Documents for "Spanish and Portuguese Political Geography":

• Álava see Basque Country.

• Ávila town (1990 pop. 46,992), capital of Ávila prov., central Spain, on the upper Adaja River. It attracts many tourists. One of the great religious centers of Spain, Ávila has preserved much medieval...

• Écija city (1990 pop. 36,673), Seville prov., S Spain, in Andalusia, on a hill overlooking the Genil River. It is the hottest place in Europe, called La Sartén (frying pan). It is an agricultural center for an area that produces olives, cereal, and cotton. Of pre-Roman origin, Écija was recovered from the Moors by Ferdinand III in 1240. Its notable...

• Évora town (1991 pop. 38,938), capital of Évora dist. and of Altro Alentejo, S central Portugal. It is the commercial center of a fertile agricultural area. Cork and textiles are produced and iron,...

• A Coruña formerly La Coruña , city (1990 pop. 256,579), capital of A Coruña prov., NW Spain, in Galicia. It is a busy Atlantic port, a distribution center for the surrounding farm area, and a summer resort spot. It has...

• Açores see Azores , Portugal.

• Abrantes town (1991 pop. 5,975), Santarém dist., W central Portugal, in Ribatejo, on the Tagus River. It is the commercial center of a fruit growing region. Historically, Abrantes was a strategic point on...

• Albacete city (1990 pop. 129,002), capital of Albacete prov., SE Spain, in Castile-La Mancha. Under the Moors, Albacete was a part of the Kingdom of Murcia , with which it was incorporated (1269) into Castile....

• Alcántara town (1990 pop. 2,213), Cáceres prov., W Spain, in Extremadura, near the Tagus River. A fine Roman bridge (Arabic al-kantara ) built (AD 105-106) in honor of Emperor Trajan and the ruins of...

• Alcalá de Henares town (1990 pop. 155,548), Madrid prov., central Spain, on the Henares River. Chemicals, plastics, electrical appliances, leather, and china are produced in the town. Once surrounded by wheat...

• Alcalá la Real town (1990 pop. 21,128), Jaén prov., S Spain, in Andalusia. It has well-known mineral springs. The town played an important part in the conquest of Granada from the Moors (15th cent.). In 1810 it...

• Alcobaça town (1991 pop. 5,235), Leiria dist., W central Portugal, in Estremadura. The town, a fruit processing and textile center, became a center of the Cistercians in the reign of Alfonso I, and its...

• Alcoy city (1990 pop. 65,082), Alicante prov., SE Spain, in Valencia, on the Serpis River. An important industrial center with manufactures of textiles, paper (especially cigarette paper), metals, and...

• Alemtejo see Alentejo , Portugal.

• Alentejo historic province, SE Portugal, now divided into Altro (Upper) Alentejo (4,888 sq mi/12,660 sq km) and Baixo (Lower) Alentejo (5,318 sq mi/13,774 sq km). The capital of Altro Alentejo is Évora , and the capital of Baixo Alentejo is Beja. The historic province has been further subdivided into the districts of Beja, Évora, and most of Setúbal and Portalegre. Alentejo, "the granary of Portugal," is drained by the Guadiana River and tributaries of the Sado River. Sheep, horses, cattle, and hogs are raised, and wheat, grains, olives, and fruits are grown. Alentejo produces over half of the...

• Algarve historic province, 1,958 sq mi (5,070 sq km), extreme S Portugal, coextensive with Faro dist. The capital is Faro , and other important cities are Silves, Portimão, and Lagos. Much fruit (almonds, citrus, grapes, olives, figs, pomegranates) is grown in the Algarve, and there is also mining, offshore fishing, and cork processing. The region is the chief resort area of...

• Algeciras city (1990 pop. 102,079), Cádiz prov., S Spain, in Andalusia, on the Bay of Algeciras opposite Gibraltar. A Mediterranean seaport, it is the main Spanish ferry terminal to North Africa. Fishing...

• Alicante city (1990 pop. 267,485), capital of Alicante prov., SE Spain, in Valencia. A Mediterranean port, it has exports of wine, oil, cereals, fruit, and esparto from the fertile surrounding region...

• Aljubarrota village, Leiria dist., W central Portugal, in Beira Litoral. On Aug. 14, 1385, it was the site of the momentous battle in which the Portuguese, aided by English archers, defeated the forces of the...

• Almería city (1990 pop. 161,566), capital of Almería prov., SE Spain, in Andalusia, on the Gulf of Almería. A busy Mediterranean port, it exports the celebrated grapes of the region, other fruits,...

