The Besòs basin, with a surface of 1038 Km2, is framed between the Pre-Litoral and The Litoral ranges, eventhough most of its surface is developed within the Vallès depression.
Highlits of the watershed are: Pla de la Calma (1350 m) El Tagamanent (1055 m) in the Montseny; La Mola (1100 m) and El Montcau (1035 m) in Sant Llorenç de Munt; Tibidabo (512 m) in Collserola "El Corredor" (634 m).
Most of the Besos basin courses are born in the southern range the Prelitoral forming an asymetric drainage net. The main axis is formed by the Congost and Besos fluvial courses which joins with the Mogent by the left edge and the Tenes, Riera de Caldes and the Ripoll by the right edge. The total length of the Conca rivers and creeks is 530 km.
River/Creek |
lenght. (km) |
|
| Vilamajor | 12,5 |
|
| Cànoves | 17,3 |
|
| Vallromanes | 6,1 |
|
| Mogent | 31,4 |
|
| Martinet | 8,7 |
|
| Avencó | 14,2 |
|
| Vallcàrquera | 4,1 |
|
| Congost | 43,0 |
|
| Tenes | 28,0 |
|
| Caldes | 22,6 |
|
| Sec | 13,5 |
|
| Collserola | 11,1 |
|
| Sant Cugat | 10,2 |
|
| Ripoll | 39,2 |
|
| Martorelles | 5,2 |
|
| Besòs | 17,7 |
|
The basin has typically Mediterranean hidrological regime with very low flow in dry season, the order of 2m³/seg. river mouth, that is multiplied by 1.000 with autumn storms.
The basin is deficient in hydraulic resources, imports from the Ter-Llobregat system two thirds of water consumed.
There are two main aquifers: The Tray of "La Llagosta" and the Delta of the Besòs with a 110 Hm³ of capacity.
Considering that the basin is small, presents a great diversity of habitats, with three differentiated environments:
- Mountain, surrounding the basin with natural interest spaces (:Collserola, Sant Llorenç de Munt, Cingles de Bertí, "El Montseny" and the litoral range).
- The flat plains of the Vallès, with an important and continuous increasing urban and industrial implantation.
- The river mouth, with a totally urban air within the metropolitan area of Barcelona.
The agricultural activity, was predominant until the decade of the 60's, occupying most of the available land, has finally given way to industry, which slowly occupied the land dedicated to agriculture, specially the irrigated land and singulary those close to the rivers.
An important communication crossroads routes located near the rivers, with the train lines of Barcelona-Puigcerdà and Barcelona-La Jonquera, C-17 highroad and the A-7 highway.
The Besòs basin is the most habitated of Catalunya, with but of 2 million tax inhabitants.
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Last Update: 08/03/2011