The Coruña, Betanzos, Ares and Ferrol estuaries are in the north-west of Galicia. The whole of the sector is known as Golfo Ártabro, a name that comes from the inhabitants who lived in the area before the arrival of the Romans (the 'ártabro' people) and the port that dominated this series of estuaries, the Artabrorum Portus.
The estuaries of the Golfo Ártabro in a certain way sketch out a sea leaf that is incrusted in the land: the Ferrol estuary stretches slightly to the north-west, like that of Ares, whereas the Betanzos and A Coruña estuaries stretch southwards.