Hydrography

Golmayo River

Although the city of Soria is unquestionably linked to the Duero river, it is important to note that it is situated alongside two other rivers: the Duero and the Golmayo. This small tributary, measuring just 12 km in length, has been named after the municipality of Golmayo, although it is possible that the river itself was the source of the town's name. In any case, this river flows entirely through Soria, ending its course in the Duero, as do most rivers that originate in the northern plateau.

The Golmayo river's source is the infiltration of rainwater into an aquifer near Frentes Peak, which rises 1,382 m above sea level at the eastern end of the Sierra Llana, itself located in the southernmost part of the Iberian System. The source of the Golmayo river is the main attraction of the area. The riverbed has to cross a distance of 20 m in height at the Toba spring, creating a waterfall known as the Toba waterfall. This natural phenomenon only occurs during periods of heavy rainfall, generally associated with spring and autumn. The name of the neighbouring village of Fuentetoba is derived from the spring that is located there.

After collecting the waters of numerous ravines in the Sierra Llana and the Sierra de San Marcos, the river Golmayo passes through the village of the same name and flows into the capital of Soria, where the Duero leaves the historic city and heads south to Almazán. Up to this point, the river has had sufficient time to traverse extensive wooded areas of Spanish oak (Quercus pyrenaica) and evergreen oak (Quercus ilex), interspersed with cereal fields, meadows and verdant pastures. This wild environment is home to several emblematic species of Iberian fauna, including the wild boar (Sus scrofa), the badger (Meles meles), the European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus), the roe deer (Capreolus capreolus), the snub-nosed viper (Vipera latastei) and the elusive Western three-toed skink (Chalcides striatus). The area's aquatic life includes barbel (Barbus bocagei) and Duero bogue (Chondrostoma duriense), which are popular with anglers, as well as rare amphibians such as the marbled newt (Triturus marmoratus). In addition to these, water birds play an important role in the riverine ecosystem of the Golmayo river, with notable species including the Eurasian hoopoe (Upupa epops), the mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) and the common kingfisher (Alcedo atthis).