• Andújar city (1990 pop. 37,776), Jaén prov., S Spain, in Andalusia, on the Guadalquivir River. Its pottery and its water-cooling jars made of porous stone are famous. A painting by El Greco hangs in the...

• Andalusia Span. Andalucía , autonomous region (1990 pop. 7,100,060), 33,675 sq mi (87,218 sq km), S Spain, on the Mediterranean Sea, the Strait of Gibraltar, and the Atlantic Ocean. Spain's largest and most populous region,...

• Andorra Fr. Andorre , officially Principality of Andorra, autonomous parliamentary co-principality (2005 est. pop. 70,500), 179 sq mi (464 sq km), high in the E Pyrenees between France and Spain, under the joint...

• Angra do Heroísmo town (1991 pop. 11,672), capital of Angra do Heroísmo dist., Portugal, in the Azores, on Terceira island. It is a port and was until 1832 capital of the Azores. There is an old castle in the...

• Antequera city (1990 pop. 41,863), Málaga prov., S Spain, in Andalusia. At the foot of the Sierra de los Torcales, it is the center of a fertile agricultural region. The Cueva de Menga, a large prehistoric...

• Aragón region (1991 pop. 1,221,546), 18,382 sq mi (47,609 sq km), and former kingdom, NE Spain, bordered on the N by France.

• Aranjuez town (1990 pop. 38,239), Madrid prov., central Spain, on the Tagus River. As a market for the irrigated horticulture nearby, it is known for its asparagus and strawberries. It was once a royal...

• Arcos de la Frontera town (1990 pop. 27,722), Cádiz prov., S Spain, in Andalusia, on a rocky hill above the Guadalete River. A Gothic church and the palace of the duke of Arcos are at the summit. Wine and olive oil...

• Asturias autonomous region (1990 pop. 1,128,372) and former kingdom, NW Spain, S of the Bay of Biscay and E of Galicia, and coextensive with Oviedo prov. It was established as an autonomous region in 1981...

• Aveiro town (1991 pop. 35,246), capital of Aveiro dist., NW Portugal, on the lagoon of Aveiro and at the mouth of the Vouga River, in Beira Litoral. Intersected by numerous canals, one of which connects...

• Avilés town (1990 pop. 88,429), Oviedo prov., NW Spain, in Asturias, on the Bay of Biscay. Coal is exported. There are iron, steel, and aluminum plants and a large glass factory.

• Avis see Aviz , Portugal.

• Aviz village, Portalegre dist., central Portugal, in Alto Alentejo. The Castilian order of the Knights of Calatrava assisted in driving the Moors from Portugal and in 1166 settled at Évora. Alfonso II granted (1211) them Aviz, and this branch of the order became separate and was known as the Order of Aviz, a strictly Portuguese organization. The knights played an important part in...

• Azores Port. Açores [Port.,=hawks], islands (1991 pop. 241,592), 905 sq mi (2,344 sq km), in the Atlantic Ocean, c.900 mi (1,448 km) W of mainland Portugal. Administratively an autonomous region of Portugal, they are...

• Badajoz city (1990 pop. 126,781), capital of Badajoz prov., SW Spain, in Extremadura, on the Guadiana River. Situated in an agricultural region, food processing is the main industry. Strategically located...

• Badalona city (1990 pop. 225,207), Barcelona prov., NE Spain, in Catalonia. It is a Mediterranean port and an important industrial suburb of Barcelona, with textile, chemical, leather, and glass...

• Bailén city, Jaén prov., S Spain, in Andalusia. In 1808, early in the Peninsular War, a French army was surrounded and forced to surrender near Bailén by the Spanish under Castaños, who was made duke of...

• Balearic Islands Span. Baleares , archipelago, off Spain, in the W Mediterranean, forming Baleares prov. (1990 pop. 767,918) of Spain; also an autonomous region since 1983. Palma is the capital. The chief islands are Majorca,...

• Barcelona city (1990 pop. 4,738,354), capital of Barcelona prov. and chief city of Catalonia, NE Spain, on the Mediterranean Sea.

• Basque Country Basque Euzkadi, Span. País Vasco, comprising the provinces of Álava, Guipúzcoa, and Vizcaya (1990 pop. 2,159,701), N Spain, S of the Bay of Biscay and bordering on France in the northeast. The region includes the W Pyrenees and is...

