Murcia

I

Introduction

Murcia, autonomous region, south-eastern Spain. It lies on the Mediterranean coast with the region of Valencia to the east and north-east, Castilla-La Mancha to the north and north-west, and Andalusia to the west and south-west. It is coterminous in area with Murcia province. Murcia Autonomous Region has an area of 11,314 sq km (4,368 sq mi).

II

Physical Geography

The topography of the region is generally mountainous and rugged, with areas of semi-desert, except for the coastal plain along the Gulf of Mazarrón. The region’s coastline stretches for some 170 km (106 mi), and features coves and beaches, interspersed with rocky shores and sheer cliffs. In the east lies the broad salt-water lagoon of Mar Menor, which measures 170 sq km (66 sq mi) and is almost entirely closed off by a natural sandy breakwater. An arid tableland lies in the north. The highest point in the region is the Pico de Revolcadores (2,027 m/6,650 ft), in the extreme west, near the border with Castilla-La Mancha. In northern and central Murcia are a number of smaller mountain ranges, including El Carche, Sierra Espuña, La Pila, and Ricote.

Murcia has a typical Mediterranean subtropical, semi-arid climate. It is one of the hottest and driest regions of Europe—the annual rainfall ranges between 178 and 280 mm (7 and 11 in), falling mainly in spring and autumn. The most fertile part of the region is the huerta, the irrigated valley of the Segura, Murcia’s main river. The Guadalentín River, one of the main tributaries of the Segura, crosses the south-western part of the region. The San Pedro del Pinatar Salt Works Nature Reserve, on the Mediterranean coast near the border with Alicante, is a large area of marshland, featuring sand dunes, salt marshes, and reed beds. Flamingos, herons, avocets, storks, and other migratory wading birds inhabit the wetlands.

III

Population

Murcia has 1,392,117 inhabitants (2007). The average population density is 112 people per sq km (290 per sq mi). The principal cities of the region are the capital Murcia (population, 2007, 422,861), located in the east; the south-eastern seaport of Cartagena (2007, 207,286), site of the regional parliament; Lorca (2007, 89,606) in the south-west; and Águilas (2007, 33,134), on the coast in the south. Smaller towns and settlements include Cieza, Jumilla, Mazzarón, San Javier, Totana, and Yecla.

Castilian Spanish is the dominant language of the region. The region is predominantly Roman Catholic and the colourful Holy Week processions held in number of Murcian cities and towns are well-known throughout Spain. The Sanctuary de la Virgin de la Esperanza, an 18th-century church built into the side of a gorge near the town of Calasparra, is an important pilgrimage site. The chief institution of higher education is the University of Murcia (established in 1915), the tenth-oldest university in Spain. The region’s cultural heritage was formally recognized in 1998 when 73 examples of ancient rock paintings were collectively designated as part of the wider Rock Art of the Mediterranean Basin of the Iberian Peninsula UNESCO World Heritage Site.

IV

Economy

The farmland and orchard land around the city of Murcia are especially rich; citrus and fruit crops are grown, as well as olives, vegetables, almonds, grains, and grapes. This agriculture supports a substantial food-processing industry. The north-eastern town of Yecla is at the heart of an important winemaking region. Shipping and mining provide employment on the coastal plain, and there is a large petrochemical complex and oil refinery at Escombreras, near Cartagena. Murcia’s principal exports are hemp, esparto grass, lead, silver, zinc, and salt. The region’s silk industry originated in the Middle Ages but is no longer of major economic significance. Tourism is an important factor in the economy of the coastal towns; the beaches of the La Manga region attract thousands of visitors each year.