| Laredo | |||
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| — Municipality — | |||
| View of Laredo, Playa de la Salvé and Santoña mountain. | |||
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| Location of Laredo | |||
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Laredo
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| Coordinates: | |||
| Country | Spain | ||
| Autonomous community | Cantabria | ||
| Province | Cantabria | ||
| Comarca | Eastern coast of Cantabria | ||
| Judicial district | Laredo | ||
| Capital | Laredo | ||
| Government | |||
| • Alcalde | Santos Fernández Revolvo (2007) (PRC) | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 15.71 km2 (6.1 sq mi) | ||
| Elevation | 5 m (16 ft) | ||
| Population (2008) | |||
| • Total | 12,648 | ||
| • Density | 805.1/km2 (2,085.2/sq mi) | ||
| Demonym | Laredano/a, pejino/a | ||
| Time zone | CET (UTC+1) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | CEST (UTC+2) | ||
| Postal code | |||
| Official language(s) | |||
| Website | Official website | ||
Laredo is a town in the Northern Spanish province and autonomous community of Cantabria.
Located between the cities of Santander and Bilbao, Laredo is known in the region and nationally for "La Salvé", its 5 km long beach (7 km at high tide) and for the historic part of town dating back to Roman times. Its festivities in August are also well known due to the main event that occurs every year on the last Friday of August, known as la batalla de flores (the battle of the flowers), during which large floats entirely covered with flowers and petals are paraded along the central streets.
In Laredo (and many other cities in Spain) it is tradition for a group of men to parade a giant sardine through town at the end of carnival. At the end of this ritual, called "Entierro de la Sardina"es:Entierro de la Sardina (burial of the sardine), the sardine is burned on the beach after a fireworks display[1].
The sister city of Laredo, Cantabria is Laredo, Texas.
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Economically, Laredo, is based on fishing and the service sector and tourism. Laredo is considered one of the main resorts on the Cantabrian coast.[2]The local industry is based on the processing of fishery products, especially anchovies, and family businesses.
In Laredo, whose average income level is amongst the fifteen highest in Cantabria, the service sector employs over half the population (51.2%). Laredo Regional Hospital in Laredo serves the surrounding region.
Laredo is connected to Spanish transportation hubs Bilbao and Santander via Automoviles Luarca, S.A.. Bilbao is an hour to the east of Laredo, while Santander lies 40 minutes west. Madrid is a 5 hour bus journey away.