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113-475: In Spain, the term comparsa can have different meanings depending on the celebration. In Cádiz and other parts of Andalusia , comparsas are groups of singers that take part in carnivals, especially the Carnival of Cádiz . They sing comedy routines and the best comparsa is chosen in a contest. Other ensembles can also be found at the carnival, such as chirigotas , coros de carnaval, and cuartetos carnavalescos. In

226-854: A 1.2 kilometres ( 3 ⁄ 4  mi) land border with the Andalusian portion of the province of Cádiz at the eastern end of the Strait of Gibraltar. The main mountain ranges of Andalusia are the Sierra Morena and the Baetic System , consisting of the Subbaetic and Penibaetic Mountains, separated by the Intrabaetic Basin . In the north, the Sierra Morena separates Andalusia from the plains of Extremadura and Castile–La Mancha on Spain's Meseta Central . To

339-410: A Galician-Portuguese language, is a specially protected language and is spoken in the valley of Jálama . The Extremaduran language , the collective name for a group of vernacular dialects related to Leonese is endangered. Local variants of Portuguese are native to Cedillo and Herrera de Alcántara . Portuguese has also been accounted to be spoken as well by some people (mainly those born before

452-502: A saqaliba previously freed by Al-Hakam II . Conversely, the kingdoms of León , Castile and Portugal (most notably the first one) made advances in the 11th and 12th centuries across the territory (with for example the successive Leonese conquests of Coria in 1079 and 1142, the Portuguese attempts at expanding across the Guadiana basin in the second half of the 12th century, or

565-481: A "nationality" ( nacionalidad ). The national holiday, Andalusia Day , is celebrated on 28 February, commemorating the 1980 autonomy referendum. The honorific title of Hijo Predilecto de Andalucía ("Favourite Son of Andalusia") is granted by the Autonomous Government of Andalusia to those whose exceptional merits benefited Andalusia, for work or achievements in natural, social, or political science. It

678-555: A Gothic term, * landahlauts , and in 2002, Bossong suggested its derivation from a pre-Roman substrate. The Spanish place name Andalucía (immediate source of the English Andalusia ) was introduced into the Spanish languages in the 13th century under the form el Andalucía . The name was adopted to refer to those territories still under Moorish rule, and generally south of Castilla Nueva and Valencia , and corresponding with

791-588: A foreign population of 34,667. The Extremaduran population, according to the 1591 census of the provinces of the Kingdom of Castile , was around 540,000 people, making up 8% of the total population of Spain. No other census was performed until 1717, when 326,358 people were counted as living in Extremadura. From this period, the population grew steadily until the 1960s (1,379,072 people in 1960). After 1960, emigration to more prosperous regions of Spain and Europe drained

904-517: A government agency coordinates with the owner of the property for its management), all part of the European Union 's Natura 2000 network. Under the international ambit are the nine Biosphere Reserves , 20 Ramsar wetland sites, four Specially Protected Areas of Mediterranean Importance and two UNESCO Geoparks . In total, nearly 20 percent of the territory of Andalusia lies in one of these protected areas, which constitute roughly 30 percent of

1017-519: A historical region of northern Valencia . In broad terms, the typical vegetation of Andalusia is Mediterranean woodland , characterized by leafy xerophilic perennials , adapted to the long, dry summers. The dominant species of the climax community is the holly oak ( Quercus ilex ). Also abundant are cork oak ( Quercus suber ), various pines , and Spanish fir ( Abies pinsapo ). Due to cultivation, olive ( Olea europaea ) and almond ( Prunus dulcis ) trees also abound. The dominant understory

1130-538: A latitude between 36° and 38° 44' N, in the warm-temperate region. In general, it experiences a hot-summer Mediterranean climate , with dry summers influenced by the Azores High , but subject to occasional torrential rains and extremely hot temperatures. In the winter, the tropical anticyclones move south, allowing cold polar fronts to penetrate the region. Still, within Andalusia there is considerable climatic variety. From

1243-649: A lithium-ion battery factory participated by Envision in Navalmoral de la Mata was announced in June 2022. As of January 1, 2012, the population of Extremadura is 1,109,367 inhabitants, representing 2.36% of the Spanish population (46,745,807). The population density is very low—25/km (65/sq mi)—compared to Spain as a whole. The urban network is dominated by three municipalities between 50,000 and 200,000 inhabitants ( Badajoz , Cáceres and Mérida ), followed by Plasencia ,

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1356-466: A manner compatible with both conservation and economic exploitation, many of the most representative ecosystems have been given protected status. The various levels of protection are encompassed within the Network of Protected Natural Spaces of Andalusia (Red de Espacios Naturales Protegidos de Andalucía, RENPA) which integrates all protected natural spaces located in Andalusia, whether they are protected at

1469-403: A maximum of 47.6 °C (117.7 °F) recorded at La Rambla , Córdoba (14 August 2021). The mountains of Granada and Jaén have the coldest temperatures in southern Iberia, but do not reach continental extremes (and, indeed are surpassed by some mountains in northern Spain). In the cold snap of January 2005, Santiago de la Espada (Jaén) experienced a temperature of −21 °C (−6 °F) and

1582-414: A power of 1,048.43 MW and 1,044.45 MW. The region is at the forefront of Spain's plans for energy transition and a decarbonisation , thanks to the installation of large solar power plants and the granting of lithium mining licenses. Such prospects sparked criticism and concern regarding how to avoid a "third energy colonisation" after those of the construction of reservoirs for hydroelectric use and

