Gran Bilbao

'''Greater Bilbao''' ([[Basque language|Basque]]: ''Bilboaldea'', [[Spanish language|Spanish]]: ''Gran Bilbao'') is an [[administrative division]] of the province of [[Biscay]], in the [[Basque Country (autonomous community)|Basque Country]], [[Spain]]. It is one of the seven [[comarcas of Spain|comarcas]] of Biscay and the most populated one. The capital city of Greater Bilbao is [[Bilbao]]. Greater Bilbao is made by the municipalities situated along the [[Estuary of Bilbao]] which themselves form a [[conurbation]], which [[Bilbao metropolitan area|metropolitan area]] is the fifth most populous in [[Spain]]. == Geography == [[File:Comarcas de Bizkaia.png|thumb|right|250px|Greater Bilbao (in blue) within Biscay.]] Greater Bilbao, or ''Bilboaldea'', is located at the northwest of the province of [[Biscay]], limiting with the comarcas of [[Enkarterri]] in the west, [[Mungialdea]] and [[Busturialdea]] in the east, [[Durangaldea]] in the southeast and [[Arratia-Nerbioi]] in the south. The [[Bay of Biscay]] limits at north. === Divisions === [[File:bilbao satelite.png|thumb|250px|Gran Bilbao real color image taken by [[NASA]]'s [[Landsat]] [[satellite]].]] [[File:Aster bilbao lrg.jpg|thumb|250px|[[Infrared radiation|Infrared]] image taken July 5th 2000 by ASTER sensor on board [[NASA]]'s Terra [[satellite]]. Reddish areas are vegetation zones, dark blue zones are water bodies, white zones are clouds, their shadows can be clearly seen and greenish pixels denote the densely urbanized areas beside the Nervion river. Source: ''[http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Newsroom/NewImages/images.php3?img_id=4692 Earth Observatory] ([[NASA]]).]] Greater Bilbao can be divided into six ''subcomarcas'' or subregions: * The city of [[Bilbao]]. *''[[Left Bank (Biscay)|The left bank]]'': Traditionally an industrial, port, and manufacturing zone. It includes Barakaldo, Sestao, Portugalete and Santurtzi. *''[[Right Bank (Biscay)|The right bank]]'': A residential area, including Erandio, Leioa, and the more affluent Getxo,. *''The [[mining]] zone'', where the main [[iron ore]] resources were located: Muskiz, Gallarta, Ortuella *''[[Txoriherri]]'', wide expansion zone where the [[Bilbao Airport|international airport]] and the [[University of the Basque Country]] are located. *''[[Hego Uribe]]'', including Basauri, Galdakao and Arrigorriaga. *''[[Uribe-Kosta]]'': the coastal area north of Getxo is being integrated into the metropolitan area in the recent years, with the development of low density residential areas connected by the metro. == Municipalities == Greater Bilbao is divided into 25 [[municipality|municipalities]], being [[Bilbao]] the capital city. The 25 municipalities, among some others, make the [[Bilbao metropolitan area|Metropolitan Area of Bilbao]]. {| class="wikitable" cellpadding="3" style="text-align: center;" |- !# !Municipality !Population !Territory km² |- |[[File:Escudo de Abanto Vizcaya.svg|20px]] |align="left"|[[Abanto y Ciérbana-Abanto Zierbena|Abanto Zierbena]] |9.647 |18 |- |[[File:Escudo de Alonsotegi.svg|20px]] |align="left"|[[Alonsotegi]] |2.835 |16 |- |[[File:Escudo de Arrigorriaga.svg|20px]] |align="left"|[[Arrigorriaga]] |12.435 |22,8 |- |[[File:Escudo de Barakaldo.svg|20px]] |align="left"|[[Barakaldo]] |98.460 |24,3 |- |[[File:Basauriko armarria.jpg|20px]] |align="left"|[[Basauri]] |42.657 |7,2 |- |[[File:Escudo de Bilbao (ovalado).svg|20px]] |align="left"|'''[[Bilbao]]''' |354.860 |41,2 |- |[[File:Escudo de Derio.svg|20px]] |align="left"|[[Derio]] |5.307 |7,4 |- |[[File:Escudo de Zierbena.svg|20px]] |align="left"|[[Zierbena]] |1.382 |9,1 |- |[[File:LogoAytoEtxebarri.jpg|20px]] |align="left"|[[Etxebarri]] |9.171 |3,3 |- |[[File:Escudo de Erandio.svg|20px]] |align="left"|[[Erandio]] |24.262 |18 |- |[[File:Escudo de Galdakao.svg|20px]] |align="left"|[[Galdakao]] |29.226 |31,7 |- |[[File:Escudo de Getxo.svg|20px]] |align="left"|[[Getxo]] |80.770 |11,9 |- |[[File:Escudo de Larrabetzu.svg|20px]] |align="left"|[[Larrabetzu]] |1.874 |21,5 |- |[[File:Escudo de Leioa.svg|20px]] |align="left"|[[Leioa]] |30.079 |8,5 |- |[[File:Escudo de Lezama.svg|20px]] |align="left"|[[Lezama]] |2.465 |16,5 |- |[[File:Escudo de Loiu.svg|20px]] |align="left"|[[Loiu]] |2.290 |15,3 |- |[[File:Escudo de Muskiz.svg|20px]] |align="left"|[[Muskiz]] |7.216 |21,5 |- |[[File:Escudo de Ortuella.svg|20px]] |align="left"|[[Ortuella]] |8.520 |7,7 |- |[[File:Escudo de Portugalete.svg|20px]] |align="left"|[[Portugalete]] |48.105 |3,2 |- |[[File:Escudo de Santurtzi.svg|20px]] |align="left"|[[Santurtzi]] |46.978 |6,7 |- |[[File:Escudo de Sestao.svg|20px]] |align="left"|[[Sestao]] |29.476 |3,5 |- |[[File:Escudo de Sondika.svg|20px]] |align="left"|[[Sondika]] |4.536 |6,3 |- |[[File:Escudo de Trapagaran.svg|20px]] |align="left"|[[Valle de Trápaga-Trapagaran|Trapagaran]] |12.353 |13,1 |- |[[File:Escudo de Zamudio.svg|20px]] |align="left"|[[Zamudio]] |3.203 |18,1 |- |[[File:Escudo de Zaratamo.svg|20px]] |align="left"|[[Zaratamo]] |1.735 |10 |} == External links == *[http://www.bizkaia.net/bizkaia_informazioa/bmaitea/bizkaia_informazioa/castellano/informacion_general/Rutas_y_lugares/ca_GRANBI.asp Comarca del Gran Bilbao (Biscay Government)]. * [http://www.guiabizkaia.com/gbilbao/PRESENTACION/index.htm Comarca del Gran Bilbao] * [http://www.bilbaoria2000.com/ Bilbao Ría 2000]. * [http://www.bm30.es/Welcome_es.html Bilbao Metrópoli-30]. {{Comarcas of Basque Country}} {{Municipalities in Biscay}} {{coord missing|Spain}}