maximum length of {{convert|83|m|ft}} and width of {{convert|11.4|m|ft}} can pass through the five [[canal lock|locks]]. The highest lock, at Carrapatelo Dam, has a maximum lift of {{convert|35|m|ft}}. The waters of Pocinho lake reach {{convert|125|m|ft}} above sea level. Unannounced releases of water from upstream Spanish dams occasionally causes navigation issues in these locks.
== Gallery ==
<gallery>
File:Zamora (9223963842).jpg|The Douro in [[Zamora Province|Zamora]] ([[Spain]])
Image:Valladolid rio pisuerga puente mayor playa.jpg|The [[Pisuerga River]] (tributary to the Duero) in [[Valladolid]]
File:The Douro Valley (10185403284).jpg|The Upper Douro valley where [[Port wine]] grapes grow
File:Rabelo Douro en–Porto.jpg|The typical ''rabelo'' boat and [[Porto]] historical district in background
Image:Dom Luis 1 bridge Porto Portugal.JPG|[[Port wine]] signs by the Douro River
Image:Porto Panorama 2004.jpg|Panoramic view of [[Oporto]]
Image:Douro2flat1070.jpg|The river between [[Porto]] and [[Vila Nova de Gaia]]
Image:Douro Valley Regua.jpg|The river near [[Régua]], Portugal
Image:Arribes del Duero - Miranda edited.jpg|Douro Internacional near [[Miranda do Douro]]
Image:Arribes del Duero vistos desde Aldeadávila.JPG|[[Arribes del Duero]] near [[Aldeadávila de la Ribera|Aldeadávila]]
Image:Wharfs at the Douro in Porto.jpg|The river mouth in [[Porto]]
Image:Rio Douro (9498681956).jpg|Over Porto
Image:Estuário do Douro I.jpg|Douro Estuary
Image:Porto Gaia Foz do Douro.jpg|Looking across the river mouth from [[Foz do Douro]] to [[Vila Nova de Gaia]] (Atlantic Ocean on the right)
Image:Urueña almendro1 lou.jpg|Typical almond tree, mostly seen along the river in Portugal
</gallery>
== See also ==
* [[List of rivers of Portugal]]
* [[List of rivers of Spain]]
==References==
{{Reflist}}
==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20170502075406/http://www.dourovalley.eu/en DouroValley.eu Main tourism website]
* [http://www.douro.iptm.pt/EN/via_navegavel/caracteristicas.aspx IPTM{{snd}}Instituto Portuário e dos Transportes Marítimos, Delegação do Norte e Douro]
* [http://douro-mapasonoro.blogspot.co.uk/ Rio Douro Sound Map]
{{Authority control}}
[[Category:Douro| ]]
[[Category:International rivers of Europe]]
[[Category:Portugal–Spain border]]
[[Category:Rivers of Burgos]]
[[Category:Rivers of Castile and León]]
[[Category:Rivers of Portugal]]
[[Category:Rivers of Spain]]
[[Category:Rivers of Valladolid]]