Lea-Artibai


Lea-Artibai is an eskualdea/comarca of the province of Biscay, in the Basque Country, Spain. Lea-Artibai is the heir of the historical merindad of Markina, which was one of the merindades of Biscay. Currently, Lea-Artibai is one of the seven comarcas that compose the province. Its capital city is Markina-Xemein.

Geography

Lea-Artibai is located at the northeast extreme of the province. It limits with the comarcas of Busturialdea at west and Durangaldea at south, while the province of Gipuzkoa is at the east. The Bay of Biscay sits on the north. It occupies the drainage basin of the rivers Lea and Artibai.

Municipalities

Coat of
Arms		MunicipalityArea in
km²		Population
2001		Population
2011		Population
2018
Markina-Xemein44.794,7084,9414,934
Ziortza-Bolibar +18.50-411427
Ondarroa3.609,7328,7998,397
Etxebarria18.10798806772
Berriatua20.239871,2421,247
Amoroto12.94376413419
Gizaburuaga6.32144204212
Ispaster22.62613695725
Lekeitio1.907,3577,3777,258
Aulesti25.31649672648
Munitibar-Arbatzegi Gerrikaitz27.04390434460
Mendexa6.90341437432

Note: + created from part of Markina-Xemein in 2005.

Transport

Lea-Artibai is the only comarca of Biscay that does not have a single kilometer of highway or railway. Its communications are deficient and depend on roads, like the BI-633 that connects Ondarroa with Durango or the BI-2405 which connects Ondarroa with Lekeitio.

Economy

The economy of the municipalities of Lea-Artibai are based on the primary sector, while some industries, like one of fish preservation exist too.