Lea-Artibai is an eskualdea/comarca of the province of Biscay (Bizkaia), in the Basque Country, Spain. Lea-Artibai is the heir of the historical merindad of Markina, which was one of the merindades of Biscay. Currently, Lea-Artibai is one of the seven comarcas that compose the province. Its capital city is Markina-Xemein.

Lea-Artibai
Símon Bolivar Square in Ziortza-Bolibar
Símon Bolivar Square in Ziortza-Bolibar
CountrySpain
Autonomous communityBasque Country
ProvinceBiscay
CapitalMarkina-Xemein
Municipalities
Area
 • Total206 km2 (80 sq mi)
Population
 (2018)[1]
 • Total25,931
 • Density130/km2 (330/sq mi)
Demonym 
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Largest municipalityOndarroa

Geography edit

Lea-Artibai is located at the northeast extreme of the province. It limits with the comarcas of Busturialdea at west and Durangaldea at south, while the province of Gipuzkoa is at the east. The Bay of Biscay sits on the north. It occupies the drainage basin of the rivers Lea and Artibai.

Municipalities edit

Coat of
Arms
Municipality Area in
km²
Population
2001[2]
Population
2011[3]
Population
2018[4]
  Markina-Xemein 44.79 4,708 4,941 4,934
  Ziortza-Bolibar + 18.50 - 411 427
  Ondarroa 3.60 9,732 8,799 8,397
  Etxebarria 18.10 798 806 772
  Berriatua 20.23 987 1,242 1,247
  Amoroto 12.94 376 413 419
  Gizaburuaga 6.32 144 204 212
  Ispaster 22.62 613 695 725
  Lekeitio 1.90 7,357 7,377 7,258
  Aulesti 25.31 649 672 648
  Munitibar-Arbatzegi Gerrikaitz 27.04 390 434 460
  Mendexa 6.90 341 437 432

Note: + created from part of Markina-Xemein in 2005.

Transport edit

 
The Artibai river in Berriatua.

Lea-Artibai is the only comarca of Biscay that does not have a single kilometer of highway or railway. Its communications are deficient and depend on roads, like the BI-633 that connects Ondarroa with Durango or the BI-2405 which connects Ondarroa with Lekeitio.

Economy edit

The economy of the municipalities of Lea-Artibai are based on the primary sector, while some industries, like one of fish preservation exist too.

References edit

  1. ^ Estimate at 1 January 2018: Instituto Nacional de Estadística, Madrid.
  2. ^ Census at 1 November 2001: Instituto Nacional de Estadística, Madrid.
  3. ^ Census at 1 November 2011: Instituto Nacional de Estadística, Madrid.
  4. ^ Estimate at 1 January 2018: Instituto Nacional de Estadística, Madrid.

External links edit

43°17′17″N 2°31′32″W / 43.28806°N 2.52556°W / 43.28806; -2.52556