Cádiz (province)

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Provincia de Cádiz
Flag Coat of Arms
Capital Cádiz
Official language(s) Spanish
Area
 – Total
 – % of Spain		 Ranked 34°
 7.436 km²
 1,47
Population
 – Total ()
 – % of Spain
 – Density		 Ranked 8°
 1.180.817
 2,68
 158,80/km²
Demonym
 – English
 – Spanish
 Cádiz
 Cádiz
Autonomous Community Andalusia
Government Diputación Provincial de Cádiz
President Francisco González Cabaña
http://www.dipucadiz.es/

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, Sevilla, 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 with more than 128,000 habiantes. The largest city is Jerez with more than 204,000 inhabitants, another important city is Algeciras is just over 114,000 inhabitants. All 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.

Contents

[edit] Political and traditional subdivisions (comarcas)

Map of the distinct areas that comprise the Province of Cádiz
Map of the distinct areas that comprise the Province of Cádiz

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:

[edit] Bay of Cádiz (Bahía de Cádiz)

This area is comprised by towns and cities on the shores of the Bay of Cádiz on the west-central coast of the province:

The Grand Theatre Falla

The bullring at El Puerto

The cathedral at Cádiz

[edit] Campiña de Jerez (Countryside of Jerez)

This fertile area only includes two municipalities, both large in area:

Octogonal tower in the Alcázar at Jerez

A sherry solera

Cathedral of Jerez

Horse Fair at Jerez

[edit] Campo de Gibraltar (Countryside of Gibraltar)

The towns that extend into the rural hinterlands north of Gibraltar are:

View of La Línea from the Rock of Gibraltar

High plaza at Algeciras

Chapel of Our Lady of Europe

[edit] Bajo Guadalquivir (Northwest Coast; also called Costa Noroeste)

The towns of this area called the "Bajo Guadalquivir" (lower Guadalquivir valley), are:

The castle of Santiago in Sanlucár de Barrameda

Salt mine at Sanlucár

Las Covachas

El Cárcel (now a conservatory)

[edit] La Janda

Towns included in La Janda, an area in the southwestern part of the province, are:

Casa Consistorial, Medina Sidonia

La Breña

Vejer de la Frontera

[edit] Sierra de Cádiz (Cádiz Mountains)

Towns included in the Cádiz Mountains area, in the northeastern part of the province, include:

Arcos de la Frontera

Zahara de la Sierra

Griffon vultures are common in Alcalá del Valle

[edit] Economy

[edit] Primary sector

[edit] Major industrial facilities

The main industry is tourism, mainly from other non-coastal Spanish cities, Germany and the UK.

It was once important its shipbuilding industry (Astilleros), 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
% GDP
1° Agriculture, Animal husbandry and fishing. 4 %
2° Industry (energy, industry and construction) 28 %
3° Services (tourism, hostelery and public administration) 67 %

[edit] Tourism

[edit] Beaches

The province of Cádiz has many kilometers of beaches and (as of 2005) the highest number of Blue Flags of all coastal provinces in Europe.

Sunset in Cádiz
Sunset in Cádiz
Baelo Claudia
Baelo Claudia

Some of these beaches are relatively wild and far from big urban areas due to the closeness of natural reserves. Being that one of its attractives in contrast to the mass tourism of other areas in 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:

[edit] Culture

[edit] Nature

[edit] Doñana National Park

Doñana National Park is one of two national parks in the autonomous community of Andalusia.

[edit] Natural Parks

[edit] Bahía de Cádiz Natural Park
100 km², located at the mouth of the Guadalete river, consists of marshland, beaches, reed and sand dunes.
Bird watching. Sailing, Windsurfing, Hiking.
(Ocean) Pine. Many types of shrubs and bushes.
Gannet Solan Goose, Storch, Cormorant, Great Crested Grebe, (Sea)Gull, Flamingo, Tern, Sea Eagle, Avocet.

[edit] La Breña y Marismas del Barbate Natural Park
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.

[edit] La Doñana Natural Park
This natural park is shared by three provinces, Cádiz, Huelva, and Sevilla. It is an area to the east and northeast of the national park.

[edit] Los Alcornocales Natural Park
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.

[edit] Sierra de Grazalema Natural Park
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.

[edit] Straits of Gibraltar Natural Park

[edit] 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 Sevilla.)

[edit] 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

[edit] 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.

[edit] Transportation

[edit] Roads

[edit] Airports

[edit] Railroads

  • Cádiz-Sevilla Line
  • Cercanías Cádiz
  • Algeciras-Granada Line

[edit] Ports

The main ways to enter the province are by road from Seville or Malaga and by the Jerez Airport.

[edit] Notable sports teams

Football

Rugby Union

[edit] External links

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Coordinates: 36°30′N 5°45′W / 36.5, -5.75