Province of Cádiz

Cádiz is a province of southern Spain, in the southwestern part of the autonomous community of Andalusia. It is the southernmost part of mainland Spain, as well as the southernmost part of continental Europe.

"Cadiz region" redirects here. For the wine region, see Cádiz (Vino de la Tierra). For other uses, see Cadiz (disambiguation).
Cádiz
Province
Flag
Coat of arms
Map of Spain with Cádiz highlighted
Coordinates: 36°30′N 5°45′W
CountrySpain
Autonomous communityAndalusia
CapitalCadiz
Government
 • PresidentIrene García Macías (PSOE–A)
Area
 • Total7,385 km2 (2,851 sq mi)
Area rankRanked 34th
 1.47% of Spain
Population
 (1 January 2014)
 • Total1,240,175
 • RankRanked 8th
 • Density170/km2 (430/sq mi)
 2.68% of Spain
Demonym(s)Spanish: Gaditano/a
Official language(s)Spanish
ParliamentCortes Generales
Websitedipucadiz.es

It is bordered by the Spanish provinces of Huelva, Seville, and Malaga, as well as the Atlantic Ocean, the Mediterranean Sea, the Strait of Gibraltar and the British overseas territory of Gibraltar. Its area is 7,385 square kilometres (2,851 sq mi).

Its capital is the city of Cadiz, which has a population of more than 128,000. The largest city is Jerez de la Frontera with 208,896 inhabitants (as of 2010), and another important city is Algeciras with just over 114,000 inhabitants. The entire province had a population of 1,240,175 (as of 2014), of whom about 600,000 live in the Bay of Cadiz area. Its population density is 167.93 per square kilometre.

Political and traditional subdivisions (comarcas)
Map of the distinct areas that comprise the Province of Cádiz

The province encompasses 44 municipalities; besides its capital, other important cities are Jerez and Algeciras. (See the list of municipalities in Cadiz.) According to a roster developed by the Council of Tourism and Sport of Andalusia on 27 March 2003, there are officially six traditional or touristic comarcas (provincial areas or counties) in the Province of Cádiz:

Bay of Cadiz (Bahía de Cádiz)

This area comprises towns and cities on the shores of the Bay of Cadiz on the west-central coast of the province:

  • Panteón de Marinos Ilustres
  • The bullring at El Puerto
  • The cathedral at Cádiz
  • Sancti Petri beach

Campiña de Jerez (Countryside of Jerez)

This fertile area only includes two municipalities, both large in area:

Campo de Gibraltar (Countryside of Gibraltar)

The towns that extend into the rural hinterlands north of Gibraltar are:

  • View of La Línea from the Rock of Gibraltar
  • High plaza at Algeciras
  • Chapel of Our Lady of Europe
  • Hozgarganta river

Bajo Guadalquivir (Northwest Coast; also called Costa Noroeste)

The towns of this area called the "Bajo Guadalquivir" (lower Guadalquivir valley), are:

  • The castle of Santiago in Sanlúcar de Barrameda
  • Salt mine at Sanlúcar
  • Las Covachas
  • La Cárcel (now a conservatory)

La Janda

Towns included in La Janda, an area in the southwestern part of the province, are:

  • Casa Consistorial, Medina Sidonia
  • La Breña
  • Vejer de la Frontera
  • Beaches

Sierra de Cádiz (Cádiz Mountains)

Towns included in the Cadiz Mountains area, in the northeastern part of the province, include:

  • Setenil
  • Zahara de la Sierra
  • Griffon vultures are common in Alcalá del Valle
  • Grazalema from Endrinal mountains

Climate

The entire province of Cádiz has a Mediterranean climate, mostly Köppen Csa but also Csb in high altitude areas. Large differences in summer temperatures exist between the three official stations in Cádiz, Jerez, and Tarifa depending on position relative to the coastline. Tarifa is exceptionally mild for such a southerly place in Spain, meanwhile winter temperatures are mild throughout the province with less difference between localities than in summer. Average yearly rainfall is 521 mm (20.5 in) in Cádiz, 573 mm (22.6 in) in Jerez, and 603 mm (23.7 in) in Tarifa.[1] This is comparable to much cloudier climates further north in Europe, in spite of the high number of sunshine hours in the province. The Cádiz region is also much wetter than the arid Almería province further east in Andalusia.

