Lira, Salvaterra de Miño

Lira
Village
Overview of As Cernadas neighborhood in winter time
Lira Location of Lira within Spain
Coordinates: 42°09′11″N 8°27′36″W / 42.153056°N 8.45999°W / 42.153056; -8.45999Coordinates: 42°09′11″N 8°27′36″W / 42.153056°N 8.45999°W / 42.153056; -8.45999
Country	Spain
Region	Galicia
Province	Pontevedra
County	O Condado
Government
• Type	Hamlet under the government of the municipality of Salvaterra de Miño (Mayor-council)
Area
• Total	4.330 km2 (1.672 sq mi)
Elevation	60 m (200 ft)
Population (2004)INE
• Total	327
• Density	76/km2 (200/sq mi)
Demonym(s)	lirense, liréns (m), lirense (f)
Time zone	CET (UTC+1)
• Summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+2)
Postcode	36459
Area code(s)	+34 986

Lira is a village (aldea) belonging to the O Condado shire, in Galicia, north west of Spain. Legally is one of the parishes (parroquia) under the government of the council of Salvaterra de Miño. It had 327 inhabitants in 2004 divided into 15 small villages (lugares). The patron saint of the parish is Saint Simon.

It limits the north with the municipality of Ponteareas (Celeiros parish), the south the parishes of Soutolobre and Leirado, on the east by Vilacova and the western part the parish of Fornelos and the municipality of Ponteareas.

The entire O Condado shire is a quite mountainous area. Lira has a hilly landscape, placed in the valley of Tea and Uma Rivers. The average altitude is low, about 60 m on the sea level.

The village has a lot of waterways due to high precipitation and the location in a valley. The largest and most important river is the Uma, with its small affluents, the Regueiro da Vila and the Rego da Lavandeira. The Uma River is a tributary of the Tea River, and this, in turn, the Minho.

The lands of Lira, with mild temperatures and rainfall usual throughout the year; are characterized by their Oceanic climate (Csf), with tendencies to have some summer drought, influence of the warm-summer Mediterranean climate (Csb). The annual mean temperature is approximately 15 °C (59.0 °F).

Lira has preserved some of its Atlantic forests (fragas) where wildlife is commonly found, especially in the lower areas close to the rivers. It is relatively unpolluted, and its landscapes composed of green hills like Santo Amaro. Nevertheless, Lira is having some environmental problems in the modern age. Forest fires are a problem throughout the shire and in general in the whole Galicia. Besides some hills are spread of the eucalyptus tree, an invasive species imported from Australia, actively promoted and researched by the paper industry since the mid-twentieth century. Recently the Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, commonly known as pine wood nematode or pine wilt nematode is causing serious damages in pine populations. Furthermore, the construction conducted in recent years has transformed excessively habitats and landscape.