Bilbao - Harbor

The starting-point of Bilbao's industrial development was the harbor. Ocean-going vessels of up to 4,000 tons can sail inland on the Río Nervión; at the end of the 19th century a deeper outer harbor was constructed at El Abra, in the estuary of the river; and in recent years huge port installations capable of handling vessels of up to 500,000 tons have been built at Punta Lucero and Punta la Galea, far out in the estuary.