1695-580: A range of altitudes and slopes. Andalusia has the Iberian peninsula's highest mountains and nearly 15 percent of its terrain over 1,000 metres (3,300 ft). The picture is similar for areas under 100 metres (330 ft) (with the Baetic Depression), and for the variety of slopes. The Atlantic coast is overwhelmingly beach and gradually sloping coasts; the Mediterranean coast has many cliffs, above all in

1808-627: A result, at their mouths are estuaries and wetlands , such as the marshes of Doñana in the delta of the Guadalquivir, and wetlands of the Odiel. In contrast, the rivers of the Mediterranean Basin are shorter, more seasonal, and make a precipitous descent from the mountains of the Baetic Cordillera. Their estuaries are small, and their valleys are less suitable for agriculture. Also, being in

1921-478: A rich variety of birds. Some are of African origin, such as the red-knobbed coot ( Fulica cristata ), the purple swamphen ( Porphyrio porphyrio ), and the greater flamingo ( Phoenicopterus roseus ). Others originate in Northern Europe, such as the greylag goose ( Anser anser ). Birds of prey (raptors) include the Spanish imperial eagle ( Aquila adalberti ), the griffon vulture ( Gyps fulvus ), and both

2034-563: A status as 'old moriscos'. At the height of 1612, there were reports of remaining moriscos in Trujillo, Mérida and Plasencia. Located in the most able path from the Meseta Central to Portugal, the territory suffered greatly due to warfare from the 1640–1668 Portuguese Restoration War , characterised not by the movement of large armies but for pillage, skirmishes, raids, and destruction of economic resources and settlements across both sides of

2147-627: A statute of autonomy within Spain. The Parliament of Andalusia voted unanimously in 1983 that the preamble to the Statute of Autonomy recognise Blas Infante as the Father of the Andalusian Nation ( Padre de la Patria Andaluza ), which was reaffirmed in the reformed Statute of Autonomy submitted to popular referendum 18 February 2007. The preamble of the present 2007 Statute of Autonomy says that Article 2 of

2260-479: A territorial subdivision ( kūra ) of the former polities centered on Mérida. Following the collapse of the Caliphate in the early 11th century during the so-called Fitna of al-Andalus and its ensuing fragmentation into ephemeral statelets ( taifas ), the bulk of the territory of current day Extremadura became part of the (First) Taifa of Badajoz ( Baṭalyaws ), centered around the namesake city and founded by Sapur ,

2373-427: A vital role in the region's transition from prehistory to protohistory . Extremadura Extremadura ( / ˌ ɛ k s t r ə m ə ˈ dj ʊər ə / EK -strə-mə- DURE -ə ; Spanish: [e(ɣ)stɾemaˈðuɾa] ; Extremaduran : Estremaúra [ehtːɾemaˈuɾa] ; Portuguese : Estremadura ; Fala : Extremaúra ) is a landlocked autonomous community of Spain . Its capital city

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2486-562: Is Mérida , and its largest city is Badajoz . Located in the central-western part of the Iberian Peninsula , it is crossed from east to west by the Tagus and Guadiana rivers. The autonomous community is formed by the two largest provinces of Spain : Cáceres and Badajoz . Extremadura is bordered by Portugal to the west and by the autonomous communities of Castile and León (north), Castilla–La Mancha (east), and Andalusia (south). It

2599-564: Is Seville , while the seat of the its High Court of Justice is the city of Granada . Andalusia is immediately south of the autonomous communities of Extremadura and Castilla-La Mancha ; west of the autonomous community of Murcia and the Mediterranean Sea ; east of Portugal and the Atlantic Ocean ; and north of the Mediterranean Sea and the Strait of Gibraltar . Gibraltar shares

2712-536: Is 41,633 km (16,075 sq mi), making it the fifth largest of the Spanish autonomous communities. It is located in the Southern Plateau (a subdivision of the Spanish Central Plateau ). The region is crossed from West to East by two large rivers, the Tagus and the Guadiana , lining up three basic areas from North to South by combining mountain ranges and rivers: the territory spanning from

2825-516: Is January when Granada at the foot of the Sierra Nevada experiences an average temperature of 6.4 °C (43.5 °F). The hottest are July and August, with an average temperature of 28.5 °C (83.3 °F) for Andalusia as a whole. Córdoba is the hottest provincial capital, followed by Seville . The Guadalquivir valley has experienced some of the highest temperatures recorded in Europe, with

2938-597: Is an important area for wildlife, particularly with the major reserve at Monfragüe , which was designated a National Park in 2007, and the International Tagus River Natural Park ( Parque Natural Tajo Internacional ). The regional government is led by the president of the Regional Government of Extremadura , a post currently held by María Guardiola of the People's Party . The Day of Extremadura

3051-463: Is celebrated on 8 September. It coincides with the Catholic festivity of Our Lady of Guadalupe . The region, featuring an enormous energy surplus and hosting lithium deposits, is at the forefront of Spain's plans for energy transition and decarbonisation . Extremadura is contained between 37° 57 ′ and 40° 29 ′ N latitude, and 4° 39 ′ and 7° 33 ′ W longitude. The area of Extremadura

3164-415: Is composed of thorny and aromatic woody species, such as rosemary ( Rosmarinus officinalis ), thyme ( Thymus ), and Cistus . In the wettest areas with acidic soils , the most abundant species are the oak and cork oak, and the cultivated Eucalyptus . In the woodlands, leafy hardwoods of genus Populus (poplars, aspens, cottonwoods) and Ulmus (elms) are also abundant; poplars are cultivated in

