​CORUNNA, a maritime province in the extreme north-west ofSpain; forming part of Galicia, and bounded on the E. by Lugo,S. by Pontevedra, W. and N. by the Atlantic Ocean. Pop. (1900)653,556; area, 3051 sq. m. The coast of Corunna is exposed tothe full force of the Atlantic; it forms one succession of fantasticallyshaped promontories, divided by bays and estuaries whichoften extend for many miles inland, with reefs and small islandsin their midst. Though well lighted, this coast is very dangerousto navigation, gales and fogs being frequent in winter and spring.The most conspicuous headlands are Cape Ortegal and Cape deVares, the most northerly points of the Spanish seaboard, andCapes Finisterre and Toriñana in the extreme west. Theprincipal bays are those of Santa Marta, Ferrol and Corunna,on the north; Corcubion, Muros y Noya and Arosa, on the west.Wild and rugged though this region appears to travellers at sea,the mountains which overspread the interior are covered withforests and pastures, and watered by an abundance of smallrivers and streams. The climate is mild and singularly equable,but the rainfall is very heavy. All the fruits and vegetablesof northern Europe thrive in the sheltered valleys, and thecultivation of cherries, strawberries, peas and onions, for export,ranks among the most profitable local industries. Heavy cropsof wheat, rye, maize and sugar-beet are raised. The wines ofCorunna are heady and of inferior flavour. Cattle-breeding,once a flourishing industry, had greatly declined by the beginningof the 20th century, owing to foreign competition. All alongthe coast there are valuable fisheries of sardines, lobsters, cod,hake and other fish. Copper, tin and gold are procured in smallquantities, and other minerals undoubtedly exist. The exportsconsist chiefly of farm produce and fish; the imports, of coal andtextiles from England, petroleum from the United States, marblefrom Italy, salt fish from Norway and Newfoundland, and hides.The principal towns are Corunna, the capital and chief port (pop.1900, 43,971); Ferrol (25,281), another seaport; Santiago deCompostela (24,120), famous as a place of pilgrimage; Carballo(13,032); Ortigueira (18,426) and Ribeira (12,218). These aredescribed under separate headings. Along the coast there arenumerous trading and fishing stations of minor importance.Railway communication is very defective. From Corunna a linepasses south-eastward to Lugo and Madrid, and from Santiagoanother line goes southward to Vigo and Oporto; but the centreand the north-west of the province are, to a great extent, inaccessibleexcept by road; and many, even of the main highways,are ill-constructed and ill-kept. Very few Spanish provinceshave so high a birthrate, but the population increases veryslowly owing to emigration. For a description of the peasantry,who are distinguished in may respects from those inhabitingother parts of Spain, seeGalicia.