Lima River

{{short description|River arising in Spain and flowing through Portugal}} {{Infobox river | name = Lima River | name_native = | name_native_lang = | name_other = Limia River, Rio Lima | name_etymology =  | image = Rio Lima 2.JPG | image_size = | image_caption = Lima Bridge on Lima River in Ponte de Lima, Portugal | map = | map_size = | map_caption = | pushpin_map = Portugal | pushpin_map_size = | pushpin_map_caption= Location of river mouth in Portugal  | subdivision_type1 = Country | subdivision_name1 = Portugal, Spain | subdivision_type2 = | subdivision_name2 = | subdivision_type3 = County | subdivision_name3 = Norte Region, Portugal | subdivision_type4 = | subdivision_name4 = | subdivision_type5 = | subdivision_name5 =  | length = | width_min = | width_avg = | width_max = | depth_min = | depth_avg = | depth_max = | discharge1_location= | discharge1_min = | discharge1_avg = | discharge1_max =  | source1 = | source1_location = Norte Region, Portugal | source1_coordinates= | source1_elevation = | mouth = | mouth_location = Viana do Castelo, Norte Region, Portugal | mouth_coordinates = {{coord|41.6824|N|8.8369|W|display=it|source:ptwiki}} | mouth_elevation = | progression = | river_system = | basin_size = | tributaries_left = | tributaries_right = | custom_label = | custom_data = | extra = }}

The '''Lima River''' (Portuguese name; known as '''Limia''' in Spanish and Galician) runs west from the autonomous community of Galicia in Spain to Portugal, where it enters the Atlantic Ocean at Viana do Castelo, covering {{convert|108|km|mi}}.

==Etymology and history== The Romans identified the Lima (called ''Limaeas'') with the mythical Lethe and also said that some Celtiberians called it the Belion.<ref name="Strabo">{{cite web|last=Strabo|author-link=Strabo|title=Geography Book III, Chapter 3|url=https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Strabo/3C*.html#3.4|website=LacusCurtius|publisher=University of Chicago|accessdate=12 October 2019}}</ref> Brutus Callaicus became the first Roman to cross the river, carrying his standard with him to convince his frightened soldiers to follow.<ref>Appian, The Spanish War [https://www.livius.org/sources/content/appian/appian-the-spanish-wars/appian-the-spanish-wars-15/#72 15.72]</ref><ref>Florus, Epitome, Book 1, [https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Florus/Epitome/1I*.html#XXXIII 33.12]</ref><ref>Livy, Periochae [https://www.livius.org/sources/content/livy/livy-periochae-51-55/#55.10 10.55]</ref>

==Description== [[File:Ponte de Boado sobre o río Limia, nun tramo vello da estrada N-525.jpg|thumb|left|A bridge across the Limia at Boado, Ourense, Spain]] The source of the Lima is Talariño Mountain at {{convert|975|m|ft}} above sea level, close to the village of Paradiña in the Sarreaus municipality (Ourense, Spain). In Spain, it extends for {{convert|41|km|mi}} and is known by regional names such as Alariño, Freixo and Mourenzo; however, the official term in Galicia is Limia.{{cn|date=February 2022}}

It crosses the border into Portugal through the reservoir created by the Alto Lindoso Dam ({{langx|pt|Barragem do Alto Lindoso}}) close to Lindoso village, just west of the border between the two countries.<ref>{{cite web | title=AltoLindosoficha | website=cnpgb21 | url=https://cnpgb.apambiente.pt/gr_barragens/gbingles/FichasIng/AltoLindosofichaIng.htm | access-date=21 February 2022 | archive-date=17 May 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220517230317/https://cnpgb.apambiente.pt/gr_barragens/gbingles/FichasIng/AltoLindosofichaIng.htm | url-status=dead }}</ref> The dam includes a hydro-electric plant,<ref>{{cite web | title=Alto Lindoso Hydroelectric Power Plant Portugal | website=Global Energy Observatory | date=28 July 2012 | url=https://globalenergyobservatory.org/geoid/43535 | access-date=21 February 2022}}</ref> and creates a large reservoir on the Spanish side of the border. The reservoir flooded several villages in the Spanish municipality of Lobios, including Aceredo and Buscalque, O Bao, A Reloeira and Lantemil,<ref name="Pontevedra 2012">{{cite web | last=Pontevedra | first=Silvia R. | title=Memoria de un pueblo ahogado | website=El País | date=14 December 2012 | url=https://elpais.com/sociedad/2012/12/14/actualidad/1355517771_214178.html | language=es | access-date=21 February 2022}}</ref> in 1992, but after a prolonged drought over the Spanish winter of 2021/2022, the "ghost village" of Aceredo had emerged and was again on dry land by February 2022.<ref>{{cite web | title=Ghost village emerges in Spain as drought empties reservoir | website=The Guardian | date=12 February 2022 | url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/feb/11/ghost-village-emerges-in-spain-as-drought-empties-reservoir-aceredo | access-date=21 February 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Week in pictures: 12–18 February 2022 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/in-pictures-60429635 |website=BBC News |access-date=19 February 2022 |ref=Yes |date=21 February 2022}}</ref>

The river runs through the municipalities of Ponte da Barca and Ponte de Lima, before reaching the Atlantic Ocean at Viana do Castelo.

==See also== * Rivers of Galicia

==References== {{Reflist}}

Category:Lima River Category:Natura 2000 in Portugal