Cantabria
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robot Adding: [[uk:Кантабрія]]
{{for|the Mesozoic island|Cantabria (Mesozoic island)}}
{{Autonomous community
|name = Cantabria
|full-name = Comunidad Autónoma de Cantabria
|flag = Flag of Cantabria.svg
|coat-of-arms = Escudo de Cantabria.svg
|map = Localización de Cantabria.svg
|capital = [[Santander, Spain|Santander]]
|language = [[Spanish language|Spanish]]
|anthem = [[Himno de Cantabria]]
|area = 5,321
|area-rank = 15th
|area-magnitude =E9
|area-percent = 1.05%
|pop = 568.091
|pop-rank = 16th
|pop-percent = 1.27%
|pop-date = 2006
|density = 106.8
|english-name = Cantabrian
|spanish-name = cántabro/a, cantábrico/a, montañés
|autonomy = [[January 11]], [[1982]]
|congress = 5
|senate = 5 (4 elected, 1 appointed)
|president = [[Miguel Ángel Revilla Roiz]] ([[Partido Regionalista de Cantabria|PRC]])
|president-link = President of Cantabria
|code = S
|website = [http://www.gobcantabria.es Gobierno de Cantabria]
}}
'''Cantabria''' is a [[Spain|Spanish]] province and [[autonomous community]] with [[Santander, Cantabria|Santander]] as its capital city. It is bordered on the east by the [[Basque Country (autonomous community)|Basque Country]] ([[Biscay]]), on the south by [[Castile and León]] (provinces of [[Province of León|León]], [[Palencia (province)|Palencia]] and [[Province of Burgos|Burgos]]), on the west by the Principality of [[Asturias]], and on the north by the Cantabrian Sea ([[Bay of Biscay]]).
Cantabria belongs to the ''[[Green Spain]]'', the name given to the strip of land between the Cantabrian Sea and the [[Cantabrian Mountains]] in northern Spain. It is called ''green'' because it has a wet and moderate [[oceanic climate]], strongly influenced by the [[Atlantic Ocean]] winds that get trapped by the mountains. The average precipitation is about 1,200 mm, this allows the lush vegetation to grow.
Cantabria is the richest region in the world in archaeological sites from the [[Upper Paleolithic]] period. The first signs of human occupation date from [[Lower Paleolithic]], although this period is not so well represented in the region. The most significant cave painting site is [[Altamira (cave)|Altamira]], dated from about 16.000 to 9.000 BC and declared a [[World Heritage Site]] by [[UNESCO]].
The modern Province of Cantabria was constituted on [[28 July]] [[1778]]. The [[Organic Law]] of the [[Autonomy Statute of Cantabria]] was approved on [[30 December]] [[1981]], acquiring in that way fields, bodies and institutions of self government.
== Etymology ==
[[Image:Physical map of Cantabria - Spain.png|right|thumb|300px|Topographical map of Cantabria, with municipal divisions.]]
Numerous authors, including [[Isidore of Seville]], [[Julio Caro Baroja]], [[Aureliano Fernández Guerra]], [[Joaquín González Echegaray]], and [[Adolf Schulten]], have explored the etymology of the name "Cantabria", yet its origins remain uncertain. It is generally accepted that the root ''cant-'' comes from [[Celtic languages|Celtic]] or [[Ligurian language|Ligurian]] for "rock" or "stone", while ''-abr'' was a common suffix used in Celtic regions. Thus, "Cantabrian" would mean ''"people who live in the rocks"'' or ''[[Highland (geography)|highlander]]s'', a reference to the steep and mountainous territory of Cantabria<ref>
{{cite book
| last = González Echegaray
| first = Joaquín
| authorlink = Joaquín González Echegaray
| title = Los cántabros
| publisher = [[Editorial Estudio]]
| year = 1993
| isbn = 84-87934-23-4}}</ref>.
