m3/s. Geography The river begins in the Pedregal de Irimia of the Sierra de Meira, about above sea level, in the municipality of Meira, northeast of the province of Lugo, where it flows through the town of Meira reaching the lagoon Fonmiñá (in the municipality of A Pastoriza). This lagoon is located in the same province. Although wrong, is historically considered as its birthplace. The Minho flows through the Galician massif and Cantabrian Mountain range and the mountains of Leon, two of the rainiest areas of the Iberian Peninsula, being one of the main rivers of the Atlantic slope. All its upper course has been declared a Biosphere Reserve. The Minho River runs its first across the plateau of Lugo (Terrachá), a peneplain whose elevation ranges from above the sea level. Its main tributaries are the Sil, Neira, Avia, Barbantiño, Búbal, Arnoya rivers. Etymology According to E. Bascuas, "Miño", registered as Minius and Mineus, is a form belonging to the old European hydronymy, and derived from the Indoeuropean root *mei- 'walk, go'. Legends, traditions and superstitions The story tells the oral tradition of Galician mythological characters that were living in the basin of the Rio Minho, such as feiticeiras (witches) who lived in the same river, the Xarcos who dwelt in wells located throughout the watershed and fish-men who were amphibious with the possibility of living both on land and in water. Tributaries Right Pontevedra Río Tamuxe (also called Carballas, Carballo or Carvallo) Río Pego Río Cereixo da Brinha Río Furnia (also called Forcadela) Río Louro Río Caselas Río Tea Río Uma Río Deva (there is another Deva River on the left bank) Río Ribadil Río Cea Ourense Río Avia Río Barbantiño Río Bubal Lugo Río Asma Río Narón Río Ferreira Río Mera Río Narla Río Ladra Río Támoga Río Anllo Left Portugal Rio Mouro Rio Gadanha Rio Coura Ourense Río Deva Río Arnoia Río Barbaña Río Lonia Sil River Lugo Río Sardiñeira Río Loio Río Neira Río Chamoso Río Robra (also called río Santa Marta) Río Lea Río Azúmar See also List of rivers of Spain Rivers of Galicia References External links El Rio Miño y ciudad de Tui The Minho River Wine Tour Minho River border Natura 2000 in Portugal