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MinhoMio/Minho designates both the river as well as an adjacent Portuguese region Mio/Minho River The river is the longest in Galicia with an extension of 340 km. It is named Minho in Portuguese, Mio in Galician and Spanish. Both names come from Latin Minius. The Minho waters vineyards and farmland, is used to produce hydroelectric power, and also delineates a section of the Spanish / Portuguese border. The source of the Mio lies about 50 km north of Lugo in Galicia. The river passes just south of the walls of this old Roman city and flows south through canyons until the valley widens north of Ourense. The river has been harnessed in reservoirs from Portomarin to Frieira. In its length it has the following reservoirs: Belesar with 654 hm³, Peares with 182 hm³, Velle with 17 hm³, Castrelo with 60 hm³ and Frieira with 44 hm³. Twenty kilometers north of Ourense at Os Peares the Mio receives the waters of its main tributary, the Sil. Passing Ourense, the river flows in a southwest direction until reaching the Portuguese border near Melgao. There is one major dam at Frieira near the town of Ribadavia, which is famous for its Ribeiro wine. Passing the medieval towns of Melgao and Mono the Minho divides the Spanish Tui and Portuguese Valena do Minho, towns that guarded an important crossing for road and rail. Both towns preserve fortifications and are national monuments. The Minho reaches the Atlantic near Caminha. Tributaries Right bank → in the province of Pontevedra: Ro Tamuxe (also called Carballas, Carballo ou Carvallo), Ro Pego, Ro Cereixo da Bria, Ro Furnia (also called Forcadela), Ro Louro, Ro Tea, Ro Caselas, Ro Tea, Ro Deva (there is another Deva River on the left bank), Ro Ribadil, Ro Cea. In the province of Ourense: Ro Avia, Ro Barbantio. Ro Bubal on the border of Ourense with Lugo. In the province of Lugo: Ro Asma, Ro Narn, Ro Ferreira, Ro Mera, Ro Narla, Ro Ladra, Ro Tmoga, Ro Anllo. Left bank → Rio Mouro, Ro Gadanha e Ro Coura on the Portuguese bank, Ro Deva (there is another Deva River on the right bank), Ro Arnoia, Ro Barbaa (in the concello of Ourense), Ro Lonia (in the concello of Ourense), Ro Sil, Ro Sardieira, Ro Loio, Ro Neira, Ro Chamoso, Ro Robra (also called ro Santa Marta), Ro Lea, Ro Azmar Minho Region The Minho region separates the two countries for about 80 km. The valley is a lush, green agricultural area where every square metre of land is used to produce corn, potatoes, cabbage, or just grass, depending on the time of year, and everywhere edging the fields, rivers and gardens, wherever there is space, the vines which produce the light, slightly sparkling Vinho Verde ("green wine") peculiar to this area. The very best of these, Alvarinho, is produced in the area around Mono and Melgao. External links
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