==Geography==
===Relief===
Cantabria is a mountainous and coastal region, with important natural resources. It has two distinct areas which are well differentiated morphologically:
*'''Coast'''. A coastal strip of low, wide and gently rolling valleys some 10 kilometers in width, whose altitude does not rise above 500 meters, and which meets the ocean in a line of abrupt cliffs broken by river estuaries, creating [[ria]]s and beaches. [[Santander Bay]] is the most prominent indentation in the coastline. To the south, the coastal strip rises to meet the mountains.
*'''Mountains'''. This is a long barrier made up of abruptly rising mountains parallel to the sea, which are part of the [[Cantabrian Mountains]]. The mountains are mostly made of [[limestone]] with [[karst]] topography, and occupy most of Cantabria's area. They form deep valleys oriented north-south. The torrential rivers are short, fast flowing and of great eroding power, so the slopes are steep. The valleys define different natural regions, delimited physically by the intervening mountain ranges: [[Liébana]], [[Saja-Nansa]], [[Besaya valley|Besaya]], [[Pas River|Pas]]-[[Pisueña River|Pisueña]], [[Miera valley|Miera]], [[Valley of Asón|Asón]]-[[Gándara]], [[Campoo]]. To the 'mountain' region belongs the [[Escudo de Cabuérniga Range|Escudo Range]], a mountain range of 600 to 1,000 metres high that covers 15 or 20 km in a parallel line to the coast in the West part of Cantabria.
Towards the south are higher mountains, whose crests mark the watershed between the drainage basins of the Rivers Ebro, [[Duero]] and those that flow into the Bay of Biscay. These peaks generally exceed 1,500 m from the Pass of San Glorio in the west to the Pass of Los Tornos in the eastern part: [[Peña Labra]], [[Castro Valnera]] and the mountain passes of Sejos, El Escudo and La Sía. The great limestone masses of [[Picos de Europa]] also stand out in the southwest of the region: most of their summits exceed 2,500 m, and their topography is shaped by the former presence of [[glacier]]s.
===Climatology===
[[Image:Panoramica Alisas Cantabria.jpg|right|thumb|400px|Panorama of the gateway to Alisas, in the ''[[municipio]]'' of [[Riotuerto]], Cantabria]]
Because of the [[gulf stream]], Cantabria, as well as the rest of "Green Spain" has a climate much more [[temperate climate|temperate]] than might be expected for its latitude, which is comparable to that of [[Vermont]].
The region has a humid [[oceanic climate]], with warm summers and mild winters. Annual [[Precipitation (meteorology)|precipitation]] is around 1,200mm at the coasts and higher in the mountains.
The mean temperature is about 14°C. Snow is frequent in higher zones of Cantabria between the months of October and March. Some zones of Picos de Europa, over 2,500 meters high, have an [[alpine climate]] with snow persisting year round.
The driest months are July and August, although droughts are unknown because rain is frequent and temperatures never get particularly high.
The mountainous relief of Cantabria has a dominant effect on local microclimate in Cantabria. It is the main cause of the peculiar meteorologic situations like the so-called "suradas" ([[Ábrego]] wind), due to the [[Foehn wind|foehn effect]]: the south wind coming down from the mountains blows strongly and dry, increasing the temperature closer to the coast. This causes a decrease in air humidity and rainfall.
These conditions are more frequent in fall and winter, and the temperatures are commonly higher than 20°C. Fires are often caused by this type of wind, one example is the fire which destroyed part of the city of Santander in the winter of 1941.
In the southern part of the [[Cordillera Cantábrica|mountain range]], conditions are different, wind there is fresher and more humid, and there is more rain.
===Hydrology===
The rivers of Cantabria are short and rapid, descending steeply because the sea is so close to their source in the Cantabrian Mountains. They flow perpendicular to the coastline, except for the [[Ebro]]. They also generally [[discharge (hydrology)|flow]] year round due to constant rainfall. Nevertheless, the rate of flow is modest (20 m³/s annual average) compared to the other rivers of the [[Iberian peninsula]]. The rapidness of their waters, caused by their steep descents, gives them great [[erosion|erosive]] power, creating the narrow V-shaped valleys characteristic of Green Spain.
The environmental condition of the rivers is generally good, although increasing human activity due to rising population in the valleys continues to pose a challenge.
