Cádiz is aprovince of southernSpain, in the southwestern part of theautonomous community ofAndalusia. It is the southernmost part of mainland Spain, as well as the southernmost part of continentalEurope.
Itscapital is the city ofCádiz, which has a population of 114,244. As of 2021, the largest city isJerez de la Frontera with 212,801 inhabitants.Algeciras, which surpassedCádiz with 122,982 inhabitants, is the second most populous city. The entire province had a population of 1,245,960 (as of 2021), of whom about 600,000 live in theBay of Cádiz area (including Jerez), making it the third most populous province in Andalusia. Its population density is 167.93 per square kilometre.
Map of the distinct areas that comprise the Province of Cádiz
The province encompasses 44municipalities; besides its capital, other important cities areJerez andAlgeciras. (See thelist of municipalities in Cádiz.) According to a roster developed by the Council of Tourism and Sport of Andalusia on 27 March 2003, there are officially six traditional or touristiccomarcas (provincial areas or counties) in the Province of Cádiz:
The entire province of Cádiz has aMediterranean climate, mostlyKöppenCsa but alsoCsb in high altitude areas. Large differences in summer temperatures exist between the three official stations inCádiz,Jerez, andTarifa 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 aridAlmería province further east in Andalusia.
Average daily maximum and minimum temperatures for cities in Province of Cádiz[2]
In 2014 the unemployment rate was 42%, the highest in the country.[3]The main industry istourism, mainly from non-coastal Spanish cities,Germany and theUK. Its once-important shipbuilding industry (Astilleros) is now in crisis due to competition fromSouth Korea andChina. There are factories ofAirbus andDelphi. It also exportssherry as well as alimentary products.
The province of Cádiz has many kilometres of beaches and (as of 2005) the highest number ofBlue Flags of all coastal provinces inEurope.
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 theMediterranean 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.
TheCosta 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 theStrait of Gibraltar at the southernmost point of mainland Europe, has become Europe's foremostkitesurfing destination due to the area'sunique 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, Cádiz, Andalusia, Spain
Doñana National Park is one of two national parks in the autonomous community ofAndalusia. A small area of the park extends into Cádiz 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.
Its location at the southernmost point of mainland Spain, and of mainland Europe, at the point where theAtlantic Ocean and theMediterranean Sea meet in theStrait of Gibraltar, places it on the migratory route for many birds.
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.)
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, andPlaya de Los Lances.
Parques Periurbanos: Pinares y Dunas de San Antón La Suara La Barrosa
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.
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