The northern natural border of the province is formed by the east–west runningSierra de Gredos which is part of theSistema Central. The valleys North of Cáceres include theValle del Jerte, the gorges ofla Vera, theAmbroz Valley, andLas Hurdes with mountain rivers and natural pools. The southern border consists of theMontes de Toledo. The remainder of the province is a plain, through which the riverTagus and its tributaries run. The mountains are rich in wildlife, and in 1979, a nature park was created atMonfragüe.[2]
The plain is fertile, and irrigation is used to raise cereals, tobacco, tomatoes, peppers and cherries, as well as cattle and pigs as some of the most important agricultural products.The Gabriel y Galán dam, one of three on theAlagón River, produces most of the hydroelectric power for the province.[2]
The third largest photovoltaic installation in Spain (after the 500 MW Núñez de Balboa solar plant and the 493 MW Mula project), at 300 MW, is located inTalaván.[citation needed]
The province was formed in 1839, and is bordered by the provinces ofSalamanca,Ávila,Toledo andBadajoz in the south and byPortugal in the west.[2]The capital is the city ofCáceres, whereas of 2014, about a quarter of the 408,703 people in the province lived.[1] Other cities in the province includePlasencia,Coria,Navalmoral de la Mata,Alcántara, andTrujillo. The province comprises 223 municipalities. Traditionalcomarcas without administrative function in the province areLas Villuercas,Las Hurdes, and Monfragüe. Las Hurdes was one of the poorest regions in Spain's history.[2]