[[Image:Nacimiento del rio Ason - Source of the Ason river.JPG|right|thumb|300px|The [[Source (river or stream)|source]] of the Asón River]]
The main rivers of the region, sorted by [[drainage basin]], are:
*[[Spanish North Basin|North Basin]]<ref>{{es icon}} [http://www.chnorte.es Confederación Hidrográfica del Norte.] Ministerio del Medio Ambiente. Retrieved on [[2007-06-09]].</ref> (flows into the [[Cantabrian Sea]])
**[[Agüera River|Agüera]]
**[[Asón River|Asón]]
**[[Besaya River|Besaya]]
**[[Deva River|Deva]]
**[[Miera River|Miera]]
**[[Nansa River|Nansa]]
**[[Pas River|Pas]]
**[[Saja River|Saja]]
*[[Ebro Basin]]<ref>{{es icon}} [http://www.chebro.es Confederación Hidrográfica del Ebro.] Ministerio del Medio Ambiente. Retrieved on [[2007-09-09]].</ref> (flows into the [[Mediterranean Sea]])
**[[Híjar River|Híjar]]
**Ebro
*[[Duero Basin]]<ref>{{es icon}} [http://www.chduero.es Confederación Hidrográfica del Duero.] Ministerio del Medio Ambiente. Retrieved on [[2007-06-09]].</ref> (flows into the Atlantic Ocean)
It is worth nothing that Cantabria is the only autonomous community whose rivers flow into every one of the seas which surround the [[Iberian Peninsula]]: The Cantabrian Sea, the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea.
===Vegetation===
[[Image:Prau.JPG|right|thumb|250px|Grassland in [[Valdáliga]].]]
The variation in the altitude of the region, which in a short distance ranges from sea level to 2,600 meters in the mountains, leads to a great deal of diversity in vegetation and a large number of [[biomes]].
Cantabria has vegetation typical of the Atlantic side of the Iberian Peninsula. It is characterized by forests of leafy [[deciduous]] trees such as oak and [[European beech]]. Nevertheless, human intervention dating back to ancient times has favored the creation of pastures, allowing the existence of large areas of grassland and prairies suitable for grazing cattle. These grasslands are mingled with plantations of [[eucalyptus]] and native oak.
The southern part of Cantabria, including the ''[[comarca]]'' of Campoo the fringes of the Castilian plateau, is characterized by the transition to drier vegetation. Another diversifying factor which contributes to local variation within the region is the Mediterranean [[ecotone]], giving rise to species unique to the region, such as the [[Holm Oak]] and [[arbutus|arbutus trees]], which are found in poor limestone soils with little moisture.
In Cantabria there are several zones of plant life:
*'''The coastal strip''', including sandy dunes with minimal vegetation. Adjacent to these are steep cliffs with plants unique to that type of terrain.
*'''The maritime region''', near the coast and including altitudes up to 500 meters. Originally it had mixed deciduous forests containing [[ash tree|ash]], [[tilia|linden]], [[bay laurel]], [[hazel]], [[maple]], [[oak]], [[poplar]], [[birch]], [[holm oak]], and others. The [[riparian]] parts were filled with forests of [[alder]] and [[willow]]. Today these native forests have almost completely disappeared, leaving only reserves in area of poor arability. In their place there are grasslands which are quite productive in the temperate climate and which sustain the economy of rural Cantabria. Next to these are large [[monoculture]] plantations of [[eucalyptus]] for paper production, the appearance of which is questioned by some people.
[[Image:Relieve karstico-Karst topography.jpg|center|thumb|400px|Panorama of the Cantabrian Mountains to the left and the port city of Santander in the distant right. The peak ''Alto de Brenas'' in [[Riotuerto]] has a height of 579 meters.]]
*'''The foothills''', from 500 to 1,100 meters altitude are colonized by monoculture forests of oak (''[[quercus robur]]'' and ''[[quercus petraea]]'') on the sunnier slopes. In more shaded ares and especially from about 800 meters there are forests of [[European Beech]] which are the main food source in winter for many animal species.
