La Rioja is bordered by the
Basque Country (province of
Álava),
Navarre,
Aragón (province of
Zaragoza), and
Castile and León (provinces of
Soria and
Burgos). The river
Ebro flows through this region, as does the river
Oja, after which it is named. The Ebro runs through the north of the community. The entire right bank (which is to the south) belongs to La Rioja. There are only three municipalities,
Briñas,
San Vicente de la Sonsierra and
Ábalos on the left bank (known as the Riojan Sonsierra), although Logroño,
Agoncillo,
Alcanadre,
Rincón de Soto and Alfaro also have parts of their respective municipal territories on that bank. Because of their proximity, the
Álava area between the Ebro and the
Sierra de Cantabria is called
Rioja Alavesa.
Climate The climate is mainly
continental. The Rioja Alta comarca receives more precipitation than Rioja Baja. The average temperature ranges from and the precipitation ranges between as an annual average. The wind called
Cierzo is very frequent around La Rioja during the winter.
Mountains and mountain ranges The mountains in La Rioja are part of the
Iberian System. This mountain range extends to the south of the Ebro river, parallel to it at a distance of about , with altitudes ranging between . From the mountain range the
Sierra de la Demanda runs northwards, into the heart of La Rioja, incorporating
Monte San Lorenzo which, at , is the highest peak in the province. Other mountains include
Sierra de Camero Viejo,
Sierra de Camero Nuevo,
Sierra de Cebollera, and
Picos de Urbión.
Hydrography in La Rioja The
Ebro is the main river passing through the community. Emerging from the narrow channel between the rocks of the
Conchas de Haro, it reaches La Rioja, through which it runs for , before continuing its journey to the Mediterranean. In the Conchas de Haro the altitude of the river is and when it leaves the community, in the Sotos del Ebro Natural Reserve in
Alfaro, it is high. The river therefore flows very quickly through La Rioja. Seven rivers descend rapidly towards the Ebro from the mountain range, which is why La Rioja is sometimes called: "Zone of the seven valleys". They are, from east to west,
Alhama,
Cidacos, Leza, Iregua,
Najerilla,
Oja and
Tirón, although the headwaters of the Alhama and Cidacos originate in
Soria and those of Najerilla-Neila and Tirón are from Burgos. Sometimes Linares (a tributary of Alhama) is added, grouping Tirón with its tributary, the Oja. All the rivers of these valleys form tributaries that go on to form many valleys in their own right, such as those of Linares, Ocon, Jubera, Tuerto, Brieva, Viniegras and San Millán. There is an almost unlimited number of grandiose canyons, quite splendid in nature, such as Aguas Buenas, Nieva, Manzanares, Ardancha, Navajún, Valderresa, Ollora, Tobia, San Martín and others.
Flora and fauna In the highlands,
oaks,
beech and
pine are grown. There are also thickets of
juniper,
boxwood,
sloes,
holly and
cistus.
Thyme,
rosemary,
common juniper, and
holm oak are present. There are grand hillsides with fine pasture for livestock, cattle and sheep. In the lower areas there are oaks, olive and almond trees. Near the Ebro, in the plains, the land is used for cereal, sugar beet and potatoes, while the hills are covered with vast vineyards of the wine that has brought worldwide fame to this region. All Riojan rivers, including the Ebro, have a row of poplars and cottonwood. About the Riojan Alamos
Ana Maria Matute has written: "... see them on the edge of the water, turning the landscape, like spears magical pointing towards the unreal and mysterious country of the riverbed."
Natural resources Gypsum and
silica are mined.
Arnedillo is a
spa town.
Dinosaur footprints of a
Theropoda found near
Enciso. During the
Early Cretaceous period, the geographical area of
Cameros was part of a flooded plain that drained periodically, leaving behind muddy areas where dinosaur tracks marked the path. Eventually they were dried and covered with new sediment layers whose weight pressed down on the lower layers, causing them to solidify into rocks over millions of years. Erosion has been wearing down the upper layers making many of these rock formations visible, bringing into view the fossilized footprints. La Rioja is notable for the number and conservation of these sites, in addition to those found in the north of
Soria, such as
Yanguas,
Santa Cruz de Yanguas and other highland locations.
Comarcas Geographical comarcas: • Rioja Alta •
Comarca de Anguiano •
Comarca de Ezcaray •
Comarca de Haro •
Comarca de Nájera •
Comarca de Santo Domingo de la Calzada • Rioja Media • Tierra de Cameros •
Camero Nuevo •
Camero Viejo •
Comarca de Logroño • Rioja Baja •
Comarca de Cervera •
Comarca de Alfaro •
Comarca de Arnedo •
Comarca de Calahorra ==Demographics==