The Anoia () is a

river A river is a natural stream of fresh water that flows on land or inside Subterranean river, caves towards another body of water at a lower elevation, such as an ocean, lake, or another river. A river may run dry before reaching the end of ...

Catalonia Catalonia is an autonomous community of Spain, designated as a ''nationalities and regions of Spain, nationality'' by its Statute of Autonomy of Catalonia of 2006, Statute of Autonomy. Most of its territory (except the Val d'Aran) is situate ...

Spain Spain, or the Kingdom of Spain, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe with territories in North Africa. Featuring the Punta de Tarifa, southernmost point of continental Europe, it is the largest country in Southern Eur ...

, a tributary of the

Llobregat The Llobregat () is the second longest river in Catalonia, Spain, after the Ter. It flows into the Mediterranean south of the city of Barcelona. Its name could have originated in an ancient Latin word meaning 'dark', 'muddy' or 'slippery', or ...

. Most of its course lies within the ''comarca'' of the

same name ''Same Name'' is an American reality television series in which an average person swaps lives with a celebrity of the same first and last name. It premiered on July 24, 2011 on CBS. The series received low ratings, and CBS pulled it after four-ep ...

. Its has four sources, in the

municipalities A municipality is usually a single administrative division having municipal corporation, corporate status and powers of self-government or jurisdiction as granted by national and regional laws to which it is subordinate. The term ''municipality' ...

Calaf Calaf () is the main town in the northern portion of the Comarques of Catalonia, ''comarca'' of the Anoia in Catalonia, Spain, situated on the Calaf Plain. The town holds an important weekly livestock market. It is served by the main N-II road ...

Sant Martí Sesgueioles is a municipality in the ''comarca'' of the Anoia in Catalonia Catalonia is an autonomous community of Spain, designated as a ''nationalities and regions of Spain, nationality'' by its Statute of Autonomy of Catalonia of 2006, Statute of ...

Montmaneu Montmaneu () is a municipality in the ''comarca'' of the Anoia in Catalonia Catalonia is an autonomous community of Spain, designated as a ''nationalities and regions of Spain, nationality'' by its Statute of Autonomy of Catalonia of 2006 ...

, and

Argençola Argençola () is a municipality in the ''comarca'' of the Anoia in Catalonia, Spain. It is situated in the east of the ''comarca'', bordering the Segarra and the Conca de Barberà. The Anoia river has its source on the territory of the municipa ...

, and these streams join together in

Jorba Jorba () is a municipality in the ''comarca'' of the Anoia in Catalonia Catalonia is an autonomous community of Spain, designated as a ''nationalities and regions of Spain, nationality'' by its Statute of Autonomy of Catalonia of 2006, St ...

to form the Anoia proper. Major towns along the river include

Igualada Igualada () is a municipality and capital of Anoia county in Penedès, Catalonia, Spain. It is located on the left bank of the Anoia River and at the western end of the Igualada-Martorell-Barcelona Railway. Igualada is the capital and central ...

;

Capellades Capellades () is a town in Catalonia, Spain, located in the south of the comarca of Anoia, some sixty metres above the Anoia river where it cuts through the Catalan Coastal Range. The C-15 trunk road from Vilafranca del Penedès and the FGC rail ...

, where it crosses the Pre-Coastal Range;

Sant Sadurní d'Anoia Sant Sadurní d'Anoia () is a municipality in the ''comarca'' of the Alt Penedès in Catalonia; and the centre of production of a sparkling wine known as '' cava''. It is situated in the north-east of the Penedès Depression at the confluence ...

;

Gelida Gelida () is a town and municipality in the ''comarca'' of Alt Penedès, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. The town is built on a hillside above the Anoia river The Anoia () is a river in Catalonia, Spain, a tributary of the Llobregat. Most of its ...

; and finally

Martorell Martorell () is a municipality, county, and city that forms part of the Baix Llobregat Comarques of Catalonia, comarca, in Catalonia, Spain, primarily known for its medieval Pont del Diable, Devil's bridge. It lies at the confluence of the Llobr ...

(

Baix Llobregat Baix Llobregat () is a comarca (county) on the coast of Catalonia, Spain. It is located in the Barcelona region and its capital is Sant Feliu de Llobregat. Municipalities Proposed changes It has long been proposed to split the northern part of ...

), where it joins the

from the right.

Economy

The Anoia was once a backbone of industry in Catalonia, especially the paper industry. At its height, there were 65 paper mills along the river, particularly in Capellades. As a result of both downstream industry and intensive agriculture in its headwaters, the Anoia became quite polluted. In Igualada, tanneries and textile manufacturing dumped lignin and lime into the river, and in Capellades, the paper and cardboard industry dumped a waste product called "black liquor." Closer to Martorell, the automotive industry added electrolytics, nickel, chromes, and cyanides to the water. Fortunately, improvements in technology and manufacturing processes have reduced the level of pollution in recent years.

Tributaries

* Riera de Carme * Riera Gran, which meets the Anoia at

Copons Copons () is a municipality in the ''comarca'' of the Anoia in Catalonia, Spain. Transportation Copons can be accessed from C142a not far from A2 linking Lleida with Barcelona Barcelona ( ; ; ) is a city on the northeastern coast of Spain ...

. * Riera de Lavernó, located between Espiells ( Sant Sadurní and Torre-ramona (

Subirats Subirats () is a municipality in the ''comarca'' of Alt Penedès, Catalonia Catalonia is an autonomous community of Spain, designated as a ''nationalities and regions of Spain, nationality'' by its Statute of Autonomy of Catalonia of 2006, ...

). * La Rierussa, which meets the Anoia near Gelida. * Riu de Bitlles * Torrent de Can Llopard * Torrent de Santa Maria

References

Rivers of Spain Rivers of Catalonia {{Spain-river-stub

Economy

Tributaries

See also

References