• Batalha [Port.,=battle], town (1991 pop. 3,152), W central Portugal, just S of Leiria, in Estremadura. It has a magnificent Dominican monastery and church (Santa Maria da Vitória), built by John I of...

• Baza town (1990 pop. 21,123), Granada prov., S Spain, in Andalusia. It is a food-processing center for a fertile farm area noted especially for its cattle. Baza has flour and textile mills, tanneries,...

• Beira region and former province, N central Portugal, S of the Douro River. The old capital was Coimbra. The province extended to the Atlantic coast between the Douro and the Mondego and SE of the Mondego to the upper Tagus. The region is now occupied by the provinces of Beira Alta (capital Viseu ), Beira Baixa (capital Castelo Branco), and part of Beira Litoral (capital Coimbra) and is further subdivided into the districts of Aveiro, Viseu, Coimbra, Guarda, and Castelo Branco. The region is...

• Beja town (1991 pop. 20,005), S Portugal, capital of Beja dist. and Baixo Alentejo. It is an important regional trade center with copper, silver, lead, and zinc mining nearby. Beja was important under...

• Bilbao city (1990 pop. 383,798), capital of Vizcaya prov., N Spain, in the Basque Country, on both banks of the Nervión River, near the Bay of Biscay. A leading Spanish port and commercial center since...

• Bracara Augusta see Braga , Portugal.

• Braga city (1991 est. pop. 86,316), capital of Braga dist., NW Portugal, in Minho. It is an agricultural trade center that produces electronics, textiles, and firearms. The ancient Bracara Augusta, it...

• Bragança or Braganza , town (1991 est. pop. 15,624), capital of Bragança dist., NE Portugal, in Trás-os-Montes. It is of interest because of its castle, seat of the Braganza family, long the royal family of Portugal...

• Buçaco see Bussaco , Portugal.

• Burgos city (1990 pop. 163,507), capital of Burgos prov., N Spain, in Castile-Leon, on a mountainous plateau c.2,800 ft (850 m) above sea level, overlooking the Arlanzón River. Normally it has among the...

• Busaco see Bussaco , Portugal.

• Bussaco or Busaco, Port. Buçaco , locality, W central Portugal, in Beira, near Coimbra and around Mt. Bussaco. Now a summer resort, it was formerly a place of seclusion and penitence for monks. At Bussaco in 1810, British and...

• Cáceres city (1990 pop. 73,915), capital of Cáceres prov., W central Spain, in Estremadura. Products of cork, leather, pottery, and cloth are made there. Cáceres was an important Roman colony. It fell to...

• Cádiz city (1990 pop. 156,903), capital of Cádiz prov., SW Spain, in Andalusia, on the Bay of Cádiz. Picturesquely situated on a promontory (joined to the Isla de León, just off the mainland), it is...

• Córdoba or Cordova both: kôr´dōvä , city (1990 pop. 307,275), capital of Córdoba prov., S Spain, in Andalusia, on the Guadalquivir River. Modern industries in the city include brewing, distilling, textile manufacturing, metallurgy,...

• Calahorra town (1990 pop. 18,869), La Rioja prov., NE Spain, on the Cidacos River near its confluence with the Ebro. Calahorra is a farming (cereals and grapes) and manufacturing center. Known in ancient...

• Canary Islands Span. Islas Canarias, group of seven islands (1990 pop. 1,589,403), 2,808 sq mi (7,273 sq km), autonomous region of Spain, in the Atlantic Ocean off Western Sahara. They constitute two provinces of Spain. Santa Cruz de...

• Caravaca de la Cruz town (1990 pop. 23,241), Murcia prov., SE Spain, in Murcia, on the Caravaca River. It is a farm center for an area producing cereals, potatoes, fruits, and grapes. It has textile, footwear, and...

• Carmona town (1990 pop. 24,515), Sevilla prov., SW Spain, in Andalusia. It is a farm center for an area raising cattle, cereals, fruits, and olives. Ferdinand III of Castile took Carmona from the Moors in...

• Cartagena Lat. Carthago Nova, city (1990 pop. 175,966), Murcia prov., SE Spain, on the Mediterranean Sea. A major seaport and naval base, it has a fine natural harbor, protected by forts, with a naval arsenal and important...

• Castellón de la Plana city (1990 pop. 135,863), capital of Castellón de la Plana prov., E Spain, in Valencia, 3 mi (4.8 km) from its Mediterranean port of Grao. It is the center of Spanish orange production and has a...