3277-503: Is derived from the Arabic name for Muslim Iberia, "Al-Andalus". The etymology of the name "Al-Andalus" is disputed, and the extent of Iberian territory encompassed by the name has changed over the centuries. Traditionally it has been assumed to be derived from the name of the Vandals . Since the 1980s, a number of proposals have challenged this contention. Halm, in 1989, derived the name from

3390-471: Is first attested by inscriptions on coins minted in 716 by the new Muslim government of Iberia . These coins, called dinars , were inscribed in both Latin and Arabic . The region's history and culture have been influenced by the Tartessians , Iberians , Phoenicians , Carthaginians , Greeks , Romans , Vandals , Visigoths , Byzantines , Berbers , Arabs , Jews , Romanis and Castilians . During

3503-524: Is not a particularly high range, and its highest point, the 1,323-metre (4,341 ft) peak of La Bañuela in the Sierra Madrona , lies outside of Andalusia. Within the Sierra Morena, the gorge of Despeñaperros forms a natural frontier between Castile and Andalusia. The Baetic Cordillera consists of the parallel mountain ranges of the Cordillera Penibética near the Mediterranean coast and

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3616-500: Is present, deeper soils allowed farming of cereals suitable for livestock. The more complicated morphology of the Baetic Cordillera makes it more heterogeneous, with the most heterogeneous soils in Andalusia. Very roughly, in contrast to the Sierra Morena, a predominance of basic (alkaline) materials in the Cordillera Subbética, combined with a hilly landscape, generates deeper soils with greater agricultural capacity, suitable to

3729-512: Is that the dancers, musicians, floats, etc. follow one after the other the agreed route through the streets of the cities where they are held. Dominican Republic comparsas or troupes are dance groups choosing a traditionally festive or allegorical subject to typical Dominican things, organizing a presentation with costumes and mask. Diablo Cojuelo is the most popular character in the Dominican carnival and each province has unique elements. Throughout

3842-515: Is the highest distinction given by the Autonomous Community of Andalusia. The Sevillian historian Antonio Domínguez Ortiz wrote that: one must seek the essence of Andalusia in its geographic reality on the one hand, and on the other in the awareness of its inhabitants. From the geographic point of view, the whole of the southern lands is too vast and varied to be embraced as a single unit. In reality there are not two, but three Andalusias:

3955-511: Is the hottest area of Europe, with Córdoba and Seville averaging above 36 °C (97 °F) in summer high temperatures. These high temperatures, typical of the Guadalquivir valley are usually reached between 4 p.m. and 9 p.m. (local time), tempered by sea and mountain breezes afterwards. However, during heat waves late evening temperatures can locally stay around 35 °C (95 °F) until close to midnight, and daytime highs of over 40 °C (104 °F) are common. Its present form

4068-461: Is the largest province in Spain. 413,766 people live in the province of Cáceres at a density of 20.83/km (53.9/sq mi), having an area of 19,868 km (7,671 sq mi), making it the largest province in Spain after Badajoz. As of 2020, the largest foreign community is that of Romanian nationals with 8,173 people, followed by Moroccans with 7,400. Portuguese account for 3,188, Chinese for 1,655 and Colombians make up 1,555. The region had

4181-514: Is the southernmost autonomous community in Peninsular Spain , located in the south of the Iberian Peninsula , in southwestern Europe. It is the most populous and the second-largest autonomous community in the country. It is officially recognised as a historical nationality and a national reality . The territory is divided into eight provinces : Almería , Cádiz , Córdoba , Granada , Huelva , Jaén , Málaga , and Seville . Its capital city

4294-585: The Estoria de España (also known as the Primera Crónica General ) of Alfonso X of Castile , written in the second half of the 13th century, the term Andalucía is used with three different meanings: From an administrative point of view, Granada remained separate for many years even after the completion of the Reconquista due, above all, to its emblematic character as the last territory regained, and as

4407-579: The Raya . The growing role of the fortified place of Badajoz (halfway between Lisbon and Madrid), in the wake of the installment of the Captaincy General of Extremadura consolidated the clout of the military in the region. By the late 18th century, the Extremaduran countryside languished, experiencing a deep crisis. There was a diminishing share of land dedicated to crops. The growing cattle sector induced

4520-411: The "Pimentón de la Vera" PDO  [ es ] , consisting of the comarcas of La Vera, Campo Arañuelo, Valle del Ambroz and Valle del Alagón . The PDO produced 3,860 tonnes in 2020. About half the value of the regional industrial production belongs to the energy sector . Extremadura presents a huge energy surplus, producing about four times the energy it consumes. This situation has led to

4633-771: The Alagón (rightbank) and the Almonte , Ibor , Salor and the Sever (leftbank). Regarding the Guadiana, important leftbank tributaries include Guadarranque and Ruecas and rightbank tributaries include the Zújar River and the Matachel . The highest point in Extremadura, the 2,401 m (7,877 ft) high Calvitero (or El Torreón), is located in the Sistema Central, in the northeastern end of

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4746-676: The Arbonaida , meaning white-and-green in Mozarabic , a Romance language that was spoken in the region in Muslim times. Nowadays, the Andalusian government states that the colours of the flag evoke the Andalusian landscape as well as values of purity and hope for the future. The anthem of Andalusia was composed by José del Castillo Díaz (director of the Municipal Band of Seville, commonly known as Maestro Castillo) with lyrics by Blas Infante. The music

4859-596: The Baetic Depression , the basin of the Guadalquivir, lies between these two mountainous areas. It is a nearly flat territory, open to the Gulf of Cádiz in the southwest. Throughout history, this has been the most populous part of Andalusia. Andalusia has rivers that flow into both the Atlantic and the Mediterranean. Flowing to the Atlantic are the Guadiana , Odiel - Tinto , Guadalquivir , Guadalete , and Barbate . Flowing to

