Ria of Ferrol

The Ria of Ferrol (or Bay of Ferrol; Spanish and Galician: ría de Ferrol) is a ria in Galicia, Spain, the saline estuary of the Xuvia River. Located in the province of A Coruña, in the northwestern end of the Iberian Peninsula, it forms along the rías of A Coruña, Ares and Betanzos the gulf known as Portus Magnus Artabrorum in Roman times.^[1] An important harbour, it became a base of the Spanish Navy during the Habsburg dynasty, with the forts of San Felipe and La Palma watching over the in and out of the ria.^[2] Bordered by the municipalities of Ferrol, Narón, Neda, Fene, Mugardos,^[2] it stands out among the Galician rias in terms of the degree of alteration caused by human activities.^[3] Also featuring nonetheless a rich sealife, the bay of Ferrol (itself included within the so-called "Rías Altas") is exploited to obtain seafood, chiefly varieties of clam and cockle.^[4]

Ria of Ferrol
Ria of Ferrol
Coordinates	43.4734°N 8.21851°W / 43.4734; -8.21851
Type	Ria
River sources	Xuvia River
Ocean/sea sources	Atlantic Ocean
Basin countries	Spain
Settlements	Ferrol, Narón, Neda, Fene, Mugardos