• Castile Span. Castilla , historic region and former kingdom, central and N Spain, traditionally divided into Old Castile and New Castile, and now divided into Castile-La Mancha and Castile-Leon. Castile is generally a...

• Castile-La Mancha autonomous region (1990 pop. 1,695,144), central Spain, encompassing the provinces of Toledo, Ciudad Real, Cuenca, Guadalajara, and Albacete. It was established as an autonomous region in 1982. It...

• Castile-León autonomous region (1990 pop. 2,330,333), N central Spain, encompassing the provinces of Valladolid, Burgos, León, Salamanca, Zamora, Palencia, and Segovia. It was established as an autonomous...

• Catalonia Catalan Catalunya, Span. Cataluña, autonomous region (1990 pop. 6,165,638), NE Spain, stretching from the Pyrenees at the French border southward along the Mediterranean Sea.

• Cintra see Sintra , Portugal.

• Ciudad Real city (1990 pop. 58,170), capital of Ciudad Real prov., central Spain, in Castile-La Mancha, on a fertile plain between the Jabalón and Guadiana rivers. It is an agricultural marketplace, with...

• Ciudad Rodrigo town (1990 pop. 15,985), Salamanca prov., central Spain, in Castile-León, on the Agueda River near the Portuguese border. It is a trade and tourism center for a cattle-raising area. Originally a...

• Coimbra city (1991 pop. 96,142), capital of Coimbra dist., W central Portugal, on the Mondego River, in Beira Litoral. The old capital of Beira, it is a market center with small industries but is known...

• Compostela, Santiago de Spain: see Santiago de Compostela.

• Cordova Spain: see Córdoba.

• Coruña, A or La Coruña, Spain: see A Coruña.

• Costa Brava a strip of coastline, Girona prov., NE Spain, in Catalonia, near the French border on the Mediterranean. One of the most agriculturally rich areas of Spain, it has enjoyed a booming tourist...

• Covadonga village, Oviedo prov., N Spain, in Asturias. A battle fought nearby sometime between 718 and 725 was the first victory of the Christians over the Moors; it had great symbolic significance in the...

• Covilhã town (1991 pop. 22,028), E central Portugal, in Beira Baixa. It had a famous fair in medieval times and is still a trade center as well as a textile milling town. It is one of the few winter...

• Cuenca city (1990 pop. 43,209), capital of Cuenca prov., E central Spain, in Castile-La Mancha, at the confluence of the Huecar and Júcar rivers, c.3,000 ft (910 m) above sea level. This historic town...

• Daimiel town (1990 pop. 17,312), Ciudad Real prov., central Spain, in Castile-La Mancha. It is an important farm center, with industries producing metal, linen, and alcoholic beverages. The town's Gothic...

• Donostia see San Sebastián , Spain.

• Elche Valencian Elx, city (1990 pop. 184,912), Alicante prov., SE Spain, in Valencia. It is surrounded by an extensive grove of date palms, the only one of its kind in Europe. The city's industries produce footwear,...

• Elvas town (1991 pop. 13,422), E central Portugal, in Altro Alentejo, near the Spanish border. Jewelry is made there. A heavily fortified town, it was important in all the Portuguese wars but...

• Estremadura region, W Portugal, formerly a province, now divided between the provinces of Estremadura and Ribatejo, with a small part in Beira Litoral. Estremadura province consists of S Leira, N Setúbal, and...

• Estremadura see Extremadura , Spain.

• Estremoz town (1991 pop. 16,910), Évora dist., S central Portugal, in Alto Alentejo. It is famous for its white, almost translucent marble and also for its pottery. The castle, with its stately tower built...

• Extremadura autonomous region (1990 pop. 1,102,319), W central Spain, on the border with Portugal. It was established as an autonomous region in 1983 by the statute of autonomy. A tableland crossed by...

• Fátima hamlet, W central Portugal, in Beira Litoral. At the nearby Cova da Iria is the national shrine of Our Lady of the Rosary of Fátima. This became a great Roman Catholic center of pilgrimage after...

• Faial island (1991 pop. 15,155), 66 sq mi (171 sq km), in the N Atlantic, one of the central Azores , Portugal. It is in Horta dist., named for the island's chief town and port, Horta. Fruit and wine are...

• Faro town (1991 pop. 31,966), capital of Faro dist. and of Algarve, S Portugal. The southernmost town in Portugal, it is a seaport from which fish, fruit (especially dried figs), wine, and cork are...

• Fayal Azores: see Faial.