4972-547: The Barbary sheep ( Ammotragus lervia ), an invasive species from Africa, introduced for hunting in the 1970s. Among the small herbivores are rabbits—especially the European rabbit ( Oryctolagus cuniculus )—which form the most important part of the diet of the carnivorous species of the Mediterranean woodlands. The large carnivores such as the Iberian wolf ( Canis lupus signatus ) and

5085-412: The Carnival of Santa Cruz de Tenerife , comparsas are similar to Brazilian carnival blocks. Cuban comparsas originate in the eastern part of the island, specifically in the streets of Santiago de Cuba . Comparsas are groups of singers, musicians and dancers. The singers and musicians form part of the conga , the ensemble that specifically plays the carnival music (a genre also called conga). The rest of

5198-797: The Cordillera Subbética inland, separated by the Surco Intrabético . The Cordillera Subbética is quite discontinuous, offering many passes that facilitate transportation, but the Penibético forms a strong barrier between the Mediterranean coast and the interior. The Sierra Nevada, part of the Cordillera Penibética in the province of Granada, has the highest peaks in Iberia: El Mulhacén at 3,478 metres (11,411 ft) and El Veleta at 3,392 metres (11,129 ft). Lower Andalusia,

5311-483: The Don Benito - Villanueva de la Serena conurbation and Almendralejo . Other municipalities with a population above 10,000 inhabitants include Zafra , Montijo , Villafranca de los Barros , Navalmoral de la Mata and Coria . The most populous province is that of Badajoz , with a population of 691,715 and a population density of 31.78/km (82.3/sq mi). With an area of 21,766 km (8,404 sq mi), it

5424-542: The European polecat ( Mustela putorius ), the least weasel ( Mustela nivalis ), the European wildcat ( Felis silvestris ), the common genet ( Genetta genetta ), and the Egyptian mongoose ( Herpestes ichneumon ). Other notable species are Acherontia atropos (a variety of death's-head hawkmoth ), Vipera latasti (a venomous snake ), and the endemic (and endangered) fish Aphanius baeticus . Andalusia has many unique ecosystems. In order to preserve these areas in

5537-475: The Gulf of Cádiz ( Atlantic Ocean ); to the north the Sierra Morena constitutes the border with the Meseta Central ; to the south, the self-governing British overseas territory of Gibraltar and the Strait of Gibraltar separate it from Morocco . Andalusia is home to the hottest and driest climates in Spain, with yearly average rainfall around 150 millimetres (5.9 in) in Cabo de Gata , as well as some of

5650-473: The Iberian lynx ( Lynx pardinus ) are quite threatened, and are limited to the Sierra de Andújar, inside of Sierra Morena, Doñana and Despeñaperros. Stocks of the wild boar ( Sus scrofa ), on the other hand, have been well preserved because they are popular with hunters. More abundant and in varied situations of conservation are such smaller carnivores as otters , dogs, foxes, the European badger ( Meles meles ),

5763-579: The Islamic Golden Age , Córdoba surpassed Constantinople to be Europe 's biggest city, and became the capital of Al-Andalus and a prominent center of education and learning in the world, producing numerous philosophers and scientists. The Crown of Castile conquered and settled the Guadalquivir Valley in the 13th century. The mountainous eastern part of the region (the Emirate of Granada )

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5876-538: The Köppen climate classification ). Extremadura generally presents average annual temperatures somewhat warmer than most of the Iberian Peninsula, featuring nonetheless a north–south gradient. Annual thermal amplitude generally ranges from 16 to 19 °C. Average annual precipitation stands at around 600 mm. Parts of the Sistema Central presents more than 1,500 mm while it barely rains 400 mm in parts of

5989-618: The Latin words Dominator Hercules Fundator (Lord Hercules is the Founder) superimposed. The official flag of Andalusia consists of three equal horizontal stripes, coloured green, white, and green respectively; the Andalusian coat of arms is superimposed on the central stripe. Its design was overseen by Blas Infante and approved in the Assembly of Ronda (a 1918 gathering of Andalusian nationalists at Ronda ). Blas Infante considered these to have been

6102-558: The Provincial Deputation of Badajoz and the Provincial Deputation of Cáceres . The members of the plenary of the deputation are indirectly elected from among the municipal councillors based on the results of the municipal elections. In turn, the plenary elects the president of the deputation from among its members. The gross domestic product (GDP) of Extremadura was 20 billion euros in 2018, accounting for 1.7% of Spanish economic output. GDP per capita adjusted for purchasing power

6215-401: The Sierra Morena , the Valley [of the Guadalquivir ] and the [Cordillera] Penibética Andalusia has a surface area of 87,597 square kilometres (33,821 sq mi), 17.3% of the territory of Spain. Andalusia alone is comparable in extent and in the variety of its terrain to any of several of the smaller European countries. To the east is the Mediterranean Sea ; to the west Portugal and

6328-482: The Sierra de Grazalema Natural Park in the province of Cádiz, which experiences one of highest rainfall in Spain. Annual rainfall in the Sierra de Grazalema has been measured as high as 4,346 millimetres (171.1 in) in 1963, the highest ever recorded for any location in Iberia. Andalusia is also home to the driest place in Europe , the Cabo de Gata , with only 156 millimetres (6.1 in) of rain per year. In general, as one goes from west to east, away from

6441-411: The Sistema Central to the Tagus, the so-called Mesopotamia extremeña in between the Tagus and the Guadiana and the territory from the Guadiana to Sierra Morena . Besides the catchment basins of the Tagus and the Guadiana covering most of the territory by far, fringe areas of the region are drained by the Douro (north) and the Guadalquivir (south). Notable Tagus tributaries include the Tiétar and

