Asturias

I

Introduction

Asturias, autonomous region, principality, and former kingdom in north-western Spain, bounded on the north by the Bay of Biscay, on the east by the region of Cantabria, on the south by the region of Castilla-León, and on the west by the region of Galicia. It covers the same territory as the province of Oviedo. Under the Spanish constitution of 1978 Asturias is designated an Autonomous Community and has its own parliament and government responsible for the running of everyday affairs. Its area is 10,564 sq km (4,071 sq mi).

II

Physical Geography

Most of Asturias is mountainous. The Galician massif to the west contains large reservoirs such as Salime. To the south the Cantabrian Mountains separate Asturias from the tablelands of Castilla-León. The highest point in the region lies within the limestone mountain range of Picos de Europa, whose tallest peak is Torre Cerredo (2,648 m/8,688 ft). The northern-flowing rivers have cut spectacular gorges through the mountains.

The Montaña de Covadonga National Park, designated in 1918, was Spain’s first national park. Situated in the western part of the Picos de Europa massif, the park covers an area of 230 sq km (89 sq mi) and extends across the border into Castilla-León. The park’s forests, meadows, and heathland provide a safe habitat for several protected and endangered bird and mammal species including sparrowhawks, harriers, eagles, capercaillies, brown bears, wild horses, chamois, and desmans. High precipitation and low insolation produce an Atlantic climate, which supports a dense forest cover. In the extreme south-west is the Muniellos Biosphere Reserve, designated by UNESCO in 2000. The park’s broadleaf temperate forests cover an area of 56 sq km (22 sq mi), and support a rich variety of birds, mammals, amphibians, and reptiles.

III

Population

Asturias has a population of 1,074,862 (2007), with an average population density of 101 people per sq km (262 per sq mi). Oviedo (population, 2007, 216,607) is the regional capital, at a strategic node of routes from the coal-mining valleys. Its importance dates from the establishment in the 9th century of the court of the kingdom of Asturias by Alfonso II and his successor Ramiro I. Gijón (2007, 274,037) is the largest city; Avilés (2007, 83,320); Langreo (2006 estimate, 46,076); Mieres (population, 2007, 44,992, 49,491) are the other main centres of population in the region.

Two 9th-century pre-Romanesque monuments in the centre of Oviedo— the churches of Santa María del Naranco and San Miguel de Lillo—were collectively designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985. The site was extended in 1998 to include three further monuments—two on the slopes of Mount Naranco in the Cantabrian Mountains, and one about 37 km (23 mi) south of Oviedo. An international film festival is held in Gijón in November-December each year. Another famous international annual event is the Descent of the River Sella, a canoeing competition that attracts participants from all around the world. The race was first held in 1929 and takes place every August along a 20-km (12-mi) stretch of the River Sella between the towns of Ribasella and Arriondas. The oldest and most prestigious institution of higher education in the region is the University of Oviedo (1608).

IV

Economy

Forestry, livestock-raising, cereal- and fruit-growing, and fishing are important, with apples and cider a speciality, but industry is the main economic activity. The region’s principal industries include arms, explosives, ceramics, and food and drink. The seaport of Gijón has mushroomed with industrialization since the 1960s; today, coal, copper, iron, zinc, and other minerals, as well as fish and agricultural produce, are all exported from the city. Asturias possesses the largest coalfield in Spain: in the Nalon, Caudal, and Aller valleys. Mining is difficult, however, owing to thin seams and intense faulting, and only survives by government subsidies. Particular problems of Asturian industrial development have been the competition from the Basque iron and steel industry, imported coal, an initial dependence on foreign capital, and the high costs of transport in a mountainous area. Concentration on a narrow range of heavy industries has produced a history of labour militancy and employment uncertainty. However, tourism is developing rapidly and embraces coastal tourism, trout and salmon fishing, canoeing along such rivers as the Sella, winter sports, caving, mountaineering, and green tourism in the Montaña de Covadonga National Park.