[[Image:Pico Tordias.jpg|thumb|center|400px|''Brañas'', or mountain [[prairies]] in the municipality of [[Arenas de Iguña]]. In the distance, the Picos de Europa can be seen. Tordías Peak is 968 meters high.]]
* The '''subalpine plane''', in this high country, the plant life is composed of birch, scrub, and [[Poaceae|grasses]] which are especially important for the economy because during the summer they serve as pasture for grazing cattle and horses.
Along with these characteristics it would also be necessary to mention peculiarities of the ''comarca'' of [[Liébana]], which has a [[microclimate]] very similar to the [[Mediterranean climate|Mediterranean]], allowing to grow [[cork oak]]s, [[vine]]s and [[olive]]s, and which is still very well conserved from human activity.
The other remarkable ''comarca'' is [[Campoo]], at the South of Cantabria, with an optimum growth of Pyrenean Oak, now in an expansive process due to an abandonment of crops. Moreover, big repopulations of [[conifer]]s such as [[Scots Pine]]s are taking place in the gentle slopes of the ''comarca''.
===Natural parks===
[[Image:Parques Naturales y Nacionales de Cantabria.png|right|thumb|400px|Natural and national parks in Cantabria:</br>
'''1'''. Picos de Europa National Park </br>
'''2'''. Collados del Asón Natural Park</br>
'''3'''. Dunas de Liencres Natural Park</br>
'''4'''. Macizo de Peña Cabarga Natural Park</br>
'''5'''. Oyambre Natural Park</br>
'''6'''. Saja-Besaya Natural Park</br>
'''7'''. Santoña, Victoria and Joyel Marshes Natural Park</br>]]
Despite its small size, there are seven natural areas of undoubtable interest in this autonomous community:
*[[Picos de Europa National Park|Picos de Europa]] [[National Park]]
*Collados del Asón Natural Park
*[[Santoña, Victoria and Joyel Marshes Natural Park]]
*Macizo de Peña Cabarga Natural Park
*Oyambre Natural Park
*[[Saja-Besaya Natural Park]]
*Dunes of Liencres Natural Park
The most important of these is the Picos de Europa National Park, which affects Castile and León and Asturias in addition to Cantabria, the three autonomous communities sharing its management.
Santoña, Victoria and Joyel [[marsh]]es are also '''[[Special Protection Area]]s''' for the birds (ZEPA<ref>{{es icon}} [http://www.mapa.es/es/desarrollo/pags/vigilanciaambiental/mapa12.htm Programa de Vigilancia Ambiental del Plan Nacional de Regadios.] Ministerio de Agricultura, Pesca y Alimentación (M.A.P.A.) Retrieved on [[2007-06-09]]. </ref>).
Furthermore, nine '''[[Site of Community Importance|Sites of Community Importance]]''' (LIC<ref>{{es icon}} [http://www.mma.es/portal/secciones/biodiversidad/rednatura2000/rednatura_espana/lic/lic.htm Biodiversity: Lugares de Importancia Comunitaria.] Ministerio de Medio Ambiente. Retrieved on [[2007-06-09]].</ref>) have been declared: Western Mountain, Eastern Mountain, Western Rias and Oyambre Dunes, Dunes of [[Liencres]] and Estuary of the Pas, El Puntal Dunes and Estuary of the Miera, Ria de Ajo, Marshes of [[Noja]]-[[Santoña]], [[Escudo de Cabuérniga Range]] and several caves with important [[bat]] colonies.
{{clear}}
==Demographics==
[[Image:Piramid Population Cantabria 2006.png|right|thumb|300px|[[Population pyramid]] for Cantabria for 2006 from the municipal planning authority.]]
[[Image:Map of population of Cantabria 2005.png|right|thumb|300px|Demographic map showing centers of population in 2005]]
According to the 2005 Census, the region has a population of 568,091<ref>{{es icon}} [http://www.ine.es/inebase/cgi/axi?AXIS_PATH=/inebase/temas/t20/e260/a2006/l0/&FILE_AXIS=ccaa01.px&CGI_DEFAULT=/inebase/temas/cgi.opt&COMANDO=SELECCION&CGI_URL=/inebase/cgi Poblaciones referidas al 1 de enero de 2006 por comunidades autónomas y sexo.] Instituto Nacional de Estadística. Retrieved on [[2007-06-11]].</ref> which constitutes 1.29% of the population of Spain, with the population density numbering 206.8 people per kilometer. The average life expectancy for male inhabitants is 75 years whilst for female inhabitants it measures 83 years.
