Badajoz (province)
Encyclopedia
The province of Badajoz (baðaˈxoθ) is a province
of western Spain
located in the autonomous community
of Extremadura
. It was formed in 1833. It is bordered by the provinces of Cáceres
, Toledo
, Ciudad Real
, Córdoba, Seville
, and Huelva
, and by Portugal
.
With its area of 21,766 m², it is the largest province in Spain. The other province of Extremadura, Cáceres, is the second largest.
, the province has a population of 692,137. Its capital is the city of Badajoz
. See also List of municipalities in Badajoz.
, which traverses the north of the province from east to west, fed by many tributaries; but it is only at certain seasons that the river-beds fill with any considerable volume of water, and the Guadiana may frequently be forded without difficulty. The climate is continental
with great extremes of heat in summer and of cold in winter, when fierce north and north-west winds blow across the plains.
After Badajoz, the capital, the principal towns are Almendralejo
, Azuaga, Don Benito
, Jerez de los Caballeros
, Mérida
, Zafra
, Montijo
and Villanueva de la Serena
.
There are also traditional comarcas
(shires, but with no administrative role) in the province, including La Siberia
and Llanos de Olivenza
..
Provinces of Spain
Spain and its autonomous communities are divided into fifty provinces .In other languages of Spain:*Catalan/Valencian , sing. província.*Galician , sing. provincia.*Basque |Galicia]] — are not also the capitals of provinces...
of western Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
located in the autonomous community
Autonomous communities of Spain
An autonomous community In other languages of Spain:*Catalan/Valencian .*Galician .*Basque . The second article of the constitution recognizes the rights of "nationalities and regions" to self-government and declares the "indissoluble unity of the Spanish nation".Political power in Spain is...
of Extremadura
Extremadura
Extremadura is an autonomous community of western Spain whose capital city is Mérida. Its component provinces are Cáceres and Badajoz. It is bordered by Portugal to the west...
. It was formed in 1833. It is bordered by the provinces of Cáceres
Cáceres (province)
The province of Cáceres is a province of western Spain, in the northern part of the autonomous community of Extremadura. It is bordered by the provinces of Salamanca, Ávila, Toledo, and Badajoz, and by Portugal....
, Toledo
Toledo (province)
Toledo is a province of central Spain, in the western part of the autonomous community of Castile-La Mancha. It is bordered by the provinces of Madrid, Cuenca, Ciudad Real, Badajoz, Cáceres, and Ávila....
, Ciudad Real
Ciudad Real (province)
The province of Ciudad Real is a province of South-central Spain, in the southwestern part of the autonomous community of Castile-La Mancha. It is bordered by the provinces of Cuenca, Albacete, Jaén, Córdoba, Badajoz, and Toledo. Its extent is effectively that of the old province of La Mancha...
, Córdoba, Seville
Seville (province)
Seville is a province of southern Spain, in the western part of the autonomous community of Andalusia. It is bordered by the provinces of Málaga, Cádiz, Huelva, Badajoz, and Córdoba.Its area is 14,042 km²...
, and Huelva
Huelva (province)
Huelva is a province of southern Spain, in the western part of the autonomous community of Andalusia. It is bordered by Portugal, the provinces of Badajoz, Seville, and Cádiz, and the Atlantic Ocean. Its capital is Huelva....
, and by Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
.
With its area of 21,766 m², it is the largest province in Spain. The other province of Extremadura, Cáceres, is the second largest.
, the province has a population of 692,137. Its capital is the city of Badajoz
Badajoz
Badajoz is the capital of the Province of Badajoz in the autonomous community of Extremadura, Spain, situated close to the Portuguese border, on the left bank of the river Guadiana, and the Madrid–Lisbon railway. The population in 2007 was 145,257....
. See also List of municipalities in Badajoz.
Topography
Although in many districts there are low ranges of hills, the surface is more often a desolate and monotonous plain, flat or slightly undulating. Its one large river is the GuadianaGuadiana
The Guadiana , or Odiana, is an international river located on the Portuguese–Spanish border, separating Extremadura and Andalucia from Alentejo and Algarve...
, which traverses the north of the province from east to west, fed by many tributaries; but it is only at certain seasons that the river-beds fill with any considerable volume of water, and the Guadiana may frequently be forded without difficulty. The climate is continental
Continental climate
Continental climate is a climate characterized by important annual variation in temperature due to the lack of significant bodies of water nearby...
with great extremes of heat in summer and of cold in winter, when fierce north and north-west winds blow across the plains.
After Badajoz, the capital, the principal towns are Almendralejo
Almendralejo
Almendralejo is a town in the province of Badajoz, Extremadura, Spain. It is situated 59 km south-east of Badajoz, on the main road and rail route between Mérida and Seville. , it has a population of 33,975. There was a battle and massacre here in 1936 during the Spanish Civil War.Sights...
, Azuaga, Don Benito
Don Benito
Don Benito is a small Spanish city in the Badajoz province, Extremadura, near the left bank of the Guadiana river.- Overview :Don Benito has 35,564 people, being part of an urban area with the Villanueva de la Serena only 5 km away....
, Jerez de los Caballeros
Jerez de los Caballeros
Jerez de los Caballeros is a town of south-western Spain, in the province of Badajoz. It is situated on two heights overlooking the River Ardila, a tributary of the Guadiana, 12 miles east of the Portuguese frontier. The old town is surrounded by a Moorish wall with six gates. The newer portion is...
, Mérida
Merida
Places of the world named Mérida or Merida include:*Mérida, Spain, capital city of the Spanish Community of Extremadura*Mérida, Yucatán, capital city of the Mexican state of Yucatán*Merida, Leyte, a municipality in Leyte province in the Philippines...
, Zafra
Zafra
Zafra is a town situated in the Province of Badajoz , and the capital of the comarca of Zafra - Río Bodión. It has a population of 16,242, according to the figures of 2009....
, Montijo
Montijo
Montijo is a municipality in Portugal with a total area of 348.0 km² and a population of 40,199 inhabitants. The town of Montijo has a population of 25,719....
and Villanueva de la Serena
Villanueva de la Serena
Villanueva de la Serena is a city in Badajoz Province, Extremadura, Spain. It has a population of 26,111 and forms part of a larger urban area with the neighbouring town of Don Benito....
.
Administrative divisions
The Province of Badajoz is divided into 134 municipalities.There are also traditional comarcas
Comarcas of Spain
In Spain traditionally and historically, some autonomous communities are also divided into comarcas .In other languages of Spain:*Catalan/Valencian , sing comarca.*Galician , sing. comarca....
(shires, but with no administrative role) in the province, including La Siberia
La Siberia
La Siberia is a comarca in the northeastern portion of the province of Badajoz in the autonomous community of Extremadura, Spain. Its capital is the municipality of Herrera del Duque. The comarca is bordered on the north by the provinces of Cáceres and Toledo, on the west by Las Vegas Altas...
and Llanos de Olivenza
Llanos de Olivenza
Llanos de Olivenza is a comarca in the province of Badajoz in the autonomous community of Extremadura, western Spain. It borders with Portugal in the west.-Municipalities:* Alconchel* Almendral* Barcarrota* Cheles* Higuera de Vargas* Nogales* Olivenza...
..