• Ferrol, El city (1990 pop. 86,272), A Coruña prov., NW Spain, in Galicia. The naval base on the Atlantic was built in the 18th cent. and is one of the most important in Spain. Shipbuilding and ironworks are...

• Figueras city, Spain: see Figueres.

• Figueres or Figueras town (1990 pop. 34,463), Girona prov., NE Spain, in Catalonia, near the French border. Traditionally a fortified city because of its strategic location, it is now an important communications...

• Flores island (1991 pop. 4,435), 58 sq mi (150 sq km), Horta dist., in the N Atlantic, the most westerly of the Azores , Portugal. Santa Cruz is its chief town. Cattle raising is the main industry.

• Fretum Herculeum see Gibraltar.

• Fuente Obejuna or Fuenteovejuna , town (1990 pop. 6,833), Córdoba prov., S Spain, in Andalusia. An important farm center with livestock-raising and food-processing industries, the town is especially noted for its honey. Lumber,...

• Funchal city (1991 pop. 109,957), capital of Funchal dist., on Madeira island, Portugal. A busy port exporting wines, fish, and fruit, it is best known for its beautiful setting and balmy climate, which...

• Gades Spain: see Cádiz.

• Gadir Spain: see Cádiz.

• Galicia autonomous region (1990 pop. 2,914,514), NW Spain, on the Atlantic Ocean, S of the Bay of Biscay and N of Portugal. Comprised of the provinces of A Coruña, Lugo, Ourense, and Pontevedra, the...

• Gandía town (1990 pop. 54,778), Valencia prov., E Spain, in a fertile garden region near the Mediterranean. Large quantities of oranges are exported through its port, El Grao de Gandía. Several members...

• Gerona city, Spain: see Girona.

• Getafe town (1990 pop. 139,068), Madrid prov., central Spain. An industrial and agricultural center S of Madrid, Getafe has become part of the metropolitan area of Madrid. Its manufactures include...

• Gibraltar British crown colony (2005 est. pop. 27,900), 2.5 sq mi (6.5 sq km), on a narrow, rocky peninsula extending into the Mediterranean Sea from SW Spain. Most of the peninsula is occupied by the Rock of Gibraltar (Lat. Calpe ), one of the Pillars of Hercules , which guards the northeastern end of the Strait of Gibraltar, linking the Mediterranean with the Atlantic. The town of Gibraltar lies at the northwest end of the Rock of Gibraltar. The peninsula...

• Gijón city (1990 pop. 264,948), Oviedo prov., N Spain, in Asturias, on the Bay of Biscay. This major seaport, the largest city in Asturias, is an industrial and commercial center exporting large...

• Girona or Gerona , city (1990 pop. 70,876), capital of Girona prov., NE Spain, in Catalonia, on the Onyar River. There are food, textile, paper, chemical, machinery, and other industries in Girona. The city dates...

• Graciosa island (1991 pop. 5,600), 24 sq mi (62 sq km), Angra do Heroísmo dist., in the N Atlantic, one of the central Azores. The chief town is Santa Cruz.

• Granada city (1990 pop. 268,674), capital of Granada prov., S Spain, in Andalusia, at the confluence of the Darro and Genil rivers. Formerly (17th cent.) a silk center, Granada is now a trade and...

• Grand Canary see Canary Islands , Spain.

• Granja, La see San Ildefonso , Spain.

• Guadalajara town (1990 pop. 63,572), capital of Guadalajara prov., central Spain, in Castile-La Mancha, on the Henares River. Its economy is mainly agricultural. It flourished as a Roman colony and belonged to...

• Guadalupe town (1990 pop. 2,652), Cáceres prov., W central Spain, in Extremadura. It is noted for its monastery (formerly Hieronymite, now Franciscan) and the shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe, whose cult was...

• Guadix town (1990 pop. 20,975), Granada prov., S Spain, in Andalusia. It is the center of a farm area growing olives, flax, wheat, and hemp. Guadix was a Roman colony and, under the Visigoths, an...

• Guarda city (1991 pop. 18,215), capital of Guarda dist., N central Portugal, in Beira Alta. On the slopes of the Serra da Estrela, it is Portugal's highest city (c.3,400 ft/1,040 m) and is a winter...

• Guernica historic town (1990 pop. 16,422), Vizcaya prov., N Spain, in the Basque region. It has metallurgical, furniture, and food manufacturers, and some tourism. The oak of Guernica, under which the diet...

• Guimarães city (1991 est. pop. 48,200), Braga dist., NW Portugal, in Minho. It has textile and cutlery manufactures, but its main importance is historical. The town was the seat of Duke Henry of Burgundy...

