Lea-Artibai

Lea-Artibai
Comarca
Símon Bolivar Square in Ziortza-Bolibar
Country	Spain
Autonomous community	Basque Country
Province	Biscay
Capital	Markina-Xemein
Municipalities	List Amoroto, Aulesti, Berriatua, Etxebarria, Gizaburuaga, Ispaster, Lekeitio, Markina-Xemein, Mendexa, Munitibar-Arbatzegi Gerrikaitz, Ondarroa, Ziortza-Bolibar
Area
• Total	206 km2 (80 sq mi)
Population  (2001)
• Total	26,095
• Density	130/km2 (330/sq mi)
Demonym
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (CEST)
Largest municipality	Ondarroa

Lea-Artibai is a comarca of the province of Biscay, in the Basque Country, Spain. Lea-Artibai is the heir of the historical merindad of Markina, which was one of the merindades of Biscay. Currently, Lea-Artibai is one of the seven comarcas that compose the province. Its capital city is Markina-Xemein.

Geography

Lea-Artibai is located at the northeast extreme of the province. It limits with the comarcas of Busturialdea at west and Durangaldea at south, while the province of Gipuzkoa is at the east. The Bay of Biscay is at north. It occupies the drainage basin of the rivers Lea and Artibai.

Municipalities

#	Municipality	Population	Territory km²
	Markina-Xemein	4.950	44,79
	Ziortza-Bolibar	408	18,50
	Ondarroa	8.856	3,6
	Etxebarria	821	18,10
	Berriatua	1,284	20,23
	Amoroto	414	12,94
	Gizaburuaga	201	6,32
	Ispaster	668	22,62
	Lekeitio	7.438	1,90
	Aulesti	680	25,31
	Munitibar-Arbatzegi Gerrikaitz	415	27,04
	Mendexa	431	56

Transport

The Artibai river in Berriatua.

Lea-Artibai is the only comarca of Biscay that does not have a single kilometer of highway or railway. Its communications are deficient and depend on roads, like the BI-633 that connects Ondarroa with Durango or the BI-2405 which connects Ondarroa with Lekeitio.

Economy

The economy of the municipalities of Lea-Artibai are based on the primary sector, while some industries, like one of fish preservation exist too.

External links

• Lea-Artibai's official web page