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Galicia

Mountainous but fertile autonomous community of northwest Spain, comprising the provinces of La Coruña, Lugo, Orense, and Pontevedra; area 29,434 sq km/11,365 sq mi; population (2001 est) 2,733,000. Industries include fishing (Galicia has the largest fishing fleet in the European Union), cattle and hog raising, food processing, and tungsten and tin mining. The climate is very wet, and the region is traversed northeast to southwest by the River Miño. The chief harbours are La Coruña, Vigo, and El Ferrol (a major naval base). The Galician language (Gallego) is similar to Portuguese. The capital is Santiago de Compostela, the site of an important Christian shrine (since the 9th century) which continues to attract great numbers of pilgrims.

History

Galicia was the centre of the kingdom of the group of Germanic tribes known as the Suevi, from 411 to 585. It was taken from the Moors (8th-9th centuries) by the king of Asturias, and again became a kingdom in the 11th century after the death of Ferdinand I, king of Castile and León. It came under Spanish domination in the late 15th century. The region was divided into the present provinces in 1833, and gained autonomy in 1981.

Environmental disaster Galicia's wildlife and economically vital fishing industry were severely threatened in November 2002 when a sunken tanker, the Prestige, leaked out a 6,000-ton oil slick which fouled some 100 beaches and forced a fishing ban along 400 km/249 mi of coastline. The spill had a devastating effect on the region's economy, which relies heavily on fishing and tourism.

Orense (city)

Pontevedra (province)

Santiago de Compostela

Vigo