Ría de Vigo
About this heritage
A ría is a geomorphological feature produced by the penetration of the sea into the mouth of a river. Thus, a ría could be defined as the shape taken by the mouth of a river in cases where a coastal valley appears submerged in the sea as a consequence of a rise in its level. Vigo is the most populous city in Galicia and at its feet lies the ría that bears its name. The Ría de Vigo is located in the Rías Baixas and is the longest and southernmost one, measuring approximately 33 kilometers in length and 15 kilometers in width. It is situated in the province of Pontevedra and besides Vigo, other towns such as Cangas do Morrazo, Moaña, Redondela, and Arcade are located on its shores. The town of Baiona is also located on it in a small inlet of the ría. This ría has two entrances: to the north where Cabo Home is located and to the south where Cabo Silleiro is found. From west to east, three sections within the ría can be distinguished: from Punta Balea to Punta do Muiño, which is the section most open to the ocean but protected by the Cíes Islands; the middle section corresponds from the previous point to the Rande strait where the distance between the banks of the ría narrows to 700 meters; and the last section of the ría composed of the San Simón bay.
To learn more
The Ría de Vigo is the longest ría that makes up the group of the Rías Baixas. It measures 33 kilometers in length and 15 kilometers in width. This ría offers excellent characteristics for navigation and therefore all kinds of nautical sports activities take place throughout its waters. At the mouth of the ría lies the Cíes archipelago, formed by the northern island or Monteagudo, the middle island or Faro, and the southern island or San Martiño. This group of islands is part of the Atlantic Islands of Galicia Maritime-Terrestrial National Park, along with the Ons, Sálvora, and Cortegada archipelagos. In the middle section of this ría, its width narrows to 700 meters, where the Rande Bridge is located. This bridge was built in 1978 and designed by the Italian engineer Fabrizio de Miranda. It is a cable-stayed bridge measuring 1,558 meters in length, connecting the banks of the Rande strait inside the ría. The roadway is 45 meters above the sea and is part of the Vigo-A Coruña section of the Atlantic Highway. It was inaugurated in 1981, constituting one of the most modern and innovative constructions of its kind at that time. In the innermost section of the ría lies the San Simón bay, composed of two islands: San Simón Island and San Antonio Island, which are connected by a bridge.
To know it better
A ría is a geomorphological feature, an arm of the sea that extends inland along the coast. Such is the Ría de Vigo, the southernmost of the Rías Baixas. The Ría de Vigo is protected from the Atlantic Ocean by the Cíes Islands. It holds several treasures such as the San Simón bay and dozens of sunken galleons loaded with gold, silver, and precious stones from the Americas. Thanks to navigation through the ría, we can enjoy its landscapes and views of the Cíes Islands. Additionally, all kinds of nautical sports activities can be practiced. Within the Ría de Vigo, the Rande Bridge was built, designed by the Italian engineer Fabrizio de Miranda in 1978. It was inaugurated in 1981 and was among the most modern and innovative engineering constructions of its kind worldwide at that time.
Gallery
Location
- Town
- Vigo
- Municipality
- Vigo
- Province
- Pontevedra
- Country
- Spain
The asset
- Type
- Estuary
- Eco-destination
- Ría de Vigo
- Environment
- Urban
- Relevance
- International
How to get there
- Access
- By sea By land
- Distance
- 0,000km
The visit
- Visitable
- Yes
- Accessible
- No
- Parking
- No
Coordinates
- Latitud
- 42.24238700
- Longitud
- -8.72325700