|
|
|
|
Cádiz (province)
|
| |
|
| |
Cádiz is a province of southern Spain, in the southwestern part of the autonomous community of Andalusia, the southernmost part of continental Western Europe.
It is bordered by the Spanish provinces of Huelva, Seville, and Málaga, as well as the Atlantic Ocean, the Mediterranean Sea, the Strait of Gibraltar and the British overseas territory of Gibraltar. Its area is 7,442 square kilometers.
Its capital is the city of Cádiz, which has a population of more than 128,000. The largest city is Jerez with more than 204,000 inhabitants, and another important city is Algeciras with just over 114,000 inhabitants.
Discussion
Ask a question about 'Cádiz (province)' Start a new discussion about 'Cádiz (province)' Answer questions from other users |
Encyclopedia
Cádiz is a province of southern Spain, in the southwestern part of the autonomous community of Andalusia, the southernmost part of continental Western Europe.
It is bordered by the Spanish provinces of Huelva, Seville, and Málaga, as well as the Atlantic Ocean, the Mediterranean Sea, the Strait of Gibraltar and the British overseas territory of Gibraltar. Its area is 7,442 square kilometers.
Its capital is the city of Cádiz, which has a population of more than 128,000. The largest city is Jerez with more than 204,000 inhabitants, and another important city is Algeciras with just over 114,000 inhabitants. The entire province had a population of 1,194,062 (as of 2006), of whom about 600,000 live in the Bay of Cádiz area. Its population density is 160.45 per square kilometer.
Political and traditional subdivisions (comarcas)
The province encompasses 44 municipalities; besides its capital, other important cities are Jerez and Algeciras. (See the list of municipalities in Cádiz.) According to a roster developed by the Council of Tourism and Sport of Andalusia on 27 March 2003, there are officially six traditional or touristic comarcas (provincial areas or counties) in the Province of Cádiz:
Bay of Cádiz (Bahía de Cádiz)
This area is comprised of towns and cities on the shores of the Bay of Cádiz on the west-central coast of the province:
Campiña de Jerez (Countryside of Jerez)
This fertile area only includes two municipalities, both large in area:
Campo de Gibraltar (Countryside of Gibraltar)
The towns that extend into the rural hinterlands north of Gibraltar are:
Bajo Guadalquivir (Northwest Coast; also called Costa Noroeste)
The towns of this area called the "Bajo Guadalquivir" (lower Guadalquivir valley), are:
La Janda
Towns included in La Janda, an area in the southwestern part of the province, are:
Sierra de Cádiz (Cádiz Mountains)
Towns included in the Cádiz Mountains area, in the northeastern part of the province, include:
Economy
Primary sector
Major industrial facilities
The main industry is tourism, mainly from other non-coastal Spanish cities, Germany and the UK.
Its once-important shipbuilding industry (Astilleros) is now in crisis due to competition from South Korea and China.
There are factories of Airbus and Delphi.
It also exports sherry as well as alimentary products.
| Sector | Main activities | |
|---|
| 1° | Agriculture, Animal husbandry and fishing. | 4 % | | 2° | Industry (energy, industry and construction) | 28 % | | 3° | Services (tourism, hostelery and public administration) | 67 % |
Tourism
Beaches
The province of Cádiz has many kilometers of beaches and (as of 2005) the highest number of of all coastal provinces in Europe.
Some of these beaches are relatively wild and far from big urban areas due to the closeness of natural reserves. One of the attractions of the area is the contrast to the mass tourism of other areas on the Mediterranean coast.
The area near Tarifa is known to be an important windsurf area and similar sports due to the almost permanent wind near the Strait of Gibraltar.
Notable beaches:
Culture
Nature
Doñana National Park is one of two national parks in the autonomous community of Andalusia.
Natural Parks
- 100 km², located at the mouth of the Guadalete river, consists of marshland, beaches, reed and sand dunes.
- Bird watching. Sailing, Windsurfing, Hiking.
