| Salazar Valley Zaraitzu |
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|---|---|---|---|
| — Comarca — | |||
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| Country | Spain | ||
| Autonomous community | Navarre | ||
| Capital | Ezcároz | ||
| Municipalities |
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| Area | |||
| • Total | 310 km2 (119.7 sq mi) | ||
| Population (2007) | |||
| • Total | 1,620 | ||
| • Density | 5.2/km2 (13.5/sq mi) | ||
| Time zone | CET (UTC+1) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | CEST (UTC+2) | ||
The Salazar Valley (Basque: Zaraitzu Ibarra, Spanish: Valle de Salazar) is a valley in the east of the Foral Community of Navarre in Spain. It lies within the Merindad of Zangoza-Sangüesa and within that, the Comarca of Roncal-Salazar. The Sierra de Abodi, part of the Western Pyrenees, forms the natural boundary in the north. There is a ski resort in Abodi.
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The first mention of the name was in documents of the Monastery of Leire, with the denomination of Sarasazo (924). Later Sarasazu (1055), Sarasaz (1111 and 1469), Sarasaitz (1205) especially in texts written in Latin.
Zaraitzu seems to derivate from an older form: Sarasaitzu.
The Castilian official denomination began being used widely in the 17th century probably influenced by the Salazar surname, famous in the Nobility of the Iberian Peninsula. In fact Salazar is not a common surname in Navarre, but it is very common in the west of the Basque Country, which indicates its origins.
The local dialect is the Zaraitzu Basque, although nowadays Castilian between the old people and Castilian and Euskara Batua between younger generations is spoken. However, the last publications of works about the Basque of Zaraitzu (dictionary, learning method, text collection and oral recordings) and some curses of this dialect in the valley allowed the local population to be able to understand it and maintain it to some extent.
The traditional names of the towns are in brackets.
| Municipality | 1975 | 1981 | 1986 | 1991 | 1996 | 2001 | 2005 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Espartza Zaraitzu-Esparza de Salazar | 199 | 160 | 159 | 136 | 122 | 103 | 100 |
| Ezkaroze-Ezcároz | 466 | 431 | 400 | 365 | 364 | 358 | 363 |
| Galoze-Gallués | 149 | 135 | 142 | 133 | 124 | 121 | 118 |
| Gorza-Güesa | 122 | 113 | 106 | 90 | 79 | 72 | 65 |
| Itzaltzu-Izalzu | 84 | 54 | 52 | 49 | 49 | 45 | 46 |
| Jaurrieta | 415 | 391 | 359 | 321 | 268 | 238 | 225 |
| Otsagabia-Ochagavía | 826 | 777 | 721 | 676 | 701 | 666 | 651 |
| Orontze-Oronz | 66 | 70 | 70 | 57 | 53 | 56 | 55 |
| Sartze-Sarriés | 121 | 112 | 106 | 111 | 84 | 79 | 81 |
| TOTAL | 2448 | 2243 | 2115 | 1938 | 1844 | 1738 | 1704 |