Os Ancares

Os Ancares
Comarca
Country	Spain
Autonomous community	Galicia
Province	Lugo
Capital	Becerreá
Municipalities	List Becerreá, As Nogais, Baralla, Cervantes, Navia de Suarna, Pedrafita do Cebreiro
Area
• Total	907 km2 (350 sq mi)
Population
• Total	13,888
• Density	15/km2 (40/sq mi)
Time zone	CET (UTC+1)
• Summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+2)

Os Ancares is a comarca in the Galician Province of Lugo. The overall population of this local region is 13,888 (2005). It is formed by the municipality of Candín with two slopes, Sil and Navia, and separated by the Port of Ancares. Today, talking about Os Ancares is talking about a broader region that straddles the provinces of Lugo and Leon which are Los Ancares Leoneses or Ancares Bercianos and Os Ancares Lucenses.

The Ancareses converve in their speech many singularities that have come to be defined as a dialect. It is an Ancares transitional dialect between Galician and Asturian-Leonese and its own singularities. It is also often called chapurreao.

A range of mountains called in Galician the "Serra dos Ancares" forms the border with the neighbouring autonomous community of Castile and León where there is an area called Os Ancares. The Spanish term Los Ancares Lucenses (i.e. pertaining to Lugo) is sometimes used to refer to the Galician Ancares, thus distinguishing them from Los Ancares Leoneses (i.e. pertaining to León).

Geography

Os Ancares has mountain valley high altitudes and steep slopes located in the northwest of El Bierzo.^[1] The main river that gives name to the region is the Ancares river, a tributary of the river Cúa which, in turn, is of the Sil. This river began as Cuiña and has tributaries from the rivers Miravalles and de la Vega and streams from Penedón, Baliñas and the Cross. Traditionally, only the higher towns of high of Ancares are called Ancareses. Apart from San Martin de Moreda and until San Pedro de Olleros, where the river flows into the Cúa, is where they are considered bericanos.

The altitude varies between the valley from 800 to 900 meters, and the highest peaks, which are about 2,000 meters (Pico Miravalles at 1,969 meters).

The climate is mountainous, with high rainfall and moderate temperatures.

Mountain range that separates Ancares from Galicia

Economy

The Ancareses have a reputation for good traders, dedicating themselves in the past. Many of them trade with the valleys and neighboring regions. This was probably forced by the poor performance of agriculture due to poor land and poor quality of the products . Cabbage cultivation from which an Ancares broth is made is traditional in this region.

Municipalities

Becerreá, As Nogais, Baralla, Cervantes, Navia de Suarna and Pedrafita do Cebreiro.

References

Comarcas of Galicia A Coruña Arzúa  • A Barbanza  • A Barcala  • Bergantiños  • Betanzos  • A Coruña  • O Eume  • Ferrol  • Fisterra  • Muros  • Noia  • Ordes  • Ortegal  • Santiago  • O Sar  • Terra de Melide  • Terra de Soneira  • Xallas Lugo Os Ancares  • Chantada  • A Fonsagrada  • Lugo  • A Mariña Central  • A Mariña Occidental  • A Mariña Oriental  • Meira  • Quiroga  • Sarria  • Terra Chá  • Terra de Lemos  • A Ulloa Ourense Allariz-Maceda  • A Baixa Limia  • O Carballiño  • A Limia  • Ourense  • O Ribeiro  • Terra de Caldelas  • Terra de Celanova  • Terra de Trives  • Valdeorras  • Verín  • Viana Pontevedra O Baixo Miño  • Caldas  • O Condado  • O Deza  • O Morrazo  • A Paradanta  • Pontevedra  • O Salnés  • Tabeirós – Terra de Montes  • Vigo

Coordinates: 42°50′00″N 7°05′00″W / 42.8333°N 7.08333°W / 42.8333; -7.08333