Estuary of Bilbao
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The Estuary of Bilbao (Spanish: Ría de Bilbao / Basque: Bilboko Itsasadarra) lies at the common mouth of the rivers Nervion, Ibaizabal and Kadagua, that drain most of Biscay and part of Alava. It is a large estuary that extends from Bilbao to the Abra bay, a widening that makes the final transition between river and sea. It hosts the port of Bilbao in all its extension though the Harbour Authority has recently restored most of the upper shores to Bilbao and other municipalities for their urban regeneration. The harbour is now being displaced to the exterior, to the coastline of Santurtzi and Zierbena.
Downstream from Bilbao the estuary divides its metropolitan area in its left bank (Barakaldo, Sestao, Portugalete and Santurtzi) and its right bank (Erandio, Leioa and Getxo).