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The
autonomous region of La Rioja lies in the north of Spain. It borders the
Basque Country and Navarre in the north, Aragon in the east, and Castile
and Leon in the south and east.
This
one province autonomous region lies between the Ebro depression and the
Iberian mountain range, and includes the Demanda sierra with its San
Lorenzo peaks (2,262 m) and the Cameros Nuevo sierra (1,877 m). Demanda
sierra decreases further inland until it merges with the Central Plateau.
Bordering with Soria in the south, the Picos de Urbion and the Sierra
Cebollera reach heights of over 2,000 metres. The plains stretch over the
central part of the region forming the Ebro depression, where the river
Ebro flows through the northern reaches of the region. The river continues
its route along Conchas de Haro in the west and exits La Rioja through
Alfaro in the east. Other rivers that flow from the Ebro basin are the
Oja, Glera, el Najerilla, el Iregua, el Leza, el Cidacos and el Alhama
rivers.
Population
The
population of this autonomous region according to figures from the Spanish
National Statistics Institute (INE) as of the 1st of January 2001, after
having reviewed the Inhabitants register is 270,400.
Most
of the population of the region is located around the villages and cities
that lie in the Ebro river valley. The mountain areas are, however,
sparsely populated. The population density of the region has grown
favourably in the twentieth century. The population did not really start
growing until the fifties. Years later given the fact that so many people
emigrated from the region, the population stopped growing up until the
final years of the century.
Administration
The
Autonomy Statute of La Rioja came into force in 1982. This is the
institution that governs the inhabitants of this one province autonomous
region, whose capital is Logroño.
Legislative
power is in the hands of the Regional Assembly. The Assembly is made up of
33 elected members, with elections every four years. Executive power falls
to the regional government.
Weather
The
climate in this autonomous region is varied.
Generally,
there are major inter-regional changes in climate all along La Rioja.
Rainfall is very high in the mountains, and winter temperatures are low.
The riverbanks have very different types of rainfall and temperature.
Infrastructures
In
spite of its mountainous terrain, La Rioja has an excellent
infrastructure.
La
Rioja is a very important communications hub in the Iberian Península. It
is a major trading route between the Mediterranean coast and Aragon for
the north of Spain. The infrastructure is blessed with dual carriageways
and fast roads. These motorways link it with Zaragoza-Barcelona, with the
Basque Country and with Castile and Leon via Burgos. All the region's
towns are connected by road and rail. .
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