Country Spain Comarca Bajo Cinca/Baix Cinca Time zone CET (UTC+1) Area 307.2 km² Population 2,393 (2014) | Elevation 75 m (246 ft) Website www.mequinensa.com Local time Sunday 4:55 AM | |
 | ||
Weather 10°C, Wind W at 10 km/h, 72% Humidity | ||
Mequinenza ([mekiˈnenθa]) or Mequinensa ([məkiˈnɛnsə], [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.
Contents
- Map of 50170 Mequinenza Zaragoza Spain
- History and features
- Mequinenza Reservoir
- Local council
- References
Map of 50170 Mequinenza, Zaragoza, Spain
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.
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.
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.
Mequinenza Reservoir
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)