Jarama
River
Jarama River in Titulcia
Country	Spain
States	Guadalajara, Madrid
Part of	Tagus
Tributaries
- left	Henares, Tajuña
- right	Lozoya, Guadalix, Manzanares
Source	Peña Cebollera
- location	Sierra de Ayllón
- elevation	2,119 m (6,952 ft)
- coordinates	41°9′58″N 3°32′18″W / 41.16611°N 3.53833°W / 41.16611; -3.53833
Mouth	Tagus
- location	near Aranjuez
- elevation	494 m (1,621 ft)
- coordinates	40°1′51″N 3°38′59″W / 40.03083°N 3.64972°W / 40.03083; -3.64972
Length	190 km (118 mi)
Basin	5,047 km2 (1,949 sq mi)
Discharge
- average	31.7 m3/s (1,119 cu ft/s)

Jarama is a river in central Spain. It flows north to south, and passes east of Madrid when El Atazar Dam is built on a tributary, the Lozoya River. It flows into the river Tagus in Aranjuez. The Manzanares is a tributary of the Jarama.

Contents 1 Spanish Civil War 1.1 Massacre 1.2 Battles 2 In fiction 3 Other meanings 4 References

[edit] Spanish Civil War

[edit] Massacre

During the Spanish Civil War at Paracuellos del Jarama, 1000 (other sources give the number of 2000) civil prisoners were killed by the Republican Militia guards during the Battle of Madrid (November 8–9, 1936). It is disputed whether Santiago Carrillo, the Communist leader in Madrid, ordered these executions or not, albeit they were committed under his authority^[1][2]. He has denied his involvement in several interviews^[3].

[edit] Battles

The Jarama was also the scene of fierce fighting - the Battle of Jarama - in 1937. Nationalist forces crossed the river in an attempt to cut the main Madrid-to-Valencia road and isolate the Republican capital. Nationalist forces led by Spanish Legionnaires and Moroccan soldiers (Regulares) of the Army of Africa were confronted by forces from the Republic including the 15th International Brigade. The 15th Brigade contained both the British Battalion of Volunteers and American volunteers in the Abraham Lincoln Brigade. Despite heavy casualties (over 270 British out of 600) the nationalists were stopped short of their objective. A period of trench warfare followed before the front stabilised. The battle cost both sides a combined total of up to 45,000 casualties.

[edit] In fiction

El Jarama is a novel by Rafael Sánchez Ferlosio about young people from Madrid meeting for a picnic by the river. Its realistic dialog renovated Spanish novels.

[edit] Other meanings

The Circuito Permanente Del Jarama is the main motor racetrack of Madrid. Before the construction of the safer Montmeló, Montjuïc and Jerez racetracks, it hosted 9 Formula One Championship races and several motorbike prizes.

[edit] References