In relative contrast to other regions of Spain, Cantabria has not experienced much immigration. In 2007, only 4.7% of the population were immigrants. The predominant countries of origin for immigrants to Cantabria are [[Colombia]], [[Romania]], [[Ecuador]], [[Peru]], [[Moldova]], and [[Morocco]].<ref>{{es icon}} [http://www.icane.es/HTML/CA_DE/CA_DE_007.pdf Población extranjera según su nacionalidad y sexo (2004-2006)] (PDF). Instituto Cántabro de Estadística [http://www.icane.es/ (ICANE).] Retrieved on [[2007-06-09]].</ref>
The majority of the population resides in the coastal area, particularly in two cities: [[Santander, Cantabria|Santander]], with 183,000 people, and [[Torrelavega]], the second largest urban and industrial center in Cantabria, having a population of around 60,000. These two cities form a [[conurbation]] known as the Santander-Torrelavega metropolitan area.
An interesting case is that of [[Castro Urdiales]]. Despite the fact that it officially it has a population of 28,542<ref>{{es icon}} [http://www.ine.es/inebase/cgi/axi?AXIS_PATH=/inebase/temas/t20/e260/a2006/l0/&FILE_AXIS=mun39.px&CGI_DEFAULT=/inebase/temas/cgi.opt&COMANDO=SELECCION&CGI_URL=/inebase/cgi Cantabria: Población por municipios y sexo. Cifras de población referidas al 01/01/2006.] Instituto Nacional de Estadística. Retrieved on [[2007-06-11]].</ref> making it the fourth-largest in the region, due to its proximity to the [[Bilbao]] metropolitan area, there are a large number of people not registered in Castro Urdiales and the true count may be double the official figure.
Apart from the ones as mentioned, the most important municipalities of Cantabria are the following:
* '''[[Camargo, Cantabria|Camargo]]''' (pop. 32,000)
* '''[[Castro-Urdiales]]''' (pop. 28,542)
* '''[[Piélagos]]''' (pop. 17,500)
* '''[[El Astillero]]''' (pop. 16,032)
* '''[[Laredo, Cantabria|Laredo]]''' (pop. 13,090)
* '''[[Santoña]]''' (pop. 11,534)
* '''[[Los Corrales de Buelna]]''' (pop. 11,091)
* '''[[Reinosa]]''' (pop. 10,370)
* '''[[Santa Cruz de Bezana]]''' (pop. 10,314)
==History==
===Roman Empire===
The first written reference to the name Cantabria emerges around the year [[195 BC]], in which the historian [[Cato the Elder]] speaks in his book ''Origins'' about the source of the Ebro River in the country of the [[Cantabri]]:
{{quote|... fluvium Hiberum; is oritur ex Cantabris; magnus atque pulcher, pisculentus.|Cato the Elder|''Origenes: VII''|<ref>''The Ebro River starts in the land of the Cantabri; large and beautiful, with abundant fish.''</ref>}}
From then on there are continuous references to the Cantabri and Cantabria, as the Cantabri were used as [[Mercenary|mercenaries]] in various conflicts, both within the Iberian Peninsula and elsewhere. It is certain that they participated in the war of the [[Carthage|Carthaginians]] against [[Rome]] during the [[Second Punic War]], from references by [[Silius Italicus]] (Book III) and [[Horace]] (Book IV, Ode XIV). They are also mentioned during the siege of [[Numantia]] waged by [[Gaius Hostilius Mancinus]], who is said to have lifted the siege of the city and fled upon being informed that Cantabri and [[Vaccaei]] were present among his auxiliaries.
[[Image:Cantabros.png|right|thumb|300px|Cantabria during the Cantabrian Wars. This map shows the borders of the Cantabrian territory relative to modern Cantabria as well as the different tribes who inhabited it, the neighboring towns, and geographic features with their Latin names.]]
