Tortosa

For the city in Syria called Tortosa during the crusades, see Tartous.
Tortosa
Municipality

Flag
Coat of arms
Tortosa

Location in Catalonia

Coordinates: 40°48′46″N 0°31′24″E / 40.81278°N 0.52333°E / 40.81278; 0.52333
Country Spain
Community Catalonia
Province Tarragona
Comarca Baix Ebre
Government
 • Mayor Ferran Bel Accensi (2015)[1]
Area[2]
 • Total 218.5 km2 (84.4 sq mi)
Elevation 12 m (39 ft)
Population (2014)[1]
 • Total 33,932
 • Density 160/km2 (400/sq mi)
Demonym(s) Tortosí, tortosina
Website tortosa.cat
Ebre river in Tortosa

Tortosa (Catalan: [tuɾˈtozə], locally: [toɾˈtoza]; Spanish: [toɾˈtosa]) is the capital of the comarca of Baix Ebre, in Catalonia (Spain).

Tortosa is located at 12 metres (39 feet) above sea level, by the Ebre river, protected on its northern side by the mountains of the Cardó Massif, of which Buinaca, one of the highest peaks, is located within Tortosa's municipal term.

Before Tortosa, across the river, rise the massive Ports de Tortosa-Beseit mountains. The area around Mont Caro and other high summits are often covered with snow in the winter.

Population centres

The municipality includes a small exclave to the west.

History

Tortosa (from Latin: Dertusa or Dertosa, via Arabic: طرطوشة‎‎ Ṭurṭūšah) is probably identical to the ancient Hibera, capital of Ilercavonia. This may be the ancient settlement the remains of which have been found on the hill named Castillo de la Zuda. In Roman times, the town adopted the name Dertosa. After more than 400 years of Muslim rule, the city was conquered by the Count Ramon Berenguer IV of Barcelona in 1148, as part of the Second Crusade. Because of the crusading appeal made by Pope Eugene III and his representative Nicholas Brakespear (the future Pope Hadrian IV), the siege received the aid of crusaders from multiple nationalities (Genovese, Anglo-Normans, Normans, Southern-French, Germans, Flemish and Dutch), who were on their way to the Holy Land. The siege of Tortosa was narrated by the Genovese chronicler and diplomat Caffaro.

After its conquest, the city and its territory were divided among the victors, with multiple lands being granted to foreign crusaders and to the military and religious orders.[3]

Formerly there was a railway line between Tortosa and Alcañiz, opening a communication gate between this region and Aragon.[4] Construction work began in 1891, but it was haphazard and the first trains between Alcañiz and Tortosa began only in 1942. The last stretch between Tortosa and Sant Carles de la Ràpita was never completed before the line was terminated by RENFE in 1973.[5]

Main sights

International relations

Twin towns — Sister cities

Tortosa is twinned with:

Demography

Historical population of Tortosa
Year1991199620012004
Population29,45230,08828,93331,979

Climate

Climate data for Tortosa 50m (1981-2010)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 26.0
(78.8)		 26.3
(79.3)		 32.5
(90.5)		 33.9
(93)		 36.0
(96.8)		 39.6
(103.3)		 43.0
(109.4)		 41.1
(106)		 38.0
(100.4)		 34.5
(94.1)		 28.2
(82.8)		 25.6
(78.1)		 43.0
(109.4)
Average high °C (°F) 14.6
(58.3)		 16.4
(61.5)		 19.5
(67.1)		 21.5
(70.7)		 24.9
(76.8)		 29.4
(84.9)		 32.2
(90)		 32.3
(90.1)		 28.8
(83.8)		 24.0
(75.2)		 18.4
(65.1)		 14.9
(58.8)		 23.1
(73.6)
Daily mean °C (°F) 10.1
(50.2)		 11.2
(52.2)		 13.8
(56.8)		 15.8
(60.4)		 19.2
(66.6)		 23.4
(74.1)		 26.3
(79.3)		 26.5
(79.7)		 23.2
(73.8)		 18.8
(65.8)		 13.9
(57)		 10.6
(51.1)		 17.7
(63.9)
Average low °C (°F) 5.6
(42.1)		 6.0
(42.8)		 8.1
(46.6)		 10.1
(50.2)		 13.4
(56.1)		 17.5
(63.5)		 20.3
(68.5)		 20.6
(69.1)		 17.5
(63.5)		 13.6
(56.5)		 9.3
(48.7)		 6.3
(43.3)		 12.4
(54.3)
Record low °C (°F) −5.0
(23)		 −6.4
(20.5)		 −2.5
(27.5)		 0.1
(32.2)		 3.8
(38.8)		 9.2
(48.6)		 12.4
(54.3)		 12.4
(54.3)		 9.1
(48.4)		 3.6
(38.5)		 −2.0
(28.4)		 −3.8
(25.2)		 −6.4
(20.5)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 33
(1.3)		 28
(1.1)		 30
(1.18)		 48
(1.89)		 58
(2.28)		 25
(0.98)		 15
(0.59)		 33
(1.3)		 59
(2.32)		 78
(3.07)		 60
(2.36)		 41
(1.61)		 508
(20)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1 mm) 4 4 3 5 6 3 2 3 5 6 5 4 50
Average relative humidity (%) 65 63 60 59 60 58 57 60 64 68 67 67 62
Mean monthly sunshine hours 163 167 211 230 257 292 329 283 225 192 162 155 2,662
Source: Agencia Estatal de Meteorología[8]

Notable people

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Ajuntament de Tortosa". Generalitat of Catalonia. Retrieved 2015-11-13.
  2. ↑ "El municipi en xifres: Tortosa". Statistical Institute of Catalonia. Retrieved 2015-11-23.
  3. ↑ Lucas Villegas-Aristizabal, "Anglo-Norman involvement in the conquest of Tortosa and Settlement of Tortosa, 1148-1180", Crusades 8 (2009), pp. 63-129.
  4. ↑ Historia de la línea de La Puebla de Híjar-Alcañiz-Tortosa-Sant Carles de la Ràpita
  5. ↑ El Punt - El cruel divorci entre Tortosa i el tren
  6. ↑ "Jumelages et Relations Internationales - Avignon". Avignon.fr (in French). Retrieved 2013-07-13.
  7. ↑ "Atlas français de la coopération décentralisée et des autres actions extérieures". Ministère des affaires étrangères (in French). Retrieved 2013-07-13.
  8. ↑ "Valores climatológicos normales. Tortosa". Retrieved 2014-09-26.

Bibliography

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Tortosa.
 Aldover
Alfara de Carles		 Tivenys El Perelló
Beceite (Aragon)
Roquetes		 Camarles
   Tortosa  
La Sénia
Santa Bàrbara		 Masdenverge
Amposta		 L'Aldea
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