Congosto (Spanish pronunciation: [koŋˈɡosto]) is a village and municipality located in the region of El Bierzo (province of León, Castile and León, Spain) . It is located near to Ponferrada, the capital of the region. The village of Congosto within the municipality has about 254 inhabitants.
Its economy was traditionally based on agriculture, wine and coal mining. Nowadays, most of the inhabitants work on the surrounding area on activities such as wind turbine manufacturing or coal mining.
Álvaro de Mendaña y Neira (or Neyra) (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈalβaɾo ðe menˈdaɲa i ˈnejɾa]; 1 October 1542 – 18 October 1595) was a Spanish navigator, explorer, and cartographer, best known for two of the earliest recorded expeditions across the Pacific Ocean in 1567 and 1595. His voyages led to the discovery of the Marquesas, Cook Islands, and Solomons among other archipelagos. Born in Congosto, in El Bierzo Region (León), he was the nephew of Lope García de Castro, viceroy of Peru.
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