La Rioja (autonomous community)

Click a letter for the index

Or search the encyclopaedia:

 

 

Go

 

Autonomous community and province of northern Spain; area 5,034 sq km/1,944 sq mi; population (2001 est) 270,400. The River Ebro passes through the region, but it is a tributary of the Río Oja, which gives its name to the region. A fertile region, La Rioja is famous for its fine wines (with a characteristic flavour derived from their storage in oak barrels) which are produced chiefly between Logroño and Haro in the upper Ebro valley. The capital is Logroño; other chief cities are Calahorra, Haro, and Santo Domingo de la Calzada.

The flag's unusual 3:4 proportions are laid down by law. Green represents the forests. Blue symbolizes the Atlantic Ocean. Effective date: 9 August 1960. >>