Pine. Many types of shrubs and bushes.
- Gannet Solan Goose, Storch, Cormorant, Great Crested Grebe, (Sea)Gull, Flamingo, Tern, Sea Eagle, Avocet.
- 37.97 km², high cliff rock formations covered by pine trees.
- Bird watching, archaeological and botanical excursions, Diving, Windsurfing, Sailing, Hiking.
- Strandpinie, Black Juniper tree, Black Spruce, Juniper, Small Palm tree, Rosemary.
- Herring Gull, Chatfinch, Greenfinch, Cattle Egret, Little Egret, Crested Tit, Woodpecker, Kestrel, Peregrine Falcon.
La Doñana Natural Park
- This natural park is shared by three provinces, Cádiz, Huelva, and Seville. It is an area to the east and northeast of the national park.
- Home of the Iberian Lynx, protected animal.
- Information center in Alcalá de los Gazules; Visitors centers in Algeciras and Cortes de la Frontera (Málaga)
- 1,700.25 km² in area
- Low mountain range, densely covered by cork oak trees ("Alcornoques")
- Bird watching, archaeological and botanical excursions, Hiking, Mountainbiking, Speleology.
- Cork Oak, Olive tree, Gall Oak, Pink Rock Rose, Small Palm tree, Alder, Rhododendron, Holly, Bracken (Fern), Cherry tree, Laurel.
- Sparrow Hawk, Short-toed Snake Eagle, Booted Eagle, Goshawk, Eagle Owl, Tawny Owl, Vulture, Kestrel, Peregrine Falcon, Wild Boar, Deer, Weasel, (Sea)Otter, Wildcat, Mongoose.
- Administration in El Bosque; Visitors center in Benamahoma
- 516.95 km² in area
- Limestone formation, transformed to ravines, declines and caves. Large colonies of Spanish Fir ("pinsapo").
- Bird watching, archaeological and botanical excursions.
- Hiking, Climbing, Mountainbiking, Speleology, Paragliding.
- Spanish Fir, Cork Oak, Holm Oak, Gall Oak, Carob, Oleaster.
- Imperial Eagle, Golden Eagle, Fish Hawk, Vulture, Egyptian Vulture, Mountain Goat, Deer, Mongoose, (Sea)Otter, Fox.
Straits of Gibraltar Natural Park
- Is the most meridional national park of Europe.
- Its location at the southernmost point of mainland Spain, and of mainland Europe, at the point where the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea meet in the Strait of Gibraltar, places it on the migratory route for many birds.
Natural Reserves
There are eight natural reserves in the province: Complejo Endorreico de Chiclana, Complejo Endorreico de Espera, Complejo Endorreico de Puerto Real, Complejo Endorreico del Puerto de Santa María, Laguna de Medina, Lagunas de las Canteras y el Tejón, Laguna de la Paja, and Peñón de Zaframagón (which straddles the border with the province of Seville.)
Natural Sites
There are seven natural sites in the province: Cola del Embalse de Arcos, Cola del Embalse de Bornos, Estuario del Río Guadiaro, Isla del Trocadero, Marismas de Sancti Petri, Marismas del Río Palmones, and Playa de Los Lances.
Parques Periurbanos: Pinares y Dunas de San Antón La Suara La Barrosa
Natural Monuments
There are five natural monuments in the province: Corrales de Rota, Duna de Bolonia, Punta del Boquerón, Tómbolo de Trafalgar, and Escarpes del Río Trejo en Setenil.
Transportation
Roads
Airports
Railroads
- Cádiz-Seville Line
- Cercanías Cádiz
- Algeciras-Granada Line
Ports
The main ways to enter the province are by road from Seville or Malaga and by the Jerez Airport.
Notable sports teams
Football
Rugby Union
External links
- More photos of Cádiz.
- . Listado comarcal definido por y definidas por la Consejería de Turismo y Deporte de la Junta de Andalucía.
-
|
| |
|
|