• Guipúzcoa see Basque Country.

• Hellín town (1990 pop. 25,094), Albacete prov., SE Spain, in Castile-La Mancha. An important marketing and distribution center, it is noted for its sulfur mines, worked since Roman times. Clay and gypsum...

• Horta town (1991 pop. 4,907), capital of Horta dist., in the Azores , Portugal, on Faial island. It has an excellent harbor with shipyards and is a military air base.

• Huelva city (1990 pop. 141,002), capital of Huelva prov., SW Spain, in Andalusia, on the Odiel River above its junction with the Río Tinto. A busy port with copper, sulfur, and cork exports, it also has...

• Huesca town (1990 pop. 42,805), capital of Huesca prov., NE Spain, in Aragón, at the foot of the Pyrenees. It is a farm center. In this ancient town Sertorius founded a school in 77 BC After Peter I of...

• Iberian Gates pass, Georgia: see Daryal.

• Ibiza island (1990 pop. 33,776), 221 sq mi (572 sq km), Baleares prov., Spain, third largest of the Balearic Islands, in the W Mediterranean. The town of Ibiza is the capital. There are fisheries and...

• Irún town (1990 pop. 55,200), Guipúzcoa prov., N Spain, in the Basque region near the French border, on the Bidassoa River near the Bay of Biscay. It is a commercial and manufacturing center producing...

• Iviza see Ibiza.

• Játiva town (1990 pop. 25,577), Valencia prov., E Spain, in Valencia. The town is a processing and distribution center for farm products. Its famous linen industry dates back to Roman times. Játiva was...

• Jaén city (1990 pop. 109,338), capital of Jaén prov., S Spain, in Andalusia. It is a marketing and distribution center for a fertile area producing olive oil and wine. Nearby lead mines are believed to...

• Jaca town (1990 pop. 10,874), Huesca prov., NE Spain, in Aragón, in the Pyrenees (alt. c.2,700 ft/820 m), near the French border on the Aragón River. A communications center and an episcopal see, it is...

• Jerez de la Frontera city (1990 pop. 186,812), Cádiz prov., SW Spain, in Andalusia. Jerez is an important commercial center noted for its sherry and brandy. Its horses of mixed Spanish, Arab, and English blood are...

• Lérida city, Spain: see Lleida.

• Línea, La city (1990 pop. 61,597), Cádiz prov., S Spain, on the Strait of Gibraltar. Situated on the Spanish border north of the neutral zone that separates the city from the British colony of Gibraltar...

• Lagos city (1991 pop. 12,956), Faro dist., S Portugal, in Algarve, on the Atlantic Ocean. The excellent harbor shelters much coastwise trade and an important sardine and tuna fishing fleet. Sancho I...

• Laguna, La city (1990 pop. 118,548), on Teneriffe island, Canary Islands. The center of a fertile farm area producing cereals, grapes, fruits, and vegetables, it is also a tourist resort. The Univ. of San...

• Las Palmas see Palmas, Las , Spain.

• León historic region and former kingdom, NW Spain, E of Portugal and Galicia, now part of Castile-León. It includes the provinces of León, Salamanca, and Zamora, named after their chief cities. It is...

• León city (1990 pop. 137,758), capital of León prov., NW Spain, in Castile-León, at the foot of the Cantabrian Mts. and at the confluence of the Bernesga and Torio rivers. It is an agricultural and...

• Leiria town (1991 pop. 27,531), capital of Leiria dist., W central Portugal, in Beira Litoral. It is an agricultural trade center producing leather goods and cement. There Alfonso I erected (beginning...

• Leixões artificial seaport of Oporto , NW Portugal. Built in the late 19th cent, its chief export is port wine.

• Linares city (1990 pop. 59,150), Jaén prov., S Spain, in Andalusia. The rich silver and lead mines nearby have brought prosperity to the city, which now has many metallurgical industries. Powder and...

• Lisbon Port. Lisboa, ancient Olisipo, city (1991 pop. 677,790), W Portugal, capital of Portugal and of Lisboa dist., on the Tagus River where it broadens to enter the Atlantic Ocean. Lisbon is Portugal's largest city and its cultural,...

• Lleida or Lérida , city (1990 pop. 111,825), capital of Lleida prov., NE Spain, in Catalonia, on the Segre River. Lleida is the center of a fertile farm area and has a limited variety of manufactures. The ancient...