6554-405: The basin of the Segura . The soils of Andalusia can be divided into three large areas: the Sierra Morena , Cordillera Subbética , and the Baetic Depression and the Surco Intrabético . The Sierra Morena, due to its morphology and the acidic content of its rocks, developed principally relatively poor, shallow soils, suitable only for forests. In the valleys and in some areas where limestone

6667-441: The black and red kite ( Milvus migrans and Milvus milvus ). Among the herbivores , are several deer (Cervidae) species, notably the fallow deer ( Dama dama ) and roe deer ( Capreolus capreolus ); the European mouflon ( Ovis aries musimon ), a feral sheep; and the Spanish ibex ( Capra pyrenaica , which despite its scientific name is no longer found in the Pyrenees ). The Spanish ibex has recently been losing ground to

6780-411: The rain shadow of the Baetic Cordillera means that they receive a lesser volume of water. The following hydrographic basins can be distinguished in Andalusia. On the Atlantic side are the Guadalquivir basin; the Andalusian Atlantic Basin with the sub-basins Guadalete-Barbate and Tinto-Odiel; and the Guadiana basin. On the Mediterranean side is the Andalusian Mediterranean Basin and the upper portion of

6893-486: The ski resort at Sierra Nevada National Park —the southernmost ski resort in Europe—dropped to −18 °C (0 °F). Sierra Nevada Natural Park has Iberia's lowest average annual temperature, (3.9 °C or 39.0 °F at Pradollano) and its peaks remain snowy practically year-round. Mountain ranges affect climate, the network of rivers, soils and their erosion, bioregions, and even human economies insofar as they rely on natural resources. The Andalusian terrain offers

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7006-516: The tobacco produced in Spain, also being the leading European producing region. Tobacco production concentrates in La Vera and Campo Arañuelo . Tomato production (2,122,000 tonnes in 2017) primarily concentrates in the riverbanks of the Guadiana and the Alagón-Árrago. A large part of the region falls within the scope of the Ribera del Guadiana PDO , which is further divided in the Ribera Alta, Tierra de Barros , Matanegra, Ribera Baja, Montánchez, and Cañamero wine subregions. The PDO protects

7119-422: The wines made of several varieties of black and white grapes. As of 2021, Extremadura is the second largest rice producing region in Spain, after Andalusia. Due to drought and high water demands from rice fields, non-irrigated rice fields have been favoured since the late 2010s. Together with Murcia, Extremadura is a major producer of paprika , primarily destined to the Spanish market. Peppers are grown in

7232-415: The Arabic term al-Andalus , in historical contexts the Spanish term Andalucía or the English term Andalusia do not necessarily refer to the exact territory designated by these terms today. Initially, the term referred exclusively to territories under Muslim control. Later, it was applied to some of the last Iberian territories to be regained from the Muslims, though not always to exactly the same ones. In

7345-449: The Atlantic, there is less precipitation. "Wet Andalusia" includes most of the highest points in the region, above all the Sierra de Grazalema but also the Serranía de Ronda in western Málaga. The valley of the Guadalquivir has moderate rainfall. The Tabernas Desert in Almería has less than 300 millimetres (12 in) annually. Much of "dry Andalusia" has more than 300 sunny days a year. The average temperature in Andalusia throughout

7458-434: The Castilian founding of Plasencia in 1186) not free from setbacks either caused by the Almoravid and Almohad impetus, which also entailed the demise of the first and second taifa of Badajoz in 1094 and 1150, respectively. In the Almohad case, their 1174 offensive removed Leonese control from every fortress south of the Tagus (including Cáceres ). After the Almohad disaster at the 1212 Battle of Las Navas de Tolosa ,

7571-440: The Granadan moriscos. Two generations later, the expulsion of the moriscos from the region began in 1609, starting with the moriscos of Hornachos, the first expulsion in the Crown of Castile. By September 1610 about two thirds of the moriscos of Extremadura had been already expelled and by 1611 the number amounted to 12,776. Those who avoided the early orders of expulsion abided to reports of being 'good Christians' or claimed

7684-406: The Malagan Axarquía and in Granada and Almería. This asymmetry divides the region naturally into Upper Andalusia  [ es ] (two mountainous areas) and Lower Andalusia  [ es ] (the broad basin of the Guadalquivir). The Sierra Morena separates Andalusia from the plains of Extremadura and Castile–La Mancha on Spain's Meseta Central . Although sparsely populated, this

7797-401: The Mediterranean are the Guadiaro , Guadalhorce , Guadalmedina , Guadalfeo , Andarax (also known as the Almería) and Almanzora . Of these, the Guadalquivir is the longest in Andalusia and fifth longest on the Iberian peninsula, at 657 kilometres (408 mi). The rivers of the Atlantic basin are characteristically long, run through mostly flat terrain, and have broad river valleys. As

7910-427: The Tagus is better suited for hydroelectric use than the Guadiana. As of 2021, the region has around 2,193.84 MW of installed hydroelectric power, primarily controlled by Endesa and Iberdrola , with a lesser role of Grupo Pitarch. The two reactors of the Almaraz Nuclear Power Plant (which were put in operation in 1981 and 1983, respectively) are jointly operated by Endesa, Iberdrola and Naturgy . They generate