The majority of the references in the following period are related to the [[Cantabrian Wars]] against Rome which began in the year [[29|29 AD]]. Roughly 150 references can be found in Greek and Latin texts, attesting to the notoriety of the Cantabri. Their territory was significantly larger than that of modern day Cantabria, bounded on the north by the Cantabrian Sea (the name used by the Romans to refer to the [[Bay of Biscay]]), and on the west by the western edge of the [[Sella River]] valley (in modern day Asturias). To the south it extended as far as the [[hill fort]] of [[Peña Amaya]], in the modern-day province of [[Burgos (province)|Burgos]], and to the east almost up to Castro Urdiales, in the vicinity of the [[Aguera River]].
===Middle Ages===
Following the collapse of the Roman Empire, Cantabria regained its independence from the rule of the [[Visigoths]]. In the year [[574]], King [[Liuvigild]] attacked Cantabria and managed to capture the south of the country, including the city of [[Amaya, Burgos|Amaya]], where he established a Visigoth province called the [[Duchy of Cantabria]] (see picture), which would serve as a [[limes]] or frontier zone to contain the Cantabri as well as their neighbors the [[Vascones]]. To the north of this cordon, however, the Cantabri continued to live independently until the Arab invasion.
In the year 714, a mixed [[Arab]]/[[Berber people|Berber]] army of [[Muslim]] Moors invaded the upper valleys of the Ebro and succeeded in capturing [[Amaya]], the Cantabrian capital, forcing the Cantabrians to stick to the traditional war frontiers, in order to organize their defense, and early joined the [[Kingdom of Asturias]].
In the first chronicles of the [[Reconquista]], Cantabria still appears to be acknowledged as a region. In the [[Albendense chronicle]], when speaking of [[Alfonso I of Asturias|Alfonso I]] it says ''“iste Petri Cantabriae ducis filius fuit<ref>''This was son of Peter the Duke of Cantabria.''</ref>”'', referring to the figure of [[Peter of Cantabria|Peter]] and the title of Duke of Cantabria, confirming the territory of his [[duchy]].
[[Image:Ducado de Cantabria.png|right|thumb|300px|Borders of the [[Duchy of Cantabria]]]]
From this period on, source documents barely reference Cantabria by this name, with the name ''Asturias'' predominating in mentions of the ''comarcas'' called ''Asturias de Santillana'', ''Asturias de Trasmiera'' and ''Asturias de Laredo''.
From the central core formed by the [[Brotherhood of the Four Cities]] (Santander, Laredo, Castro Urdiales and [[San Vicente de la Barquera]]), the [[Brotherhood of the Marshes]] was created, thereby uniting all the important seaports to the East of Asturias.
During the period of the Reconquista, the Four Cities actively participated in the re-settling of Andalusia, dispatching men and ships. The coastal port cities of [[Cádiz]] and [[El Puerto de Santa María]] were repopulated by families from the ports of the Bay of Biscay. Ships from the Four Cities also took part in the taking of [[Seville]], destroying the ship bridge linking [[Triana (Seville)|Triana]] and Sevilla, a war achievement that is pictured with a [[Carrack]] and the [[Torre del Oro]] of Sevilla in the coat of arms of [[Coat of arms of Santander|Santander]], [[Coat of arms of Cantabria|Cantabria]] and [[Avilés]] (Asturias).
===16th to 18th centuries===
In the 16th century the name ''[[The Mountain (Spain)|La Montaña]]'' (The Mountain) was widespread in popular usage and in literature, as a designation of the Ancient Cantabria, as opposed to [[Castile (historical region)|Castile]], which referred solely to the [[Geography of Spain#The Meseta Central and Associated Mountains|Central Plateau]]. This distinction has survived into modern times.
With the rise of the [[Catholic Monarchs]], the Brethren of the Marshes disappeared, leaving the Coregiment of the Four Villas, which included the whole are of influence of the old Brethren of the Four Villas (almost the entire Cantabria).
