Illa de Arousa

**Arousa Island**, officially in Galician **A Illa de Arousa** or **Illa de Arousa** () is the only island municipality in Galicia, Spain in the province of Pontevedra. It is in the heart of the Ria de Arousa. According to 2011 INE the island's population was 5,020 inhabitants. The population is divided into several neighborhoods, and places of interest are the lighthouse's environment, Areoso islet (close to the Illa de Arousa) and Carreirón Natural Park, which is listed as a special protection zone for heron birds populations among other birds that inhabit the island.

O Santo (The Holy) viewpoint is the highest point on the island.
_"San Xulián da Illa de Arousa"_ is the only parish in this island. Some of its beaches are the following ones: A Area da Secada, A Lavanqueira, O Vao, Camaxe, Carreirón, Espiñeiro and O Cabodeiro.

A Illa de Arousa has five ports. Xufre is the most important and the other important docks include O Campo, Chazo and Cabodeiro.

## Educational centres on the island

There are two kindergartens (_Galescola - A Galiña Azul_  and _Escola infantil 'Sorrisos e lágrimas_' ), one public and one semi-arranged; a primary education center (CEIP _"Torre-Illa"_), a secondary education institute (IES da Illa de Arousa ), a municipal music education center  and the Galician Institute of Aquaculture Training.

There is also an Interpretation Center for Canned Seafood and Fishing, which acts as a museum and receives educational visits from other schools in Galicia.

## Etymology

According to E. Bascuas, "Arousa", registered as _insulam Arauza_ in 899, would belong to the old European hydronymy, and is derived from the Indoeuropean  root _*er-_ 'flow, move'.

According to M. Santalha, its origin is Arautia or Arautsia. In any case, both have their origin in the Celtic _Arausiu_.

There are speculations that relate the place name to a Roman altar (Ara; Ara Augusta)

Scholars say that in "Ara" means _"source of the head",_ and in Gaelic _"Before the ear"_ (in toponymy refers to a coastal outcrop). Arautia also adds the ending "aunt" of participle, meaning _"the one before the ear"_ (and the "ear" turns out to be the Barbanza Peninsula). In this way, Arautia would mean: _"before the ear - Barbanza"_ or _"east of Barbanza"_.

## Related pages

- IGAFA

## Other websites

- Concello da Illa de Arousa Townhall of Arousa Island
- Arousa
- A Illa de Arousa - Paraíso Natural en Galicia

## Infobox (settlement)

- **name**: A Illa de Arousa
- **blank name sec1**: Languages of Spain, Official language(s)
- **area total km2**: 7
- **population demonym**: Arousán, á
- **population density km2**: auto
- **elevation m**: 9
- **utc offset**: +1
- **timezone dst**: Central European Summer Time, CEST
- **utc offset dst**: +2
- **postal code type**: List of postal codes in Spain, Postal code
- **postal code**: 36626
- **area code type**: Telephone numbers in Spain, Dialing code
- **leader title**: Alcalde
- **leader name**: Luis Arosa García
- **leader party**: Socialists' Party of Galicia ; government alliance with Galician Nationalist Bloc
- **website**: http://www.ailladearousa.es/
- **settlement type**: Municipalities of Spain, Municipality
- **pushpin map**: Spain
- **official name**: A Illa de Arousa
- **native name**: Isla de Arosa
- **image skyline**: A Illa de Arousa.Galicia.30.jpg
- **image caption**: Town Hall
- **image flag**: Bandeira Illa de Arousa.svg
- **image shield**: Escudo de Illa de Arousa.svg
- **pushpin map caption**: Location in Spain
- **subdivision type**: Country
- **subdivision type1**: Autonomous communities of Spain, Autonomous community
- **subdivision type2**: Provinces of Spain, Province
- **subdivision name2**: Pontevedra (province), Pontevedra
- **subdivision type3**: Comarcas of Spain, Comarca
- **subdivision name3**: Salnés
- **seat type**: Capital (political), Capital