Chelva
| Chelva | ||
|---|---|---|
| Municipality | ||
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 Chelva
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| Coordinates: 39°44′49″N 0°59′51″W / 39.74694°N 0.99750°WCoordinates: 39°44′49″N 0°59′51″W / 39.74694°N 0.99750°W | ||
| Country |
 Spain
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| Autonomous community |
 Valencian Community
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| Province | Valencia | |
| Comarca | Los Serranos | |
| Judicial district | Llíria | |
| Government | ||
| • Alcalde | Joaquín Miguel Solaz Alcaide | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 190.6 km2 (73.6 sq mi) | |
| Elevation | 800 m (2,600 ft) | |
| Population (2008) | ||
| • Total | 1,803 | |
| • Density | 9.5/km2 (25/sq mi) | |
| Demonym(s) | Chelvano, chelvana | |
| Time zone | CET (UTC+1) | |
| • Summer (DST) | CEST (UTC+2) | |
| Postal code | 46176 | |
| Official language(s) | Spanish | |
| Website | Official website | |
Chelva is a municipality in the comarca of Los Serranos in the Valencian Community, Spain. Its name in Valencian is Xelva, but the local language is Spanish and not Valencian.
Chelva has an area of about 192 km2. The town is located in the middle of the mountains, and about 52% of its area is covered by typical Mediterranean woodlands. Two rivers flow through the municipality: one with the same name of the village (Chelva), and the other the Turia River, which flows to the Mediterranean via Valencia. The rivers do not meet in Chelva, but rather in adjacent Domeño.
The municipality is also home to several notable summits: the Cerro de la Nevera (1,259 metres or 4,131 feet), La Atalaya (1,157 metres or 3,796 feet), and the Pico del Remedio (1,054 metres or 3,458 feet). There are also several natural springs; the most well known are: Berra, Gitana, Gorgol, Sabina, and Cortina.
Chelva has a semiarid Mediterranean climate, with some rain in autumn and spring. In winter, it is cold, and in parts of the mountains snow is common.
Since 1794—when its population was 7,200 inhabitants—the census has registered a gradual decline in population, to a total of less than 2000 inhabitants today. The population is distributed in the main city of Chelva as well as a few nearby villages: Villar de Tejas, Ahíllas, Alcotas, Mas de Caballero, Mas de Sancho, and El Cerrito.
The oldest archeological finds in Chelva are some paintings from the Neolithic era. From the Bronze Age we find a site in Nieva del Medio. Chelva was home to the ancient Iberians, evidenced by the remains of two villages in Torrecilla and Castillejo de Alcotas. Many examples of pottery, decorated with geometrical designs, have been found there, and some walls can still be seen.
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Wikipedia