During the ''[[Ancien Régime]]'' the greatest jurisdictional lordships of Cantabria were mainly under the control of three of the [[Grandee|Grandee families]] of Spain: that of '''Mendoza''' ([[Dukedom of Infantado|Dukes of Infantado]], [[Marquess of Santillana|Marquises of Santillana]]), of '''Manrique de Lara''' ([[Marquess of Aguilar de Campoo|Marquises of Aguilar de Campoo]], [[County of Castañeda|Counts of Castañeda]]) and to a lesser extent that of '''Velasco''' ([[Dukedom of Frías|Dukes of Frías]], [[Constable of Castile|Constables of Castile]]).
From the 16th century on, interest in studies related to Cantabria and the Cantabri reemerged, particularly around the issue of the precise location of the territory that this people occupied. It was not until the 18th century that the controversy about the location and extension of Ancient Cantabria was settled, thanks to works important for the knowledge of the history of the region such as ''La Cantabria''<ref>Enrique Flórez. ''La Cantabria. Disertación sobre el sitio y extensión que tuvo en tiempos de los romanos la región de los cántabros, con noticia de las regiones cofinantes y de varias poblaciones Antiguas'' (The Cantabria. Dissertation of the place and extension that that the land of the Cantabri had in times of the Romans, with notice of the adjacent regions and of several Ancient villages. Madrid. 1768 </ref> by the Augustinian father and historian [[Enrique Flórez de Setién]]. Concurrent with the resurgence of this interest in the Cantabrians and the clarification of the aforementioned polemic, many institutions, organizations and jurisdictions in the mountainous territory received the name of "Cantabrian" or "of Cantabria".
In 1727 the first attempt to unify what would later become the Province of Cantabria occurred. Despite this, the high level of autonomy that the small entities of the fractured estate of Cantabria enjoyed, combined with the proverbial lack of resources, continued to be the main reason for Cantabria's weakness, aggravated by the progressive advance of the [[House of Bourbon|Bourbonic]] [[Unitary state|centralism]] and its administrative efficiency. The latter continually underlined the impossibility of the smaller entities facing by themselves the multitude of problems of all kinds: from perennially difficult communications, to troubles in the exercise of justice, from difficulties in ensuring adequate reserves for hard times, to the indiscriminate [[levée en masse|levees]] for soldiers, and above all the progression of fiscal impositions. All of this worked toward the acceleration of contacts between villas, valleys and jurisdictions, which tended to focus on the Assemblies of the Provinces of the Nine Valleys, led by the deputies elected by the traditional entities of self-government.
There were two events that triggered the culmination of the integration process in this second attempt:
*On the one hand, the collective interest in avoiding making contributions to the reconstruction of the bridge of [[Miranda de Ebro]], imposed by order of the Intendant of [[Burgos]] on [[July 11]][[1775]], the same year that Cantabria suffered two tremendous floods, on [[June 20]] and [[November 3]].
*On the other hand, the necessity to face as a whole ''[[mancomunidad]]'' (commonwealth) the large number of bandits who operated with impunity in Cantabria, as a result of a judicial system made ineffectual by a lack of resources.
After the General Deputy of Nine Valleys gathered the affected jurisdictions to the Assembly that was to take place in [[Puente San Miguel]] on [[March 21]], [[1777]], they sent their respective deputies with sufficient authority to join with the Nine Valleys, to "unite and associate ourselves" or "to be one with the rest", as the Council of Pie de Concha stated.
In this General Assembly a framework was established and formal steps began to be taken, leading to administrative and legal unity in 1778. This all culminated in the success of the Assembly held in the Assembly House of ''Puente San Miguel'' on [[July 28]], 1778, where the Province of Cantabria was constituted. It was achieved by passing the common ordinances which had been developed to that end, and which had beed discussed and approved previously in councils of all the villas, valleys and subscribed jurisdictions. They were, in addition to the Nine Valleys: Rivadedeva, Peñamellera, the Province of Liébana, Peñarrubia, Lamasón, Rionansa, the Villa of San Vicente de la Barquera, Coto de Estrada, Valdáliga, the Villa of Santillana del Mar, Lugar de Viérnoles, the Villa of Cartes and environs, the Valley of Buelna, the Valley of Cieza, the Valley of Iguña with the Villas of San Vicente and Los Llares, the Villa of Pujayo, the Villa of Pie de Concha y Bárcena, the Valley of Anievas, and the Valley of Toranzo.
