A great many rivers and streams scar the Navarrese Pyrenees,
shaping the landscape to form ecosystems of great variety. Riverbank
thickets are full of life: herons, kites, golden orioles, kingfishers
and other small birds live in amongst alders, elders, willows,
maples, ash and elm trees.
The rivers also provide the
valleys of the Pyrenees with water, energy
and axes of communication. The main rivers
are:
The
Irati
Born
where the Rivers Urtxuria and
Urbeltza converge in the Forest
of Irati, it idles a while in
Irabia, a reservoir in the heart
of the Forest. After crossing
Aezkoa and offering images of
outstanding natural beauty, the
waters of the Irati forge on through
the valley to which it lends its
name until they reach the spectacular
throat of the Ravine of Lumbier.
Finally, 88 km later, they end
their journey in the River Aragon.
The Irati is probably the river
most used to generate hydroelectric
power in the area, particularly
so following the creation of the
company Irati S.A., which also
borrowed the name of the river
to christen the electric train
which joined Pamplona to Sangüesa.
The Irabia dam, amplified on more
than five occasions in order to
ensure the flow required in order
to transport timber to the sawmill
in Ecay, was also built in this
period.
A great many tubes, small dams,
ducts, canals and power stations
which speak a great deal of the
quality of these constructions,
can still be found over its course.
The
Arga
Starting
out in Quinto Real, near to Collado
de Urkiaga, it idles in the Eugi
reservoir, making for a landscape
of great beauty. The banks of
the Arga are home to alders, with
their spectacular springtime blossom,
ash and poplars. The river also
provides fishermen with trout
and barbel. Covering some 145
km, the Arga is the only large
river in Navarre which rises and
dies all within the community
itself.
The
Eska
Flows
through the Valley of Roncal and
receives waters on its right-hand
bank from the Rivers Ustárroz
and Viniés and on the left
from the Rivers Belagua, Mace
and Belabarce. It crosses the
villages of Isaba, Urzainki, Roncal
and Burgui. To the south of the
Lakartxela area, 3 kilometres
from Burgui, it enters Aragonese
lands, where it is fed by the
waters of the Badalona stream,
flowing through Salvatierra de
Esca and Sigues before finally
entering the River Aragon at Venta
Carrica.
The
Salazar
The
main tributary of the River Irati.
This river is formed at the point
at which the Rivers Zatoia and
Anduña meet in Otsagabia.
It runs the length and provides
the backbone of the Valley of
Salazar from north to south.
It waters are excellent for trout
fishing and there are significant
populations of barbel and soufie
near to the point at which it
flows into the Irati. Of the many
bridges crossing it, those of
Hornos, Esparza de Salazar, Bigüezal
and the bridge of Cabras in Lumbier
are worth highlighting.
The
Erro
Starting
in Sorogain, crossing the Valley
of Erro, this river runs more
than 40 km before dying in the
Irati.
The
Urrobi and the Areta are other
rivers worthy of note.
Born
where the Rivers Urtxuria and
Urbeltza converge in the Forest
of Irati, it idles a while in
Irabia, a reservoir in the heart
of the Forest. After crossing
Aezkoa and offering images of
outstanding natural beauty, the
waters of the Irati forge on through
the valley to which it lends its
name until they reach the spectacular
throat of the Ravine of Lumbier.
Finally, 88 km later, they end
their journey in the River Aragon.
Starting
out in Quinto Real, near to Collado
de Urkiaga, it idles in the Eugi
reservoir, making for a landscape
of great beauty. The banks of
the Arga are home to alders, with
their spectacular springtime blossom,
ash and poplars. The river also
provides fishermen with trout
and barbel. Covering some 145
km, the Arga is the only large
river in Navarre which rises and
dies all within the community
itself.
Flows
through the Valley of Roncal and
receives waters on its right-hand
bank from the Rivers Ustárroz
and Viniés and on the left
from the Rivers Belagua, Mace
and Belabarce. It crosses the
villages of Isaba, Urzainki, Roncal
and Burgui. To the south of the
Lakartxela area, 3 kilometres
from Burgui, it enters Aragonese
lands, where it is fed by the
waters of the Badalona stream,
flowing through Salvatierra de
Esca and Sigues before finally
entering the River Aragon at Venta
Carrica.
The
main tributary of the River Irati.
This river is formed at the point
at which the Rivers Zatoia and
Anduña meet in Otsagabia.
It runs the length and provides
the backbone of the Valley of
Salazar from north to south. 
Starting
in Sorogain, crossing the Valley
of Erro, this river runs more
than 40 km before dying in the
Irati.
The
Urrobi and the Areta are other
rivers worthy of note.