Cantabria

I

Introduction

Cantabria, autonomous region and province in north-central Spain, bordered on the north by the Cantabrian Sea (part of the Bay of Biscay), on the west by Asturias, on the south by Castilla-León, and on the east by the Basque Country. Cantabria has an area of 5,321 sq km (2,054 sq mi).

II

Physical Geography

Cantabria is situated at the heart of the Cantabrian Mountains. The region comprises a mountainous landscape of rugged peaks, deep valleys, upland pastures, and long, narrow canyons. The foothills of the Picos de Europa extend into Cantabria, and contain the region’s highest peak—Peña Vieja (2,613 m/8,573 ft). Extensive woodlands and commercial forests cover the slopes. Much of western Cantabria, together with areas of Asturius and Castilla-León, is protected as the Picos de Europa National Park, designated in 1995. The Saja-Besaya Natural Park is situated between the Saja and Besaya rivers and contains beech and oak forests, which support several rare and endangered animal species, including brown bears and golden eagles.

The village of Fontibre, in the Cantabrian Mountains is the source of the River Ebro, Spain’s longest river. The Ebro Reservoir, near the south-eastern border with Castilla-León, is the region’s largest body of water. The reservoir’s shores provide an important habitat for many rare and endangered water birds.

III

Population

Cantabria has 572,824 inhabitants (2007), with an average population density of 103 people per sq km (267 per sq mi). The regional capital and largest city is Santander (population, 2007, 181,802). Other important settlements in the region include Torrelavega (2007, 55,418); Camargo (2007, 30,663); and Castro-Urdiales (2007, 29,660). The village of Santillana del Mar, situated to the west of Santander, is one of the oldest and most well-preserved urban developments in Spain.

Higher education institutions in Cantabria include the University of Cantabria and the International University of Menéndez Pelayo, both in Santander; and the Roman Catholic Pontificia Comillas University, in the coastal town of Comillas. The Altamira Cave World Heritage Site is a prehistoric cave site, featuring engravings, and paintings of bison, deer, boars, and horses. Access to the caves is restricted, and the paintings are well-preserved examples of Palaeolithic art.

IV

Economy

Agriculture is important to the Cantabric economy; pasture predominates with some dairy farming. Fishing has traditionally been the chief industry of the region, and many ancient fishing villages line the Atlantic coast. A busy international port is located in Santander and Cantabria’s principal exports are zinc, salt, and timber. Santander is one of the principal industrial cities of northern Spain and a popular holiday resort. Tourism and related industries are of increasing economic importance, and are developing rapidly in coastal regions. The service sector, in particular finance and banking, has also grown steadily in recent years.