• Logroño city (1990 pop. 121,911), capital of La Rioja prov., N Spain, in La Rioja, on the Ebro River. It is a farm-processing center noted for its Rioja wine; wood and metal products and textiles are also...

• Lorca city (1990 pop. 67,338), Murcia prov., SE Spain, in Murcia, on the Guadalentín River. It is a market center for a fertile, irrigated basin producing cereals, fruits, and vegetables. Hemp sandals...

• Lugo city (1990 pop. 81,493), capital of Lugo prov., NW Spain, in Galicia, on the Miño River. The city is the processing and trade center for a fertile farm area. One of the largest slaughterhouses in...

• Málaga city (1990 pop. 560,495), capital of Málaga prov., S Spain, in Andalusia, on the Guadalmedina River and the Costa del Sol. Picturesquely situated on the Bay of Málaga, it is one of the best...

• Mérida city (1990 pop. 53,732), Badajoz prov., SW Spain, in Extremadura, on the Guadiana River. It is a rail hub and agricultural center producing textiles, leather, and cork. The colony Emerita Augusta,...

• Madeira island: see Madeira Islands.

• Madeira Islands archipelago (1991 pop. 257,692), 308 sq mi (798 sq km), autonomous region of Portugal, in the Atlantic Ocean c.350 mi (560 km) off Morocco. Madeira, the largest island (35 mi/56 km long and 13...

• Madrid city (1990 pop. 3,120,732), capital of Spain and of Madrid prov., central Spain, and the focus of its own autonomous region, on the Manzanares River. The newest of the great Spanish cities, it...

• Mafra town (1991 est. pop. 9,800), Lisboa dist., W central Portugal, in Estremadura. It is noted for its huge 18th-century palace and monastery, built by John V in imitation of Spain's Escorial...

• Mahón Catalan Maó, town (1990 pop. 24,383), capital and chief town of Minorca island, Baleares prov., Spain, in the W Mediterranean Sea. A port with an excellent natural harbor defended by two fortresses, it is also...

• Majorca Span. Mallorca , island (1991 pop. 602,074), 1,405 sq mi (3,639 sq km), Spain, largest of the Balearic Islands, in the W Mediterranean. Palma is the chief city. Majorca is mountainous in the northwest, rising to...

• Mallorca see Majorca.

• Mancha, La historic region of central Spain, in historic New Castile, comprising Ciudad Real prov. and part of the provinces of Toledo, Albacete, and Cuenca. This high, barren plateau, dotted with windmills,...

• Manresa city (1990 pop. 65,818), Barcelona prov., NE Spain, in Catalonia, on the Cardoner River. It is an industrial center with textile, metallurgical, and glass industries. Of ancient origin, Manresa...

• Marbella city (1990 pop. 81,876), Málaga prov., S Spain, in Andalusia, on the Mediterranean Sea. The city is a noted resort for wealthy tourists. Many of its permanent residents are foreigners.

• Mataró city (1990 pop. 100,882), Barcelona prov., NE Spain, in Catalonia. It is a Mediterranean port and a manufacturing center, producing knitted goods, wine, and chemicals. The first railroad in Spain...

• Medina del Campo town (1990 pop. 19,965), Valladolid prov., central Spain, in Castile-León. It is a communications center and agricultural market with food-processing industries. The town was almost completely...

• Menorca Spain: see Minorca.

• Mieres city (1990 pop. 57,627), Oviedo prov., N Spain, in Asturias, on the Lena River. It is an important mining center for coal, sulfur, and cinnabar and has iron and steel plants.

• Minas de Ríotinto Spain: see Río Tinto.

• Minho historical province, NW Portugal, between the Minho and Douro rivers. Braga is the capital. This region was settled by the Celts, who left many hill forts, and by the Romans. Geological faults...

• Minorca Span. Menorca, Spanish island (1991 pop. 65,109), 271 sq mi (702 km), Baleares prov., in the W Mediterranean Sea, the second largest of the Balearic Islands. Port Mahón is the chief city and port. The terrain is mostly low but has a hilly center. Cereals, wine, olive oil, and flax are the chief products. Much of the agriculture is irrigated. Lobster fishing, the...

• Monsalvat see Montserrat , Spain.

• Monserrat see Montserrat , Spain.

• Montilla town (1990 pop. 22,699), Córdoba prov., S Spain, in Andalusia. It is the center of an agricultural district famous for wines, which resemble sherry.

