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Acomarca (Spanish:[koˈmaɾka]ⓘ,Portuguese:[kuˈmaɾkɐ],Catalan:[kuˈmarkə]ⓘ,Galician:[koˈmaɾka̝]) is a traditional region or localadministrative division found inPortugal,Spain, and some of their former colonies, likeBrazil,Nicaragua, andPanama. The term is derived from the termmarca, meaning a"march, mark", plus the prefixco-, meaning "together, jointly".
Thecomarca is known inAragonese asredolada (Aragonese pronunciation:[reðoˈlaða]) and inBasque aseskualde (IPA:[es̺kualde]). In addition, inGalician,comarcas are also calledbisbarras (IPA:[bizˈβarɐs]).
Although the English word "county" and its near synonym "shire" have similar meanings, they are usually translated into Spanish and Portuguese ascondado, a term[clarification needed] which in theIberian Peninsula refers only to regions historically ruled by aconde (count orearl). However, "comarca" is occasionally used such as in theSpanish Wikipedia entry forcomarca and some translations ofThe Lord of the Rings (see below).
In theCommunity of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP),comarcas are used as follows.
From theMiddle Ages until the 16th century, thecomarcas corresponded to the large administrative divisions of Portugal. There were six such traditional divisions:Entre-Douro-e-Minho,Trás-os-Montes,Beira,Estremadura,Alentejo andAlgarve, of which the last had the honorary title of "kingdom". In the 16th century, thecomarcas started gradually to be referred to as "provinces".
The name "comarca" was then applied to the new administrative and judicial subdivisions of the provinces, created in the 17th century. Eachcomarca corresponded to the territorial area of jurisdiction of acorregedor, a high-ranking administrative and judicial officer who represented the Crown in the district.
In the 19th century, thecomarcas were replaced by separate administrative and judicial divisions to reflect the implementation of the separation of executive and judicial powers. The new administrative divisions became theadministrative districts and the new judicial divisions kept the namecomarca.
In Brazil, Portugal, and some other countries of the Community of Portuguese Language Countries, thecomarca now is the basic territorial division in thejudicial system. It corresponds to the territorial area of jurisdiction of acourt of first instance.
Thecomarca may correspond to amunicipality or group several small municipalities together. Presently, in Brazil, there are 2,680comarcas. A judiciary organization reform implemented in Portugal in 2014 reduced the number ofcomarcas from 231 to 23.
According to the new judicial division of 2015,Angola will be again subdivided into 60comarcas, each with a court of first instance. The courts ofcomarca will replace the previous provincial and municipal courts.
Comarca is also the name of a suburb ofLuanda, the capital of Angola.
The ninth-largest metropolitan area inMexico is known as theComarca Lagunera.[1] The region is made up of 15 municipalities, including the cities ofTorreón,Coahuila,Gómez Palacio and LerdoDurango.
In Panama, thecomarca indígena is an administrative region for an area with a substantialAmerindian population. Fourcomarcas (Emberá-Wounaan,Guna Yala,Naso Tjër Di, andNgöbe-Buglé) exist as equivalent toprovinces. Two smallercomarcas (Guna de Madugandí andGuna de Wargandí) are subordinate to a province and considered equivalent to acorregimiento.
The termcomarca is used in several regions in Spain:
In other places, such asExtremadura, thecomarca may refer simply to a loosely defined region.
Because of the word's long-standing use,comarca is sometimes used as the basis for the promotion oftourism with emphasis on local cultural tradition and history.
Some Spanish-language editions of the British writerJ. R. R. Tolkien's works use the termLa Comarca as a translation for the English "The Shire".