Bergada

The Bergadá (officially in Catalan, Berguedà) is a region, located mainly in the province of Barcelona, Spain, except for the municipality of Gósol, which belongs to the province of Lleida. It is part of both the Pyrenees and the central Catalan depression.

Geography

The northern half, known as Alto Bergadá, is made up of the upper basin of the Llobregat River and the mountains of the Pre-Pyrenees. In this part we find municipalities such as Castellar de Nuch, La Pobla de Lillet, San Jaime de Frontanya, Bagá, Guardiola de Berga, Gisclareny, Saldes, Gósol, Borredá, San Julián de Cerdañola, Castell del Areny, Castellar del Riu, Serchs, La Nou, Vilada, Vallcebre and Fígols. The northern limit, in the heart of the Pyrenees, is an authentic mountain barrier, oriented from west to east, with peaks above 2000 meters, which separate Bergadá from Cerdanya. We find the Cadí and Moixeró mountain ranges, the Puig d'Alp and Puigllançada. To the south of these mountains the rivers have opened several valleys such as the Llobregat valley to La Pobla de Lillet and Castellar de Nuch, the Bagá river, the Bastareny river and the Saldes river. To the east are the Catllarás and Rasos de Tubau mountain ranges. To the west the mountain ranges are higher: Sierra del Verde, Ensija, Rasos de Peguera and the emblematic Pedraforca mountain.

The southern half, known as Bajo Bergadá, is located north of the Catalan Central Depression. There are municipalities that are located at the beginning of the Pre-Pyrenees, such as Berga, Aviá, Espunyola, Capolat, La Quart and others that are fully located in the plains of the central depression, such as Gironella, Puigreig, Olván, Sagás, Caserras, Viver and Serrateix, Montclar, Montmayor and Santa María de Marlés. In this half, and especially in Berga, Gironella and Puigreig, the majority of the region's population is concentrated.

Climate

The climate of Alto Bergadá is rainy and cold, with snow in winter on the highest slopes. The average annual rainfall exceeds 1000 mm. with a relative minimum in the winter. The vegetation consists mainly of red pine and oak forests. In the shadiest places there are beech forests and, more rarely, fir trees. From 1700 meters above sea level the black pine dominates and above 2200 meters the alpine vegetation dominates. The southern half of Bergadá is made up of low relief. The climate is Mediterranean with a slight continental tendency. The average annual rainfall is between 700 and 900 mm, with a minimum in winter. The average annual temperatures are between 11º and 13º, with cold winters and not excessively hot summers. The spontaneous vegetation is made up of holm oaks in the driest places with poor soils, and oak forests where it rains more and the soils are deeper. In the central and western part the Valencian oak usually dominates, and in the eastern and northern part the Martinese oak usually dominates. Currently there are mainly areas with black and red pines with areas of oak forests and oak forests.

Population

The population of Bergadá has always been small. In 1860 it had 31,544 inhabitants. In the following years it lost population, reaching a minimum of 23,257 inhabitants in 1887. In 1900, 27,217 inhabitants were registered. Since then, it has increased progressively: 39,600 inhabitants in 1930, 41,938 inhabitants in 1950 and 47,953 inhabitants in 1960, the maximum population in its history. Since the 1960s it has decreased significantly. The increase derived from the economic activity of previous years—mining, textile industries, forestry, livestock and agriculture—is stopped by a strong crisis, widespread in the region. In 1970 there were 44,446 inhabitants and in 1981 there were 42,152 inhabitants.

Economy

The main economic activity of Bergadá is industry and mining, which in recent years have suffered severe crises. Currently, industrial activity is preferably located between Berga and Puigreig. The strengthening of the Llobregat axis with the opening of the Cadí tunnel and the general improvement of the access roads have also improved its prospects for economic activity. Agriculture, livestock and forestry are complementary activities. Tourism is a demographic retention factor in Alto Bergadá. Many country houses are being converted into rural houses and catering establishments have opened.

There are two municipal radio stations. Radio Berga broadcasts from the capital on the 107.6 fm frequency, and Radio Puig-reig, an amateur, broadcasts only on weekends and via the internet. As for television, there are two channels, both located in Berga. They are Canal Català Berga and Televisió del Berguedà. Neither of them has obtained the concession to broadcast digitally, so they must cease their broadcasts shortly and rebroadcast the programming of their root channels through DTT. In the written press, there is only one paid publication, L'Erol, with cultural content, published quarterly by the Àmbit de Recerques del Berguedà. Furthermore, the newspaper Regió7 has a wide presence in the region, which is published in Manresa and has a branch in Berga, as well as a weekly supplement with specific distribution in the region.

Featured Characters

• Cayetano Freixa
• Oriol Rosell
• Jaume Farguell
• Aramís Fuster