8023-615: The US, jamón ibérico directly from Extremadura, with bone, was illegal until around 2005. At that time, enough US restaurants were in demand for the delicacy that Spain decided to export it as boneless, which the US Department of Agriculture 's health codes would approve (and continue to do). 85 Extremaduran municipalities constitute the jurisdiction of the "Dehesa de Extremadura" Protected Designation of Origin (PDO), which protects jamones and paletas (hind and front pig legs) originated from Iberian pigs and mixed Iberian/ Duroc -Jersey pigs. As of 2021, Extremadura produces about 98% of

8136-840: The Western Mediterranean subregion of the Mediterranean Basin , which falls within the Boreal Kingdom . Five floristic provinces lie, in whole or in part, within Andalusia: along much of the Atlantic coast, the Lusitanian-Andalusian littoral or Andalusian Atlantic littoral; in the north, the southern portion of the Luso-Extremaduran floristic province; covering roughly half of the region, the Baetic floristic province; and in

8249-555: The building of nuclear power plants . Two of the largest photovoltaic power plants in Europe are located in the region: Francisco Pizarro (590 MW) in Torrecillas de la Tiesa and Núñez de Balboa (500 MW) in Usagre ; both are operated by Iberdrola, which is developing another 6 photovoltaic plants collectively amounting to 1,300 MW. The first solar thermal power plant in the region, Alvarado I , (50 MW) opened in 2009. A project to build

8362-555: The central western portion of the current day Spain. Mérida (now capital of Extremadura) became the capital of the Roman province of Lusitania, and one of the most important cities in the Roman Empire . Like the bulk of the Iberian Peninsula, the territory was conquered by the Umayyads in the early 8th century . As part of the Emirate and later Caliphate of Córdoba , it largely constituted

8475-407: The characterization of Extremadura as a potential "colony" of the private electricity companies, which are not taxed in the region and employ a relatively low share of the industrial workforce. The Tagus is dammed in the reservoirs of Alcántara , Torrejón and Valdecañas whereas the Guadiana is dammed in the reservoirs of Cíjara , Puerto Peña , Orellana and Zújar. Due to the orographic conditions,

8588-605: The colours most used in regional symbols throughout the region's history. According to him, the green came in particular from the standard of the Umayyad Caliphate and represented the call for a gathering of the populace. The white symbolised pardon in the Almohad dynasty , interpreted in European heraldry as parliament or peace. Other writers have justified the colours differently, with some Andalusian nationalists referring to them as

8701-487: The comparsa is formed by dancers with defined costumes and choreographies. Apart from the large Carnival of Santiago de Cuba , there is a carnival in Havana with slightly different customs. Famous comparsas from Santiago include Los Hoyos, Paso Franco, Guayabito, San Agustín, San Pedrito and Alto Pino. Famous comparsas from Havana include La Sultana, El Alacrán and Guaracheros de Regla . The unique thing about most Cuban comparsas

8814-828: The country, particularly in Corozal Town and San Pedro Town , comparsas are groups of street dancers which perform carnival season. The dancers dress up in traditional Mayan clothes. In Argentina, comparsas are very similar to the Brazilian carnival blocks , being followed by carriages. In Uruguay, a comparsa makes reference to a group of candombe dancers and drummers. Andalusia Andalusia ( UK : / ˌ æ n d ə ˈ l uː s i ə , - z i ə / AN -də- LOO -see-ə, -⁠zee-ə , US : /- ʒ ( i ) ə , - ʃ ( i ) ə / -⁠zh(ee-)ə, -⁠sh(ee-)ə ; Spanish : Andalucía [andaluˈθi.a] , locally also [-ˈsi.a] )

8927-498: The creation of yet more pastures, adding up to the structural problem stemmed from the extraordinary degree of concentration of land ownership . By the end of the Ancien Régime, the clergy, municipal councils and the royal army mattered more than the lesser role of the entitled nobility. Railways were developed in the second half of the 19th century. In September 1863, a passenger train arrived to Badajoz from Elvas , Portugal. It

9040-626: The cultivation of olives. Finally, the Baetic Depression and the Surco Intrabético have deep, rich soils, with great agricultural capacity. In particular, the alluvial soils of the Guadalquivir valley and plain of Granada have a loamy texture and are particularly suitable for intensive irrigated crops. In the hilly areas of the countryside, there is a double dynamic: the depressions have filled with older lime-rich material, developing

9153-512: The deep, rich, dark clay soils the Spanish call bujeo , or tierras negras andaluzas , excellent for dryland farming. In other zones, the whiter albariza provides an excellent soil for vineyards . Despite their marginal quality, the poorly consolidated soils of the sandy coastline of Huelva and Almería have been successfully used in recent decades for hothouse cultivation under clear plastic of strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, and other fruits. Biogeographically, Andalusia forms part of

9266-464: The effective expulsion of nearly a 40% of the population, particularly young people. A pre-autonomous government entity in Extremadura (the "Junta Regional de Extremadura") with jurisdiction over the provinces of Badajoz and Cáceres was created by means of a 1978 law. The draft of the regional Statute of Autonomy began in 1980, the first step toward Extremadura becoming one of the Spanish autonomous communities . The text passed its final hurdle as it

9379-468: The extensive coastal plains one may pass to the valley of the Guadalquivir, barely above sea level, then to the highest altitudes in the Iberian peninsula in the peaks of the Sierra Nevada . In a mere 50 km (31 mi) one can pass from the subtropical coast of the province of Granada to the snowy peaks of Mulhacén . Andalusia also includes both the dry Tabernas Desert in the province of Almería and

9492-675: The extreme east, the Almerian portion of the Almerian-Murcian floristic province and (coinciding roughly with the upper Segura basin) a small portion of the Castilian-Maestrazgan-Manchegan floristic province. These names derive primarily from past or present political geography: "Luso" and "Lusitanian" from Lusitania , one of three Roman provinces in Iberia, most of the others from present-day Spanish provinces, and Maestrazgo being