• Montserrat or Monserrat , mountain, 4,054 ft (1,236 m) high, NE Spain, rising abruptly from a plain in Catalonia, NW of Barcelona. On a narrow terrace, more than halfway up its precipitous cliffs, is a celebrated...

• Murcia autonomous region and former Moorish kingdom (1990 pop. 1,062,066), 4,370 sq mi (11,321 sq km), SE Spain, on the Mediterranean Sea, comprising the present province of Murcia. It became an...

• Murcia city (1990 pop. 322,911), capital of Murcia prov., SE Spain, on the Segura River. The city lies in one of the finest irrigated garden regions in Spain. The silk industry, a traditional occupation...

• Murviedro Spain: see Sagunto.

• Navarre Span. Navarra , province (1990 pop. 527,318), N Spain, bordering on France, between the W Pyrenees and the Ebro River. Pamplona is the capital.

• New Castile Spain: see Castile.

• Old Castile Spain: see Castile.

• Olisipo see Lisbon , Portugal.

• Oporto Port. Pôrto, city (1991 pop. 310,600), capital of Porto dist. and Douro Litoral, NW Portugal, near the mouth of the Douro River. It is Portugal's second largest city, after Lisbon, and an important Atlantic...

• Orense Spain: see Ourense.

• Ourense formerly Orense , city (1990 pop. 109,283), capital of Ourense prov., NW Spain, in Galicia, on the Miño River. It is the center of an agricultural region with extensive vineyards. There are some light industries. A...

• Ourique town (1991 pop. 1,339), Beja dist., S Portugal, in Baixo Alentejo. Although tradition says Alfonso I defeated the Moors there in 1139, the battle of Ourique was actually fought at some...

• Oviedo city (1990 pop. 194,637), capital of Oviedo prov. (coextensive with the autonomous region of Asturias) NW Spain, near the great mining district of the Cantabrian Mts. Oviedo is one of the most...

• Pôrto see Oporto , Portugal.

• Palencia city (1990 pop. 77,464), capital of Palencia prov., N central Spain, in Castile-León. An industrial center with iron foundries, textile mills, and chemical plants, it was formerly noted for its...

• Palma or Palma de Mallorca , city (1990 pop. 325,120), capital of Majorca island and of Baleares prov., Spain, on the Bay of Palma. It is the chief port and commercial center of the Balearic Islands. Picturesquely situated along the bay and into the surrounding hills, it is one of Europe's most renowned resorts. The international airport is one of the three busiest in Spain. Craft industries...

• Palmas, Las city (1990 pop. 373,846), capital of Las Palmas prov., Spain, on Grand Canary. The harbor nearby, at Puerto de la Luz, is the chief port of the Canary Islands and the busiest in Spain. Industries...

• Palos de la Frontera town Huelva prov., SW Spain, in Andalusia, on the Tinto River near its mouth. From its port (now silted up), Columbus sailed on his first voyage of discovery (1492), returning and reembarking in...

• Pampeluna Spain: see Pamplona.

• Pamplona city (1990 pop. 183,525), capital of Navarre , N Spain, on the Arga River. An older spelling is Pampeluna. It is an important communications, agricultural, and industrial center, manufacturing crafts, paper, and chemicals. The Univ. of Navarre...

• Pico [Port.,=peak], island (1991 pop. 15,129), 167 sq mi (433 sq km), Horta dist., in the N Atlantic, one of the central Azores. It takes its name from the volcanic mountain, Pico Alto [high peak], which...

• Pillars of Hercules ancient mythological name for promontories flanking the east entrance to the Strait of Gibraltar. They are usually identified with Gibraltar in Europe and with Mt. Acha at Ceuta in Africa. The...

• Ponta Delgada city (1991 pop. 21,091), capital of Ponta Delgada dist., in the Azores , Portugal. An important port on São Miguel island, it is the largest city and chief commercial center of the Azores. It...

• Pontevedra city (1990 pop. 70,356), capital of Pontevedra prov., NW Spain, in Galicia, on the Atlantic Ocean at the mouth of the Lérez River. It is a major fishing port. Clothing, leather goods, and...

• Portugal officially Portuguese Republic, republic (2005 est. pop. 10,566,000), 35,553 sq mi (92,082 sq km), SW Europe, on the western side of the Iberian Peninsula and including the Madeira Islands and the...

• Puerto de Santa María town (1990 pop. 64,849), Cádiz prov., S Spain, in Andalusia, on the Bay of Cádiz at the mouth of the Guadalete River. It is a commercial center, exporting sherry wine.