Carraixet
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Carraixet ravine is a course of water from the north of the Valencian province, in the Valencian Community (Spain). It begins in Gátova and collects waters from the sloped southern side of the Calderona mountain range.[1] It flows into the Mediterranean Sea through the town of Alboraya.[1] At its mouth, it is also called the Olocau ravine or the Peralvillo ravine. In the Book of the Facts (in Valencian: Llibre dels feits) James I named it riu Sec ("Dry river"), while discussing the Battle of the Puig.[1]
Canalisation
The Carraixet ravine begins in the end of Gátova, to the west of the town. It collects waters from the south slope of the Calderona mountain range, from the sources of Alameda and Xarvilla.[1] Afterwards, it passes through Olocau and flows in a south-eastern direction towards the end of Bétera, reaching its wide river bed. The Cirer and Náquera[1] ravines join it from the left. It crosses further on in the end of Moncada and touches Alfara del Patriarca, and serves as the border between the municipalities. It has this function almost until its mouth. Like this, it passes by Foios and Vinalesa, where it hits the Palmaret Alto ravine. From here, and already channeled, it continues to the Valencian municipalities of Benifaraig and Carpesa. It hits Bonrepòs i Mirambell, and afterwards goes east. It goes through Tavernes Blanques, a town that is on the right bank. At this height the shrine of the Virgin of the Abandoned can be found next to the channel. This shrine was reconstructed and reformed in the same place that it was in 1447, next to the place where they buried the executed.[1] The ancient road of Valencia to Barcelona crosses the ravine here. It enters afterwards at the end of Alboraya. The course, generally dry until here, begins to fill with water, coming up from diverse wells situated inside of the same stream. The last route of the ravine is totally filled with water and is a fishing area. On its right bank, near the mouth, there is another shrine that commemorates the miracle of the fish.[2]
With a riverbed that is usually dry, strong periods of rain can be destructive, due to the size of its basin and its strong slopes. Remarkable floods occurred in 1949 and 1957.[1] Furthermore, due to lack of water volume, there are a lot of garden paths between various towns of the region. These are unpractical and dangerous for crossing if the ravine contains some water.
Tributaries
- l'Olla Ravine
- Pedralbilla[3] Ravine
- Cirer Ravine (begins in the Calderona mountain chain)[4]
Green road
In September 2015, representatives from the Compromís collective, that is situated the banks of the Carraixet, met at Pont Sec ("dry bridge") to defend the ravine as a natural space, to begin to value its landscapes, and its biologic and hereditary values, and to report the aggressions that it is suffering from. The MP of Compromís, Joan Baldoví, presented an amendment of the general State budget, demanding an investment to adapt the riverside as a green road with shade, accessible zones, tourist indications and relaxing zones.[5]
