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The
Principality of Asturias lies in the northeast of Spain. The coast bathes
in the Cantabrian sea and the region is home to the highest parts of the
Cantabrian mountain range.
It
is bordered by the Cantabrian sea in the north, Galicia in the west,
Cantabria in the east, and Castile and Leon in the south. The mountainous
terrain of Asturias can be clearly divided into two parts. On the one hand
there is the coast, with its sheer cliff faces that protect the beautiful
beaches. On the other hand there is the Cantabrian mountain range that
forms a natural border between Asturias and Castile and Leon. The highest
peaks can be found in the Picos de Europa, and reach up to 2,648 metres.
Some of the summits are well known and include Torre Cerredo, Peña Santa
and Naranjo de Bulnes. Other notable peaks are Peña Rubia and Peña Ubiña
(2,617 m). The rivers are short, but contain copious amounts of water, due
to the heavy rainfall, and the waters that come from the melting of snow
in the peaks. The most notable rivers are the Deva, the Sella, the Nalon,
the Navia and the Eo (the last two are only partially in Asturias).
Population
The
population of this autonomous region according to figures from the Spanish
National Statistics Institute (INE) as of the 1st of January 2001, is
1,075,329 inhabitants.
The
population density increases along the coast and is concentrated around
the Aviles-Gijon-Oviedo axis, and decreases further inland. The most
populated cities are Oviedo, Gijon and Aviles. The population is widely
dispersed, especially inland, where there are many small towns and
villages scattered over the Principality.
Administration
This
is a one province autonomous region. The capital is Oviedo.
The
highest institutional body of the Autonomous Region which governs the life
of the citizens of the Principality of Asturias is the Regional Assembly
of the Principality (regional Parliament). The Assembly is made up of 45
elected members. The Autonomy Statute of the Principality of Asturias was
approved in 1981.
Weather
The
Principality of Asturias has an Atlantic climate.
The
climate is warm and damp, and temperatures are generally mild, especially
on the coast.
Infrastructures
Transport
networks in the region have had to cope with the wild mountainous terrain
that abounds in the Principality.
In
spite of the complex mountainous terrain (high mountain peaks and huge
swings in altitude), the transport links are excellent and continually
improving. Asturias airport lies 40 kilometres from Oviedo, in the town of
Santiago del Monte. There are regular flights to Madrid, Barcelona,
Tenerife and Palma de Majorca as well as other major Spanish cities. There
are also international flights from the airport. ks that link the whole of
the region with the rest of Spain. The most notable roads are the A-8
Cantabrian md state ports such as Aviles and Gijon (El Musel), which has
vastly improved with the rebuilding work that has taken place in recent
years. The Principality of Asturias, also has excellent rail and road
networks that link the whole of the region with the rest of Spain. The
most notable roads are the A-8 Cantabrian motorway which links Oviedo with
Gijón-Avilés-La Matuca, while the A-66 Plata motorway, 75km long, joins
La Vega and El Negrón (Onzonilla).
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Tourist
office:
Calle
Uría, 64
33003
Oviedo (Asturias)
Tel. +34 985213385
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