Average daily maximum and minimum temperatures for cities in Province of Cádiz[2]
Location January April July October
Cádiz 16.0 °C (60.8 °F)/ 9.4 °C (48.9 °F) 19.9 °C (67.8 °F)/ 13.7 °C (56.7 °F) 27.9 °C (82.2 °F)/ 22.0 °C (71.6 °F) 23.4 °C (74.1 °F)/ 17.3 °C (63.1 °F)
Jerez 16.2 °C (61.2 °F)/ 5.2 °C (41.4 °F) 22.2 °C (72.0 °F)/ 9.8 °C (49.6 °F) 33.5 °C (92.3 °F)/ 18.7 °C (65.7 °F) 25.5 °C (77.9 °F)/ 13.7 °C (56.7 °F)
Tarifa 15.1 °C (59.2 °F)/ 10.9 °C (51.6 °F) 17.3 °C (63.1 °F)/ 13.0 °C (55.4 °F) 24.5 °C (76.1 °F)/ 20.0 °C (68.0 °F) 20.6 °C (69.1 °F)/ 16.7 °C (62.1 °F)

Economy

In 2014 the unemployment rate was 42%, the highest in the country.[3] The main industry is tourism, mainly from non-coastal Spanish cities, Germany and the UK. Its once-important shipbuilding industry (Astilleros) is now in crisis due to competition from South Korea and China. There are factories of Airbus and Delphi. It also exports sherry as well as alimentary products.

Primary sector

Major industrial facilities
Sector
Main activities
% GDP
1° Agriculture, Animal husbandry and fishing. 4%
2° Industry (energy, industry and construction) 28%
3° Services (tourism, hostelery and public administration) 67%

Tourism

Beaches

The province of Cádiz has many kilometres of beaches and (as of 2005) the highest number of Blue Flags of all coastal provinces in Europe.

Baelo Claudia

Some of these beaches are relatively wild and far from big urban areas. One of the attractions of the area is its contrast to the mass tourism on the Mediterranean coast. There are extensive nature reserves in the region and the unspoilt feel of the area is heightened by the presence of wild animals including cows and horses on many stretches of beach.

The Costa de la Luz has traditionally been a popular destination for Spaniards wanting to enjoy the beach while avoiding the stifling heat of the Mediterranean Coast, although until recently this largely unspoilt Atlantic coastline was little known to foreign visitors. One of the factors that brought the region to the attention of foreign holidaymakers was the growing realisation that its Southern reaches are one of the world's best locations for wind sports.

Tarifa, located on the Strait of Gibraltar at the southernmost point of mainland Europe, has become Europe's foremost kitesurfing destination due to the area's unique wind phenomena, reliably sunny summer weather and the variety of beaches at locations such as Los Canos de Meca, Bolonia, Punta Paloma and, most famously, Playa de Los Lances where in the summer months you will often see over 1,000 kites in the air. The local economy has benefited significantly from the wind sport explosion: there are more than 50 kite schools in Tarifa and hundreds of shops, bars and hotels serving the many thousands of kitesurfers who visit every year.

Playa de Los Lances, Tarifa, Cadiz, Andalusia, Spain

Notable beaches:

Culture

Doñana National Park

Doñana National Park is one of two national parks in the autonomous community of Andalusia. A small area of the park extends into Cadiz Province, just north of Sanlucar de Barrameda and on the south bank of the Rio Guadalquivir. This area is primarily marismas. The public have access to a recreational area and a short walking trail. There is no direct access to the bulk of the park that lies on the north bank of the river in the provinces of Seville and Huelva.

