The Gran Valira (Catalan pronunciation: [ˈɡram baˈliɾa]) is the largest river in Andorra. It flows through the capital, Andorra la Vella, and exits the country in the south near the Spain–Andorra road border crossing.

Gran Valira
Gran Valira flowing under the Pont de Paris in Andorra la Vella
Location
CountryAndorra
CityAndorra la Vella
Physical characteristics
Source confluenceValira d'Orient & Valira del Nord
 • locationEscaldes-Engordany, Andorra
 • coordinates42°30′42″N 1°32′09″E / 42.5116°N 1.5357°E / 42.5116; 1.5357
Mouth 
 • location
La Seu d'Urgell, Spain
 • coordinates
42°20′45″N 1°26′33″E / 42.3458°N 1.4425°E / 42.3458; 1.4425
Length35 km (22 mi)
Basin size592 km2 (229 sq mi)
Discharge 
 • average9.5 m3/s (340 cu ft/s)
Basin features
ProgressionSegreEbroBalearic Sea
Tributaries 
 • leftValira d'Orient, Madriu
 • rightValira del Nord

The Gran Valira is a tributary to the Segre, which in turn is a tributary to the Ebro. It flows into the Segre in La Seu d'Urgell. Its main tributaries are the Valira d'Orient, the Valira del Nord and the Madriu. The Valira river system is 35 kilometres (22 mi) long.[1]

The map service of the Andorran government calls it the Gran Valira. In certain sources, especially those with a Spanish influence such as maps published in Spain, it is sometimes referred to as the Valira because in the territory of Spain there is only one Valira river. In Andorra, however, there are several different Valiras and hence there is a need to distinguish between them.

Gran Valira flowing through Sant Julià de Lòria

References

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  1. ^ Atlas of Andorra (1991), Andorran Government. OCLC 801960401. (in Catalan)