9605-409: The figure of Hercules and two lions between the two pillars of Hercules that tradition situates on either side of the Strait of Gibraltar. An inscription below, superimposed on an image of the flag of Andalusia reads Andalucía por sí, para España y la Humanidad ("Andalusia for herself, Spain and Humanity"). Over the two columns is a semicircular arch in the colours of the flag of Andalusia, with

9718-539: The former Roman province hitherto called Baetica in Latin sources. This was a Castilianization of Al-Andalusiya , the adjectival form of the Arabic language al-Andalus , the name given by the Arabs to all of the Iberian territories under Muslim rule from 711 to 1492. The etymology of al-Andalus is itself somewhat debated (see al-Andalus ), but in fact it entered the Arabic language before this area came under Moorish rule. Like

9831-406: The industrialised areas of Spain (already started in 1955) as well as to richer European countries (such as Germany, France and Switzerland), both of which notably intensified after 1961, in the wake of the 1959 Stabilization Plan (and in the second case also after bilateral agreements reached with destination countries). The region henceforth was handed a demographic blow in the ensuing years, with

9944-544: The larger Montes de Toledo system. The Sierra Morena —the limit between Extremadura and Andalusia —and the Sierra de Tentudía (topping at 1,104 m (3,622 ft) on the Pico Tentudía ) rise in the south. There are four different hydrographic basins: The climate of Extremadura is predominantly hot-summer Mediterranean ( Csa in the Köppen climate classification ), with some regions being cold semi-arid ( BSk in

10057-481: The late Middle Ages, the territory of the current-day region consisted of mayorazgos of the military orders of Santiago and Alcántara (about half the territory), nobiliary lordships (about a quarter of the territory) and royal demesne towns (the other quarter of the territory). In between the 15th and 16th centuries, the concept of the Leonese and Castilian extremaduras diluted and the name eventually came to refer to

10170-409: The level of the local community, the autonomous community of Andalusia, the Spanish state, or by international conventions. RENPA consists of 150 protected spaces, consisting of two national parks , 24 natural parks , 21 periurban parks (on the fringes of cities or towns), 32 natural sites, two protected countrysides, 37 natural monuments, 28 nature reserves, and four concerted nature reserves (in which

10283-519: The mid 20th century, the Francoist dictatorship pursued a policy of colonization and agrarian reform in the region to foster the economy, transforming thousands of hectares of dryland crops into irrigated lands, also favouring the erection of 63 new settlements by the Instituto Nacional de Colonización (INC). The second half of the 20th century saw a massive rural flight out of the region, both to

10396-415: The mountains. The biodiversity of Andalusia extends to its fauna as well. More than 400 of the 630 vertebrate species extant in Spain can be found in Andalusia. Spanning the Mediterranean and Atlantic basins, and adjacent to the Strait of Gibraltar, Andalusia is on the migratory route of many of the numerous flocks of birds that travel annually from Europe to Africa and back. The Andalusian wetlands host

10509-413: The plains of Granada. The Andalusian woodlands have been much altered by human settlement, the use of nearly all of the best land for farming, and frequent wildfires . The degraded forests become shrubby and combustible garrigue . Extensive areas have been planted with non- climax trees such as pines. There is now a clear conservation policy for the remaining forests, which survive almost exclusively in

10622-518: The population. Extremadura is divided into 383 municipalities. 164 are part of the Province of Badajoz and the other 219 are part of the Province of Cáceres . There are also traditional comarcas in Extremadura, like Las Villuercas and Las Hurdes , but these do not have much official recognition. The only official language is Spanish (whose local dialects are collectively called Castúo ), but other languages and dialects are also spoken. The Fala ,

10735-435: The present Spanish Constitution of 1978 recognises Andalusia as a nationality . Later, in its articulation, it speaks of Andalusia as a "historic nationality" (Spanish: nacionalidad histórica ). It also cites the 1919 Andalusianist Manifesto of Córdoba describing Andalusia as a "national reality" ( realidad nacional ), but does not endorse that formulation. Article 1 of the earlier 1981 Statute of Autonomy defined it simply as

10848-441: The previous decade. Wild Black Iberian pigs roam in the area and consume acorns from oak groves. These pigs are caught and used for the cured ham dish jamón ibérico . The higher the percentage of acorns eaten by the pigs, the more valuable the ham. For example, jamón ibérico from pigs whose diet consists of 90% acorns or more can be sold for more than twice as much as ham whose pigs ate on average less than 70% acorns. In

10961-734: The protected territory of Spain. Among these many spaces, some of the most notable are the Sierras de Cazorla, Segura y Las Villas Natural Park , Spain's largest natural park and the second largest in Europe, the Sierra Nevada National Park , Doñana National Park and Natural Park , the Tabernas Desert , and the Cabo de Gata-Níjar Natural Park , the largest terrestrial-maritime reserve in the European Western Mediterranean Sea. The geostrategic position of Andalusia, at

11074-533: The province of Badajoz in August 1936 and left merciless repression and mass casualties behind. Badajoz was the Spanish province where the Francoist repression comparatively took the highest relative toll of victims during the war and the immediate Post-War period; there were around 12,000 executions in the province (out of the 14,000 in the whole region), compared to around 1,600 victims of the Republican repression. In

11187-439: The province of Badajoz. Summers are very hot and dry, with the rain concentrated in the cold months instead, leading to a high degree of water stress during the summer months. During the time of the Roman Empire , the area that is known today as Autonomous Community of Extremadura was part of Lusitania , a Roman province that included most of current day Portugal (except for the northern area today known as Norte Region ) and

