Turia, Mediterranean river in eastern Spain
The Turia is a river in eastern Spain that flows 280 kilometers from the Montes Universales through three provinces until reaching the Mediterranean near Valencia. Several dams along its course regulate water flow and supply irrigation to the agricultural areas below.
A devastating flood in 1957 led authorities to redirect the river away from Valencia through a major engineering project completed in 1969. The original riverbed was then transformed into a public park.
The redirected riverbed in Valencia has become a 9-kilometer park where locals walk, cycle, and gather for events daily. It connects neighborhoods and serves as the city's green spine.
The riverbed park in Valencia is accessible year-round and easiest to explore on foot or by bike with comfortable shoes. Multiple entry points and clear pathways make navigation straightforward throughout the 9-kilometer stretch.
The upper sections have water clean enough for trout farming, and the river actually changes its name partway through its course. Upstream it is called Guadalaviar before becoming the Turia closer to the sea.
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