Country Spain Capital Cádiz Demonym(s) Spanish: gaditano | Autonomous community Andalusia Area rank Ranked 34th Official language(s) Spanish | |
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Cádiz is a province of southern Spain, in the southwestern part of the autonomous community of Andalusia. It is the southernmost part of mainland Spain, as well as the southernmost part of continental Europe.
Contents
- Map of CC3A1diz Spain
- Political and traditional subdivisions comarcas
- Bay of Cdiz Baha de Cdiz
- Campia de Jerez Countryside of Jerez
- Campo de Gibraltar Countryside of Gibraltar
- Bajo Guadalquivir Northwest Coast also called Costa Noroeste
- La Janda
- Sierra de Cdiz Cdiz Mountains
- Climate
- Primary sector
- Major industrial facilities
- Beaches
- Culture
- Doana National Park
- Natural parks
- Roads
- Airports
- Railroads
- Ports
- Notable sports teams
- References
Map of C%C3%A1diz, Spain
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 7,385 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 1,240,175 (as of 2014), of whom about 600,000 live in the Bay of Cádiz area. Its population density is 167.93 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 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:
Climate
The entire province of Cádiz has a Mediterranean climate, but with large differences in summer temperatures between the three official stations in Cádiz, Jerez, and Tarifa depending on position relative to the coastline. Tarifa is exceptionally cool for such a southerly parallel in Europe, but winter temperatures are mild throughout the province with less difference between localities than in summer. Average yearly rainfall is 521 mm (20.5 in) in Cádiz, 573 mm (22.6 in) in Jerez, and 603 mm (23.7 in) in Tarifa. This is comparable to much cloudier climates further north in Europe, in spite of the high number of sunshine hours in the province. The Cádiz region is also much wetter than the arid Almería province further east in Andalusia.
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.
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. One of the attractions of the area is its contrast to the mass tourism on the Mediterranean coast. There are extensive nature reserves in the region and the unspoilt feel of the area is heightened by the presence of wild animals including cows and horses on many stretches of beach.
The Costa de la Luz has traditionally been a popular destination for Spaniards wanting to enjoy the beach while avoiding the stifling heat of the Mediterranean Coast, although until recently this largely unspoilt Atlantic coastline was little known to foreign visitors. One of the factors that brought the region to the attention of foreign holidaymakers was the growing realisation that its Southern reaches are one of the world's best locations for wind sports.
Tarifa, located on the Strait of Gibraltar at the southernmost point of mainland Europe, has become Europe's foremost kitesurfing destination due to the area's unique wind phenomena, reliably sunny summer weather and the variety of beaches at locations such as Los Canos de Meca, Bolonia, Punta Paloma and, most famously, Playa de Los Lances where in the summer months you will often see over 1,000 kites in the air. The local economy has benefited significantly from the wind sport explosion: there are more than 50 kite schools in Tarifa and hundreds of shops, bars and hotels serving the many thousands of kitesurfers who visit every year.
Notable beaches:
Culture
Doñana National Park
Doñana National Park is one of two national parks in the autonomous community of Andalusia. A small area of the park extends into Cadiz Province, just north of Sanlucar de Barrameda and on the south bank of the Rio Guadalquivir. This area is primarily marismas. The public have access to a recreational area and a short walking trail. There is no direct access to the bulk of the park that lies on the north bank of the river in the provinces of Seville and Huelva.
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. Strandpine, 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, a protected species.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, culture, kestrel, peregrine falcon, wild boar, deer, weasel, (sea)otter, wildcat, mongoose.Sierra de Grazalema Natural Park
Administration in El Bosque; visitors' center in El Bosque. 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.Parques Periurbanos: Pinares y Dunas de San Antón La Suara La Barrosa
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