Sopelana beach - a photo on Flickriver

Sopelana beach

            Sopelana beach near Sopelana and Barrika, Vizcaya, Basque Country. The earliest historical reference of the Basque people dates back to the 1st century AD when Strabo attested that the Vascones inhabited the northern parts of the modern-day Navarra and Aragon. Little is known about the prehistory of the Basques before the Roman invasion but there is archaeological evidence showing that they continued to inhabit the area for about thirty millennia. Some scholars argue that the Basque language dates back to the Stone Age. The Romans reached the fringes of the Basque territory in the 2nd century BC to find a number of non-Indo-European tribes. The Romans founded the modern Pamplona and stationed their garrison there but only consolidated their rule over the area under Augustus. No active Romanization was ever pursued here which is why the Basques retained their language and traditional laws. After the Romans left, the Basque territory was apparently claimed by the Visigoths, but again the Basques seemed to receive considerable autonomy. The Franks failed to conquer the Basques, too. The Duchy of Vasconia emerged as an independent entity in 660 and was ruled by Duke Felix. It was only a century later when Vasconia eventually came under the control of the Caroilngian kings. Exposed to numerous uprisings, Charlemagne included the Basque territories into the Kingdom of Aquitaine. Nevertheless, the Basques effectively fended off the Frankish rule south of the western Pyrenees. Enecco Arista, a Basque leader, received the title of the King of Pamplona in 824. His realm would continually play Muslim and Christian against each other to maintain independence from the outside powers. With his wife Onneca, he started a dynasty which would transit the power to the heirs in the area until the 10th century. He is remembered as the founder of the nation to this day. At its apex, the Pamplona dynasty controlled the entire southern Basque Country. Actually, its power extended from Burgos and Santander to northern Aragon. Through marriage King Sancho also became the acting Earl of Castile and held a protectorate over Gascony and León. Over time, the Pamplona Kingdom (renamed to Navarre) was absorbed and dwindled for the benefit of Aragon. Basques played an important role in early European ventures into the Atlantic Ocean. Magellan's expedition was manned on departure by 200 sailors, at least 35 of them Basques, and when Magellan was killed in the Philippines, his Basque second-in-command, Juan Sebastián Elcano took the ship all the way back to Spain. 18 crew members completed the circumnavigation, 4 of them Basques. Basques in the present-day Spanish and French districts of the Basque Country managed to retain a large degree of self-government [May 28, 2018].
   

Taken in: Spain / Basque Country / Sopela / Bareño (show map)

Taken on: May 28, 2018

Tags:

atlantic ocean

bay of biscay

2018

playa de sopelana

vizcaya

basque country

euskal herria

euskadi

pais vasco

spain « less

Sets appears in: • [2018-05-27] Spain 5

Groups appears in: • Water... Oceans, Lakes, Rivers, Creeks • EuskalHerria more » • Atlantic Ocean • Hills and Mountains • Clouds and Anything Else...Home of the clouds ! • Blue Water • "SEASCAPE" • Breathtaking Landscapes B&W and Color • in explore • THERE IS NO LIMIT FOR PHOTOGRAPHIC CREATION • BEAUTY PHOTOS AROUND THE WORLD • UFO OSNI BODIES PARANORMAL PHENOMENA AND PHENOMENA NOT EXPLAINED • EXPLORER PHOTOS FROM 2021 AND ALSO OF THE PAST, • Rocks, cliffs, reefs and waves « less

Camera: Sony ILCA-77M2, f/4.0, 1/3200 sec, 22mm (=33mm), ISO 200 (more info) (hide info)

Camera:	Sony ILCA-77M2
Aperture:	f/4.0
Exposure Time:	1/3200 sec
Focal Length:	22mm (35mm equivalent: 33mm)
ISO:	200
Exposure Bias:	0 EV
Flash:	Off, Did not fire
Exposure Program:	Aperture-priority AE
Exposure Mode:	Auto
Metering Mode:	Multi-segment
White Balance:	Auto
Color Space:	sRGB
Software:	ACD Systems Digital Imaging
Show full info

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