Puntos de Interés
Hydrography
Arganza river
The Arganza River, known in Asturian as Irrondo or Eirrondu, derives its name from the notion of an "abundance of stony ground." Originating amidst the peaks of Pedrairas and Piqueiro in the Cantabrian mountain range at an elevation of 1440 m, this river charts a north-easterly course through the councils of Cangas de Narcea, Allande, and Tineo. Its journey runs parallel to the Narcea River, culminating in a confluence after 33 km at the Argancinas bridge.
The ceaseless flow of the Arganza River played a pivotal role in Rome's economic endeavors during its occupation of Hispania in the early years of our Era. At the end of the Cantabrian wars in 19 B.C., the Romans turned their attention to the abundant metals, particularly gold, emerging along the Cantabrian Mountains. Water, harnessed by engineers, became a tool for excavating and reaching coveted ore veins. Consequently, the Arganza River basin is dotted with remnants and traces of Roman presence, including castreño enclosures, structures employed for gold mining, and even Roman epigraphic documents.
Beyond its historical significance, the Arganza River has long been a haven for fishermen, who traditionally sought trout (Salmo trutta) and eel (Anguilla anguilla). Unfortunately, factors such as climate change, pollution, and overfishing have led to a severe depletion of the trout population in the Arganza River, bordering on extinction. In response, in 2021, the Regional Ministry of Rural Affairs and Territorial Cohesion collaborated with fishermen's associations from the southwest of Asturias, such as Fuentes del Narcea, Cangas del Narcea, El Banzao, and Tineo, to launch a restocking campaign in the river's waters.
This initiative involved strategically placing Vibert boxes, biodegradable containers with grooves for inserting mature eggs, in the river's headwaters. Impressively, 90-95% of the 100,000 eggs hatched, and the resulting fry exhibited superior adaptability to the environment, marking the restocking as a success. While these conservation efforts offer hope for the survival of trout in the Arganza River, they also underscore the fragility of ecosystems. They serve as a reminder that environmental stewardship must extend to all corners of the globe.