The Encyclopedia Americana (1920)/Lorca

LORCA, lŏr'kä, Spain, city, in the province of Murcia, on the Sangonera River, about 20 miles north of Aguilas, the Mediterranean port. It is an ancient city, established before the Moors came to Spain, as is evidenced by the older houses; but the main part of the city now existing is of Moorish construction. It has a fine old castle, considerable flour and textile manufactures, and in the vicinity are valuable mines of silver, sulphur and lead. The farms in the surrounding country have to be irrigated in the dry seasons, and for the storage of water of the Sangonera a dam, 800 feet long and 160 feet high, was built near the city. In 1802 the dam burst, and the valley was flooded, when many lives were lost. The dam was reconstructed in 1886. Lorca was the scene of many battles between the Christians and the Moors. Pop. 70,807.