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The
autonomous region of Galicia lies in the north eastern part of Spain
basking in the Cantabrian sea and the Atlantic Ocean. It borders with the
Cantabrian sea in the north, with Asturias and Castile and Leon in the
east, with Portugal in the south, and with the Atlantic Ocean in the west.
The
Galician coastline is characterized by high cliffs and deep inlets
(estuaries). Two sections are usually differentiated: the Rías Altas
(Cedeira, Ortiguiera, O Barqueiro, Viveiro, Foz and Ribadeo amongst
others), and the Rías Baixas or Bajas (Muros and Noia, Arousa, Vigo and
Pontevedra). Between the two areas there are the Estuaries of "A
Costa da Morte" (Corcubión, Camariñas and Corme and Laxe) as well
as the Estuaries of the Ártabro Golf (Ferrol, Ares and Betanzos and A
Coruña). The region can be divided into two areas: inland Galicia and
coastal Galicia, that are separated by a mountain range known as Galicia's
backbone. The mountains tend to be small and undulating, separated by two
valleys, lying in the following three areas: The first area borders
Asturias and Leon, and has the highest mountains including, Pena Trevinca
(2,095 m), Penarrubia (1,826 m) and Cabeza de Manzaneda (1,778 m). The
second lies in the middle of the region surrounded by lower mountains, and
the third on the coast, with the estuaries as the renowned highlight.
Galician rivers have large volumes of water flowing through them and
naturally head towards either the Atlantic or the Cantabrian sea. The
rivers that flow into the Atlantic are larger and more abundant, including
the Miño river (the most important) and its tributary the river Sil.
Other notable rivers include the Ulla, the Tambre or the Eume.
Population
The
population of this autonomous region according to figures from the Spanish
National Statistics Institute (INE) as of the 1st of January 2001, after
having reviewed the Inhabitants register is 2,732,926.
The
breakdown by province is as follows: La Coruña: 1,108,002 inhabitants,
Lugo: 364,125 inhabitants, Ourense: 344,623 inhabitants and Pontevedra:
916,176 inhabitants. The population in Galicia has barely increased in the
twentieth century. The amount of inhabitants in 1900 was 1,980,514, and
reached 2,583,674 in the seventies. Most of the inhabitants are located
around the coast. Population outside the main cities is low, and tends to
be based around small towns.
Administration
This
is comprised of four provinces that include: Ourense, Lugo, A Coruña and
Pontevedra.
The
highest institutional body of the Autonomous Region which governs the life
of the people of Galicia is the Xunta de Galicia (Galicia Regional
Assembly). Article 1 of the Autonomy Statute (6th of April 1981) states
that Galicia is an “historic nationality” that has been “created
into an autonomous region so that it can enjoy the benefits of self
government in accordance with its rights as established in the Spanish
Constitution”. The political power of the autonomous region as
established by the Statute, lies in the Xunta (Regional Assembly), the
Parliament and its President. The Parliament has 75 seats, with elections
every four years. The head of Galicia's executive body is also elected
every four years by the members of the parliament.
Weather
The
autonomous region of Galicia is blessed with an Atlantic climate that
becomes more continental further inland.
The
whole of the region has a damp and warm climate, temperatures are very
mild, although inland, and especially in mountainous areas, they are
colder. Temperatures are mild and tend to range from 8ºC on the coast to
15ºC inland. The annual average for the whole region is about 13.7ºC.
Infrastructures
The
autonomous region of Galicia has an excellent infrastructure. Both road
and rail networks, and land and air transport, ensure that this area is
kept well-connected with Spain and the rest of the world.
Galicia
has five of the most important industrial ports in Spain (Vigo, Ferrol,
Marin, Vilagarcia de Arousa and A Coruña), as well as fishing ports,
marinas and private ports that are managed by Puertos de Galicia (Galician
Ports). Galicia also has a major network of roads connecting it with the
rest of Spain, Portugal and Europe, and a rail network that interconnects
the various provinces within region. The region links up with the rest of
Spain via the Madrid-Valladolid-Hendaya axis of railways, that travels
from the south east to the north east of the mainland. Galicia also has
three international airports (La Coruña, Santiago and Vigo) that are
increasing in passenger numbers and trade. The mountainous terrain of the
region has made building an infrastructure extremely difficult, however,
at present it boasts one of the most modern and complete infrastructures
in the whole of Spain. In the last few years Galicia has completed
construction of various dual carriageways that criss-cross the whole
region. There is a good direct connection by road and motorway from Madrid
to Vigo and A Coruña, which in turn links up with Santiago de Compostela
by motorway. . All the province capitals as well as Santiago are connected
by fast roads and dual carriageways. The A-9 motorway links Ferrol and A
Coruña with Tui, at the Portuguese border. Whereas, the Rias Baixas
motorway connects Pontevedra to Ourense and to Benavente, in the province
of Zamora.
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