11300-505: The region, bordering with Castile and León. The main subranges of the Sistema Central in Extremadura are the Sierra de Gata and Sierra de Béjar . The modest heights of Sierra de las Villuercas (topping at 1,603 m (5,259 ft) on the Pico de las Villuercas ) rise in the Mesopotamia extremeña . Other notable ranges include the Sierra de Montánchez and the Sierra de San Pedro , part of

11413-482: The remaining part of current-day Extremadura under Muslim control fell to the troops led by Alfonso IX of León — Alcántara (1214), Cáceres (1227–1229), Mérida (1230), Badajoz (1230) —and later to the military orders of Santiago and Alcántara — Trujillo (1232), Medellín (1234) —on behalf of Ferdinand III of Castile . The last fortresses in the Lower Extremadura were conquered by Christians by 1248. By

11526-602: The rest of Europe. Still, the growth of the community in the sectors of industry and services was above average in Spain and higher than many communities in the Eurozone . The region has a rich culture and a strong identity. Many cultural phenomena that are seen internationally as distinctively Spanish are largely or entirely Andalusian in origin. These include flamenco and, to a lesser extent, bullfighting and Hispano-Moorish architectural styles , both of which are also prevalent in some other regions of Spain. Andalusia's hinterland

11639-439: The seat of the important Real Chancillería de Granada , a court of last resort . Still, the reconquest and repopulation of Granada was accomplished largely by people from the three preexisting Christian kingdoms of Andalusia, and Granada came to be considered a fourth kingdom of Andalusia. The often-used expression " Four Kingdoms of Andalusia " dates back in Spanish at least to the mid-18th century. The Andalusian emblem shows

11752-582: The south, the geographic subregion of Upper Andalusia  [ es ] lies mostly within the Baetic System , while Lower Andalusia  [ es ] is in the Baetic Depression of the valley of the Guadalquivir . The name Andalusia is derived from the Arabic word Al-Andalus ( الأندلس ), which in turn may be derived from the Vandals , the Goths or pre-Roman Iberian tribes. The toponym al-Andalus

11865-621: The southernmost tip of Europe , between Europe and Africa and between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea , has made it a hub for various civilizations since the Metal Ages . Its wealth of minerals and fertile land, combined with its large surface area, attracted settlers from the Phoenicians to the Greeks , who influenced the development of early cultures like Los Millares , El Argar , and Tartessos . These early Andalusian societies played

11978-634: The territory of the current-day region. The territory lacked nonetheless shared government and administration institutions. In between 1570 and 1572, the Crown forcibly relocated about 11,000 moriscos into the territory as part of the deportation of Granadans that followed the defeat of the Alpujarras revolt . The distribution was somewhat chaotic although some places with an already "threatening" population of old moriscos (such as Hornachos , Magacela and Benquerencia ) were avoided as resettlement locations for

12091-405: The wettest ones, with yearly average rainfall above 2,000 millimetres (79 in) in inland Cádiz . In the west, weather systems sweeping in from the Atlantic ensure that it is relatively wet and humid in the winter, with some areas receiving copious amounts. Contrary to what many people think, as a whole, the region enjoys above-average yearly rainfall in the context of Spain. Andalusia sits at

12204-533: The year is over 16 °C (61 °F). Averages in the cities range from 15.1 °C (59.2 °F) in Baeza to 19.2 °C (66.6 °F) in Seville . However, a small region on the Mediterranean coast of Almeria and Granada provinces have average annual temperature over 20 °C (68 °F). Much of the Guadalquivir valley and the Mediterranean coast has an average of about 18 °C (64 °F). The coldest month

12317-520: Was 20,100 euros or 67% of the EU27 average in the same year. Extremadura was the community with the second lowest GDP per capita in Spain before Melilla . Export goods (mostly consisting of food and semimanufactures) are primarily sent to the European market , but there has been a growing share of non-EU export destinations throughout the 2010s. Balance of trade is generally positive. The unemployment rate stood at 17.3% in 2022, significantly lower than in

12430-522: Was enshrined as Organic Law in 1982. The first election to the Assembly of Extremadura took place in May 1983. The Statute of Autonomy of Extremadura (enacted in 1983) is the fundamental organic law regulating the autonomous government, and it establishes the institutions through which the autonomous community exerts its powers: The government body for each of the provinces is the deputation ( diputación ):

12543-468: Was inspired by Santo Dios , a popular religious song sung at harvest time by peasants and day labourers in the provinces of Málaga, Seville, and Huelva. Blas Infante brought the song to Maestro Castillo's attention; Maestro Castillo adapted and harmonized the traditional melody. The lyrics appeal to the Andalusians to mobilise and demand tierra y libertad ("land and liberty") by way of agrarian reform and

12656-468: Was subdued in the late 15th century. Atlantic-facing harbors prospered upon trade with the New World. Chronic inequalities in the social structure caused by uneven distribution of land property in large estates induced recurring episodes of upheaval and social unrest in the agrarian sector in the 19th and 20th centuries. Andalusia has historically been an agricultural region, compared to the rest of Spain and

12769-558: Was the first train in the region and the first international service in the Iberian Peninsula. In 1866, the Badajoz–Ciudad Real line  [ es ] was completed, enabling the link with Madrid. The Madrid–Valencia de Alcántara line , a new connection passing through the province of Cáceres, was fully completed in 1881. During the 1936–1939 Spanish Civil War , the Nationalist faction Columna Madrid advanced quickly across

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