Vinalopó

The Vinalopó is a small river flowing through the Alicante province, of Spain. It flows from north to south and, with a length of 81 km., it is the longest of the rivers which flows for its entire length within the limits of this province. It has historically discharged into the Mediterranean at Salinas de Santa Pola. For some historians, it corresponds to the Alebus incidentally mentioned by Avienius in his Ora Maritima. Three comarcas (districts) in the Alicante province are named after it: Alt Vinalopó, Vinalopó Mitjà and Baix Vinalopó which mean, respectively, Upper Vinalopó, Middle Vinalopó and Lower Vinalopó. Its source lies in a mountainous part of the northwest part of the Alicante province, between Bocairent and Banyeres de Mariola in an area known as Els Bruchs. It does not currently discharge into the Mediterranean Sea, but due to its diminished flow in the lower part of its course, it fades out into a series of small irrigation channels (séquies) which flow south of Elx/Elche into the marshes known as El Fondo Natural Park and the Salines de Santa Pola Natural Park. The river, despite having been tiny during historical times, represents a significant corridor through the generally mountainous terrain surrounding it, along which several cities were settled, namely, from north to south, Banyeres de Mariola, Villena, Sax, Elda, Petrer, Novelda and Elx/Elche.