Enkarterri (Spanish: Las Encartaciones) is a comarca of the province of Biscay, in the Basque Country, Spain. It is one of the seven eskualdeak/comarcas or districts that make up the province of Biscay. Its administrative centre is Balmaseda.

Enkarterri
Neighbourhoods of Sopuerta and Galdames as viewed from Pico Mayor
Neighbourhoods of Sopuerta and Galdames as viewed from Pico Mayor
Coat of arms of Enkarterri
Location of Enkarterri in Biscay
Location of Enkarterri in Biscay
CountrySpain
Autonomous communityBasque Country
ProvinceBiscay
Municipalities
Population
 • Total32,277
Demonymencartados
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)

Historically a larger region (merindad), Enkarterri stretched from the mountains that form its southern border with Cantabria and Castile-Leon in the west and south, to the river Nervion and the Estuary of Bilbao in the east – including the industrial municipalities of Gallarta, Muskiz, Ortuella, Portugalete, Santurtzi, Sestao, Trapagaran and Zierbena. Nowadays the name usually refers only to the rural western part of the historical territory, while the eastern urban area is known as the Left Bank (Margen Izquierda / Ezkerraldea) and is part of the Greater Bilbao comarca (together with Barakaldo, which used to belong to the neighbouring merindad of Uribe).

Geography

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Enkarterri is located at the northwest of the province of Biscay. It borders the community of Cantabria to the west, and the Province of Burgos (Castile and León) and the province of Álava, also in the Basque Country, to the south. The river Kadagua crosses the region and drains most of it.

Municipalities

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# Municipality Area
km2
Population % of
Population
  Balmaseda 22.3 7,168 20.15
  Karrantza 137.70 2,836 9.16
  Artzentales 36 692 2.23
  Gueñes 41.49 8,176 25.44
  Zalla 31.03 8,183 26.30
  Sopuerta 42.80 2,439 7.88
  Galdames 44.50 841 2.72
  Gordexola 41.50 1,658 5.35
  Trucios-Turtzioz 31 556 1.80
  Lanestosa 1.20 305 0.98
  Enkarterri 429.52 32,713 100.00
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43°14′38″N 3°11′44″W / 43.24389°N 3.19556°W / 43.24389; -3.19556