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Extremadura
Columbia Encyclopedia entry: Extremadura
Extremaduraĕstrəmədoo'rə, autonomous region (1990 pop. 1,102,319), W central Spain, on the border with Portugal. It was established as an autonomous region in 1983 by the statute of autonomy. A tableland crossed by mountains and by the Tagus (Tajo) and Guadiana rivers, it comprises the provinces of Badajoz and Cáceres. Much of it is poverty-ridden, with poor communications, absentee landlordism, and steady emigration. Wine, olive oil, and cereals are produced through dry farming. Elsewhere, the more rugged terrain serves as winter grazing land for sheep from Castile and León; hogs are also raised in large numbers. Reconquered from the Moors in the 12th and 13th cent., the region was frequently a battlefield in the Spanish wars with Portugal and again in the Peninsular War. Most of Extremadura fell to the Nationalists early in the Spanish civil war. The conquistadors Pizarro and Cortés were born there.

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Wikipedia search results for: Extremadura
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Extremadura is an autonomous community of western Spain whose capital city is Mérida. It includes the provinces of Cáceres and Badajoz. Extremadura borders Portugal to the west, and it is an important area for wildlife, particularly with the major reserve at Monfragüe, which was designated a National Park in 2007, or the project of the International Tagus River Natural Park. To the north it borders Castile and León ; to the south, it borders Andalusia ; and to the east, it borders Castile-La Mancha. Extremadura is contained within 37° 57' N, 40° 85' N latitude and 4° 39' W, 7° 33' W longitude. The area of Extremadura is 41,633 km², making it the 5th...more »
Columbia Encyclopedia search results: Extremadura
Results 1 - 7  of 7
  • Guadalupe, Sierra de

    Guadalupe, Sierra de, mountain range, W Spain, in Extremadura, between the Tagus and Guadiana rivers. The highest elevation is 4,734 ft (1,443 m).

  • Guadalupe, town, Spain

    Guadalupe, town (1990 pop. 2,652), Cáceres prov., W central Spain, in Extremadura. It is noted for its monastery (formerly Hieronymite, now Franciscan) and the shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe,...

  • Alcántara

    Alcántara, town (1990 pop. 2,213), Cáceres prov., W Spain, in Extremadura, near the Tagus River. A fine Roman bridge (Arabic al-kantara) built (A.D. 105–106) in honor of Emperor Trajan and the...

  • Mérida, city, Spain

    Mérida, city (1990 pop. 53,732), Badajoz prov., SW Spain, in Extremadura, on the Guadiana River. It is a rail hub and agricultural center producing textiles, leather, and cork. The colony Emer...

  • Torres Naharro, Bartolomé de

    Torres Naharro, Bartolomé de, fl. 1531, Spanish dramatist and lyric poet, b. Extremadura. As a young man he went to Italy and became a priest. Greatly influenced by the Italian Renaissance, he...

  • Badajoz

    Badajoz, city (1990 pop. 126,781), capital of Badajoz prov., SW Spain, in Extremadura, on the Guadiana River. Situated in an agricultural region, food processing is the main industry. Strategi...

  • Spain

    Spain, Span. España, officially Kingdom of Spain, constitutional monarchy (2005 est. pop. 40,341,000), 194,884 sq mi (504,750 sq km), including the Balearic and Canary islands, SW Europe. It c...

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