Mugardos

Mugardos
Seal
Mugardos Location in Spain
Coordinates: 43°27′16″N 8°14′9″W / 43.45444°N 8.23583°W / 43.45444; -8.23583
Country	Spain
Autonomous community	Galicia
Comarca	Ferrol
Government
- Mayor	Xosé Fernández Barcia
Area
- Total	12.77 km2 (4.9 sq mi)
Elevation	2 m (7 ft)
Population (2009)
- Total	5,565
- Density	435.8/km2 (1,128.7/sq mi)
	INE
Time zone	CET (UTC+1)
- Summer (DST)	CET (UTC+2)
Website	Official website

Mugardos is a small fishing borough and municipality in Ferrolterra, located in the province of A Coruña in Galicia, northwestern Spain.

Climate

Due to its proximity to the Atlantic Ocean, Mugardos does not enjoy extreme oscillation in its weather conditions between winter and summer. The summers tend to be a bit dryer than the winters, but the weather is mild all year round unlike most other parts of the Iberian Peninsula. Like the rest of Galicia, it is rainy and green.

Description and history

The municipality comprises the main township of Mugardos, and several smaller villages. It is part of the historical comarca of Ferrolterra, and is situated near the metropolitan outskirts of the city of Ferrol. The municipality is subdivided into four parroquias ("parishes"): Santiago de Franza, San Vicente de Meá, San Xulián de Mugardos and San Xoán de Piñeiro.

During the 1960s and 1970s Mugardos was much larger than it is now, it included a movie theatre and was regarded as a summer visiting place for many Spaniards in the surrounding areas. Recently, however, it has undergone drastic changes. It is now very small and with the recent oil spills the coastal fishing industry consisting mainly in cockle pickers has temporarily declined, even though a rise in tourism is expected soon, especially with the creation of several new lodgings.

One (unverified, and probably apocryphal) account of the origin of the locality's name comes from the Spanish adjective mojado/a, meaning "soaked, wet", and apparently applied due to the frequent return of the village's fishermen to port drenched in the storms of the area. This is supposed to have morphed over time into the form "Mugardos".

Local sea food.

Economy

Mugardos is a predominantly rural borough, though important industries like shipyards, foundries, and workshops are to be found in nearby Ferrol. Fishing, farming, agriculture and services are the main local industries.

Due to the economic crisis that has stricken the country and town's economy for the past few years, more than 60 shops in the town started accepting in 2011 the obsolete Spanish currency of peseta, accepting it alongside its replacement, the 2002-introduced euro.^[1]

References

1. ^ Rainsford, Sarah (March 5, 2011). "Spain town reintroduces peseta to boost economy". BBC News. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-12657225. Retrieved March 5, 2011. 

External links

• Site devoted to the art of landscape and nature of Ferrolterra (Spanish)