Omaña River

According to tradition, the name of the river comes from the name that the Romans gave to the inhabitants of the region it crosses: homus manium or "godmen", due to their hardness and resistance.[1] Eutimio Martino considers that the name of the river comes from Aqua Mania,[2] interpretation consistent with other hydronyms of the northern peninsula.[3] According to this analysis, the river lent its name to the region and not the other way around.

The Omaña River crosses the region to which it gives its name; It passes through the towns of Murias de Paredes, Vegarienza, El Castillo, Guisatecha, La Omañuela, Inicio, Las Omañas and others. It joins the Luna River in Santiago del Molinillo.[4]

Birth of the Órbigo at the confluence of the Omaña and Luna rivers

Along its route it receives water from the rivers Pequeno, Vallegordo, Negro and Valdesamario on the right and from the Sabugo stream , the Valdaín River, the Santibáñez and the Velilla River on the left, all with low flow, in addition to some seasonal streams. The main tributary is the Valdesamario River, which empties into the Omaña at the height of La Garandilla.[5]

The riverbed is subject to large floods in the winter as it does not have reservoirs to contain it, so flooding and overflowing are common during winter and spring in riverside towns. In 2010 the Duro Hydrographic Confederation invested nearly 120,000 euros to improve the riverbed and alleviate the effects of floods.[6] In the past there was a project to create a 200 million cubic meter swamp, but all attempts to carry it out have met with opposition from affected locals and environmental groups. The Ministry of Public Works, Transport and Communications resolved in 1993 to paralyze the project.[7]

• Omaña