Andalusia

I

Introduction

Andalusia, autonomous region, southern Spain, comprising the provinces of Almería, Cádiz, Córdoba, Granada, Huelva, Jaén, Málaga, and Seville. It is bounded on the north by Extremadura and Castilla-La Mancha; on the east by Murcia and the Mediterranean Sea; on the south by the Mediterranean Sea, Gibraltar, and the Atlantic Ocean; and on the west by Portugal. The region has an area of 87,599 sq km (33,822 sq mi, which makes it the second-largest of Spain’s regions.

II

Physical Geography

The most important river is the Guadalquivir, which flows into the Atlantic Ocean north of Cádiz. South of the valley of the Guadalquivir are the Sierra Nevada mountains. The highest peak is Mulhacén (3,482 m/11,424 ft)—the highest point on the Iberian Peninsula. In the north, the Sierra Morena mountain range forms most of the border with Extremadura. Most of Andalusia is fertile. The climate on the Mediterranean coast is subtropical, on the Atlantic coast, temperate. In the highlands, a lower temperature prevails, and snow is not unusual.

In the extreme south-west is Doñana National Park, the largest national park in Spain with an area of about 758 sq km (293 sq mi). Part of the park lies within an area known as Las Marismas, the marshy delta of the Guadalquivir River that dries out every summer. Much of the park’s landscape consists of woodland and scrub, comprising the area known as the Monte de Doñana, forests of pines and cork-oaks, and travelling sand-dunes. The park was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994 and is an important wintering ground for migratory wildfowl. In the south-east is Sierra Nevada National Park (designated in 1999). The park’s mountainous landscape offers a protected habitat for several rare and endangered bird species, including golden eagles, peregrine falcons, African vultures, and hoopoes.

III

Population

Andalusia has a population of 8,059,461 (2007), making it the most populous of Spain’s autonomous regions. The average population density is 87 people per sq km (225 per sq mi). Seville (population, 2007, 699,145) is the capital city and the fourth-largest city in Spain. Málaga (2007, 561,250); Córdoba (2007, 323,600); Granada (2007, 236,207); Jerez de la Frontera (2007, 202,687); Almería (2007, 186,651); Huelva (2007, 146,173); Cádiz (2007, 128,554); Jaén (2007, 116,393); and Algeciras (2007, 114,012) are the principal cities.

The cities of Granada, Córdoba, and Seville are popular tourist destinations. A number of monuments and buildings in these historic cities have been designated as UNESCO World Heritage sites—Granada’s Alhambra Mosque and the Great Mosque of Córdoba are among Spain’s most splendid monuments and were inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1984. The medieval monuments of Seville, including the 15th-century Gothic cathedral were granted World Heritage status in 1987. Two world’s fairs have been held in Seville—the Ibero-American Exposition of 1929 and Expo ’92. These events had a lasting influence on the landmarks and architecture of the city—the impressive Plaza de España and extensive gardens of the Maria Luisa Park were constructed for the 1929 fair, while a modern exhibition centre and six new bridges were built for Expo ’92. Examples of Renaissance civic architecture and urban planning in the towns of Úbeda and Baeza were collectively designated as a World Heritage Site in 2003. These cities combine with the attractions of the wild, mountainous hinterland and the Costa del Sol to form Spain’s leading holiday region. A host of smaller places, such as Ronda, Álora, and La Línea add to Andalusia’s appeal.

IV

Economy

Besides tourism, the region’s main sources of income lie in agriculture and mining. The warm climate promotes the cultivation of a range of produce. Vineyards, orange trees, sugar cane, and olive groves cover its fertile lowlands; wheat, maize, and other cereals also flourish. Andalusia’s mineral deposits in its mountainous areas—including lead, silver, copper, mercury, and coal—have been exploited by centuries of invaders.