Hydrography

River Ter

The River Ter rises at an altitude of 2,480 metres above sea level, in an ancient glacial cirque bounded by the peaks of Grano de Alforfón, Pico de la Mujer and Los Marcos. At 208 kilometres in length, it is the longest and fullest river in Catalonia’s inland river basins. On its way to the Mediterranean, it passes through the regions of Ripollès, Osona, La Selva, Gironès and Baix Empordà.

The origin of its name can be traced back to the term Tezere, which is possibly derived from the Breton word ster, meaning ‘river’.

An old legend tells of an elderly man who asked a shepherd for some water to drink, as the summer heat was particularly intense. Even though he had had to go a long way to find it and he really needed it himself, the shepherd offered it to the old man. As a token of his gratitude, he gave him a bottle of water that never ran out. The shepherd is said to have lost the bottle, and, according to the story, water gushed out of it, giving rise to the river.

Today, the River Ter catchment area has three main uses: water supply, electricity generation and the production of artificial snow for skiing. Furthermore, throughout their journey, visitors will be able to enjoy a wide variety of European natural landscapes.

The flora is characterised by the presence of hazel trees, poplars and ferns, as well as some unusual plants such as bear’s ear. The wildlife is equally diverse, featuring species such as the wild boar, the genet, the badger, the vulture and the sparrowhawk.

Along its course there are numerous reservoirs, including those at Susqueda, Pasteral, Colomers, Seva and Sau.

Historically, the Ter region played a key role in Catalonia’s industrial development, thanks to the establishment of numerous textile industrial estates. Today there are around 200 dams along its course; many of them have been repurposed for hydroelectric power generation following the relocation of the former textile industry.