Natural parks
Further information: Natural park (Spain)
Bahía de Cádiz Natural Park
Caño de Sancti Petri from Chiclana and San Fernando at the end
100 km², located at the mouth of the Guadalete river, consists of marshland, beaches, reed and sand dunes.
Bird watching. Sailing, windsurfing, hiking.
(Ocean) Pine. Many types of shrubs and bushes.
Gannet solan goose, storch, cormorant, great crested grebe, (sea)gull, flamingo, tern, sea eagle, avocet.
La Breña y Marismas del Barbate Natural Park
Cliffs
37.97 km², high cliff rock formations covered by pine trees.
Bird watching, archeological and botanical excursions, diving, windsurfing, sailing, hiking.
Strandpine, black juniper tree, black spruce, juniper, small palm tree, rosemary.
Herring gull, chaffinch, greenfinch, cattle egret, little egret, crested tit, woodpecker, kestrel, peregrine falcon.
La Doñana Natural Park
Iberian lynx
This natural park is shared by three provinces, Cádiz, Huelva and Seville. It is an area to the east and northeast of the national park.
Home of the Iberian lynx, a protected species.
Los Alcornocales Natural Park
View from the top of El Picacho peak
Information center in Alcalá de los Gazules; visitors centers in Algeciras and Cortes de la Frontera (Málaga).
1,700.25 km² in area.
Low mountain range, densely covered by cork oak trees ("Alcornoques").
Bird watching, archeological and botanical excursions, hiking, mountainbiking, speleology.
Cork oak, olive tree, gall oak, pink rock rose, small palm tree, alder, rhododendron, holly, bracken (fern), cherry tree, laurel.
Sparrow hawk, short-toed snake eagle, booted eagle, goshawk, eagle owl, tawny owl, culture, kestrel, peregrine falcon, wild boar, deer, weasel, (sea)otter, wildcat, mongoose.
Sierra de Grazalema Natural Park
Grazalema from Endrinal mountains
Administration in El Bosque; visitors' center in El Bosque.
516.95 km² in area.
Limestone formation, transformed to ravines, declines and caves. Large colonies of Spanish fir ("pinsapo").
Bird watching, archeological and botanical excursions.
Hiking, climbing, mountainbiking, speleology, paragliding.
Spanish fir, cork oak, holm oak, gall oak, carob, oleaster.
Imperial eagle, golden eagle, fish hawk, vulture, Egyptian vulture, mountain goat, deer, mongoose, (sea)otter, fox.
Straits of Gibraltar Natural Park
Cetacea in the strait
Is the most meridional national park of Europe.
Its location at the southernmost point of mainland Spain, and of mainland Europe, at the point where the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea meet in the Strait of Gibraltar, places it on the migratory route for many birds.

Natural reserves
There are eight natural reserves in the province: Complejo Endorreico de Chiclana, Complejo Endorreico de Espera, Complejo Endorreico de Puerto Real, Complejo Endorreico del Puerto de Santa María, Laguna de Medina, Lagunas de las Canteras y el Tejón, Laguna de la Paja, and Peñón de Zaframagón (which straddles the border with the province of Seville.)

Natural sites
There are seven natural sites in the province: Cola del Embalse de Arcos, Cola del Embalse de Bornos, Estuario del Río Guadiaro, Isla del Trocadero, Marismas de Sancti Petri, Marismas del Río Palmones, and Playa de Los Lances.

Parques Periurbanos: Pinares y Dunas de San Antón La Suara La Barrosa

Natural monuments
There are five natural monuments in the province: Corrales de Rota, Duna de Bolonia, Punta del Boquerón, Tómbolo de Trafalgar, and Escarpes del Río Trejo en Setenil.

Transportation

Roads

Airports

Railroads

Ports

The main ways to enter the province are by road from Seville or Malaga and by the Jerez Airport.

Notable sports teams

Football

Rugby Union

Notes and references
  1. "Standard Climate Values for Andalucía". Aemet.es. Retrieved 13 March 2015.
  2. "Standard Climate Values, Andalucía". Aemet.es. Retrieved March 2, 2015.
  3. Hayden, Grace (August 20, 2014). "Cadiz: A Profile of the Province With the Highest Unemployment in Spain". Econintersect News Blog. Retrieved 21 July 2017.

See also
  • List of Bienes de Interés Cultural in Cádiz
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