Salazar Valley

The Salazar Valley (Basque: Zaraitzu Ibarra, Spanish: Valle de Salazar) is a valley in the east of the Foral Community of Navarre in Spain. It lies within the Merindad of Zangoza-Sangüesa and within that, the Comarca of Roncal-Salazar. The Sierra de Abodi, part of the Western Pyrenees, forms the natural boundary in the north. There is a ski resort in Abodi.

Salazar Valley

Zaraitzu
Eskualdea / Comarca
Coat of arms
Country Spain
Autonomous community Navarre
CapitalEzcároz – Ezkaroze
Municipalities
List
  • See text
Area
 • Total310 km2 (120 sq mi)
Population
 (2007)
 • Total1,620
 • Density5.2/km2 (14/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)

Etymology

The first mention of the name was in documents of the Monastery of Leire, with the denomination of Sarasazo (924). Later Sarasazu (1055), Sarasaz (1111 and 1469), Sarasaitz (1205) especially in texts written in Latin.

Zaraitzu seems to derivate from an older form: Sarasaitzu.

The Castilian official denomination began being used widely in the 17th century probably influenced by the Salazar surname, famous in the Nobility of the Iberian Peninsula. In fact Salazar is not a common surname in Navarre, but it is very common in the west of the Basque Country, which indicates its origins.

Zaraitzu Basque

The local Basque language dialect was the Salazarese, although nowadays Spanish among the elder population and Spanish and Euskara Batua between younger generations is spoken. However, the last publications of works about the Basque of Zaraitzu (dictionary, learning method, text collection and oral recordings) and some courses of this dialect in the valley have been addressed to the local population in order to maintain it to some extent.

Municipalities
Valle de Salazar from above

The traditional names of the towns are in brackets.

  • Uscarrés (Uskartze)
  • Esparza de Salazar (Espartza Zaraitzu/Esparza)
  • Ezcároz (Ezkaroze)
  • Gallués (Galoze)
  • Güesa (Gorza)
  • Ibilcieta (Ibiltzieta/Ibizta)
  • Iciz (Izize)
  • Igal (Igari)
  • Izal (Itzalle)
  • Izalzu (Itzaltzu)
  • Ochagavía (Otsagabia/Otsagi)
  • Oronz (Orontze)
  • Sarriés (Sartze)
  • Jaurrieta (Eaurta)

Demographics
Population development in Zaraitzu after 1975[1]
Municipality1975198119861991199620012005
Espartza Zaraitzu-Esparza de Salazar 199 160 159 136 122 103 100
Ezkaroze-Ezcároz 466 431 400 365 364 358 363
Galoze-Gallués 149 135 142 133 124 121 118
Gorza-Güesa 122 113 106 90 79 72 65
Itzaltzu-Izalzu 84 54 52 49 49 45 46
Jaurrieta 415 391 359 321 268 238 225
Otsagabia-Ochagavía 826 777 721 676 701 666 651
Orontze-Oronz 66 70 70 57 53 56 55
Sartze-Sarriés 121 112 106 111 84 79 81
TOTAL 2448 2243 2115 1938 1844 1738 1704

References
  1. Institute of Statistical Information of Navarre


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