This town hall is located in Vilarchao (9 km from Ourense).
The territorial extension is 38.246875 Km2. Regarding the population volume of the municipality, it varies according to the year; thus, in 1850 there were, according to Madoz, 1,030 neighbors and 4,635 souls. Already in this century and in the 50s there were 5,114 inhabitants; in 1960 the population dropped to 4,608; in the 1970s it went to 3,491; in 1975 the number of inhabitants was 3,487. We do not have more current data; but it is estimated that the population volume is around that existing in 1975. It could be said that the number of inhabitants continued to decline; But it is important to point out that at the end of the 80s and to a greater extent during the 90s, this area received a significant volume of population from the capital, of which more than half did not limit themselves to coming on weekends, but located his residence in this municipality. This fact can be seen in the enormous proliferation of houses, and also the expansion of all cemeteries, some of which multiply their traditional capacity by 3.
Limits to the North with the municipalities of Vilamarín and A Peroxa; to the East, with the A Peroxa and with the Miño River, which separates it from Pereiro de Aguiar; and to the west with the municipalities of Ourense and Amoeiro.
It is made up of the parishes of S. Paio de Albán, Santa Mariña de Albán (attached to above), A Barra, Cambeo, Coles, Ferreiros, Gustei, Melias, Ribela and Ucelle. Regarding the orography, this is not very high; to the north point out the Castro de Santa Águeda (682 m.) and to the west the mountains of Cambeo (maximum height of 488 m.). The eastern part is a slope, supported by small granite formations, which descend to the Miño. Regarding the climate, it is pleasant and less humid in the upper zone.
In relation to the rivers, the Miño is the main one, and surrounds the term for about 6 km. It is important to note that the area bathed by the aforementioned river is not the same as a few years ago, since nowadays the Velle reservoir caused changes in this area; the people of Melias remember the fisheries along the river, whose function was to facilitate fishing; They also recall that the river could sometimes be crossed on foot. The reservoir destroyed part of that cultural wealth that already came from ancient times, along with others that we no longer know today; however now it contributed to the creation of a new recreational space where people go during the summers.
There are other rivers, the Barra, which separates us from the municipality of A Peroxa; It was born in that municipality near the place called A Férveda, a site of mills to grind especially corn (the most widely used cereal in the area), which are still in use today; its waters go to the Miño. The rest can be considered streams, not rivers: one is the Albán that crosses the entire municipality and flows into the Miño. Another is that of Gustei that joins at one point with that of Lusín and flows into the Miño. The other important stream is that of Carrís, which also flows into the Miño. The rest of the streams lack names and are not so important, some of them are irrigated.
In the agricultural aspect, indicate that there is an abundance of extension of meadows; intensive cultivation of products, of which corn, potatoes and vineyards stand out. Extensions of pine forests abound (the most abundant), horseback (the most protected and their felling is prohibited), eucalyptus (they are discarded by people because they sterilize the land), chestnut trees (they are no longer as abundant as in the past).
Within the section of industry, the most prominent sector and that of wood, and as a note to point out that at the beginning of the century there were fifty workshops related to this product, the most important place being the entire Melias area.
The road network is not the best, it is true that all towns are connected and that the vast majority have tracks or asphalt roads; But this does not imply that they are in precarious conditions, of course this characteristic is only present in the so-called rural roads, since the important roads are in better condition; These are: Ourense-Santiago (N.525), Ourense-Lugo (N.540). From these leave others that lead to other population entities belonging to the municipality of Coles; thus, from the N.525 one from Gustei to Vilarchao, A Barra and A Peroxa leaves; this same road leads to Ferreiros, Izás, Melias, Ribela and goes along the river to Ourense, parallel to the railway line. In Cambeo the one of Ourense-Lugo joins, from which another one leaves through Penasalbas, which later forks, one goes through Santa Mariña (which would pass through Vilar, Cales or through Vilar, Fontefiz, Olla and there would join the one that goes towards A Barra and A Peroxa), and another through San Paio (which in one direction joins the previous one in Vilar and in the other goes to Vilarchao)
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