Puntos de Interés
Hydrography
Deva River
The Deva River is born in the melting glaciers of the Picos de Europa in Fuente Dé, and flows between the mountains of Cantabria and Asturias. The water of this river runs from the rugged mountains until it meets the Cantabrian Sea near the towns of Pimiango and Pechón, forming the Ría de Tinamayor.
With a drop of 2,000 metres and a course of 66 km that crosses eight municipalities along the Cantabrian Coast, the Deva River flows downstream through the municipalities of Camaleño, Potes, Cillórigo de Liébana, Peñarrubia, Tresviso, Peñamellera Baja, Ribadedeva, and Val de San Vicente. In these last two locations and in part of the municipality of Tresviso, the river marks the boundary between Asturias and Cantabria.
Its hydrographic basin covers an area of 648.207 km2, and drains into the river to constitute an average annual flow of 10.81 m3/s. However, the flow can vary considerably, reaching lows of 0.06 m3/s in the summer and highs of 243.89 m3/s. This is because it is a snow-fed river and so it depends directly on melt water from the Picos de Europa. Other sources of water include its tributaries such as the Udón River, the Cares River, which joins up with it as it passes through Panes, or the Quiviesa and Bullón rivers.
The Deva River is subject to different official categories of protection. At its source, it is protected by the Picos de Europa National Park. It is also protected as part of the Natura 2000 Network, as it features 44 vegetation environments, 16 of which are considered priority habitats of community interest. Its fauna is also of interest because the river is home to salmon. It provides a home to species such as the brown bear, otter, Iberian desman, or various bat species. A particularly interesting stretch is the Desfiladero de la Hermida, the longest gorge in Spain. Its views are a must-see and it has been designated as a Special Protection Area for Birds.
The river's name appears to derive from the Celtic goddess Deva This name literally means goddess and the deity was associated with currents and bodies of water. This theonym (a name corresponding to deities) can be found in other places in Asturias, the Basque Country, or Galicia.