Province of Cádiz

Cádiz
—  Province  —

Flag

Coat of arms
Map of Spain with Cádiz highlighted
Coordinates:
Autonomous community Andalusia
Capital Cádiz
Government
 • President José Loaiza García (PP)
Area
 • Total 7,436 km2 (2,871.1 sq mi)
Area rank Ranked 34th
  1.47% of Spain
Population
 • Total 1,180,817
 • Rank Ranked 8th
 • Density 158.8/km2 (411.3/sq mi)
  2.68% of Spain
Demonym Spanish: gaditano
Official language(s) Spanish
Website 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, 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 de la Frontera with 208,896 inhabitants (as of 2010), 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.

Contents

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 comprises 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 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
% GDP
Agriculture, Animal husbandry and fishing. 4 %
Industry (energy, industry and construction) 28 %
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 Blue Flags 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

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

Natural Parks

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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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

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

See also

External links