[[Image:Cnt-baston.PNG|left|thumb|250px|
{{Legend|#FA8072|Party and Baton of [[Laredo, Cantabria|Laredo]] (Province of Cantabria)}}
{{Legend|#90EE90|[[Merindad]] of [[Campoo]] (Province of Toro).}}]]
Having learned a lesson from the failed attempt of 1727, the first objective of the new entity was to obtain approval from King [[Charles III of Spain|Charles III]] for the union of all the Cantabrian jurisdictions into one province. The royal ratification was granted on [[November 22]], [[1779]].
The twenty eight jurisdictions that initially comprised the Province of Cantabria very clearly expressed their intention that all the rest of the jurisdictions that formed the ''Party and Baton of the Four Villas of the Coast'' be included in the province. Consequently, they facilitated the integration in a variety of ways, with the aim of bringing it to fruition as soon as they requested it. They would have to abide by the ordinances, having the same rights and duties as the founders, all on an equal footing. Thus, the following joined in succession: the Abbey of [[Santillana del Mar|Santillana]], the Valleys of [[Tudanca]], [[Polaciones]], [[Herrerías]], [[Castañeda]], the Villa of [[Torrelavega]] and environs, [[Val de San Vicente]], [[Valle de Carriedo]], [[Tresviso]], and the Pasiegan Villas of [[La Vega, Cantabria|La Vega]], [[San Roque, Cantabria|San Roque]] and [[San Pedro, Cantabria|San Pedro]], as well as the city of Santander with its [[Abbey]].
As a result of the competition between Laredo and Santander, the township of the latter, having initially allowed the name of Cantabria for the province created at the beginning of the 19th century, later reacted and demand that it bear the name of Santander, so there would be no doubt as to which was the capital. When in 1821 the Provincial Council presented before the constitutional [[Cortes Generales|Courts]] the definitive plan for the provincial borders and legal entities, they proposed the name of Province of Cantabria, to which the Township of Santander replied that "''this province must retain the name of Santander''".
However, many newspapers still showed in their headings the name of Cantabria, or Cantabrian.
===19th century===
[[Image:Santander.Estatua.a.la.gloria.del.heroe.jpg|right|thumb|300px|A statue in Santander erected in honor of Cantabrian artillery captain [[Pedro Velarde y Santillán]], hero of the [[Peninsular War|Spanish war of independence]], who died [[May 2]], [[1808]], during the uprising against the French occupation of [[Madrid]].]]
During the [[Peninsular War|War of Independence]] (1808–1814), the bishop [[Rafael Tomás Menéndez de Luarca|Menéndez de Luarca]], a strong defender of absolutism, promoted himself as the "Regent of Cantabria" and established the ''Cantabrian Armaments'' in Santander, a section of the army whose purpose was to travel to all the mountain passes from the Central Plateau to detain any French troop. Although defeated, he managed to later reorganize in Liébana under the command of general [[Juan Díaz Porlier]], calling it the ''Cantabrian Division'', in which there were various regiments and battalions, such as the ''[[Hussar]]s of Cantabria'' ([[cavalry]]) or the ''Shooters of Cantabria'' ([[infantry]]). During the [[First Carlist War|Carlist wars]] they formed a unit called the ''Cantabrian Brigade''.
===20th century===
The marked increase of the use of terms with an ancestral resonance through the 18th century and all the 19th, continued during the 20th century, taking on a political tone that was distinctly regionalist, until 1936. In fact, the ''Republican Federal Party'' produced an autonomy statute for a [[Autonomy Statute of Cantabria#Statute draft of 1936|Cantabrian-Castilian Federal State]] that year, which would include nowadays [[Cantabria]] and all the nearby areas from [[Castile (historical region)|Castile]] and [[Asturias]] that would like to join in. It couldn't be passed because of the [[Spanish Civil War|Civil War]]. As a consequence of the war and the subsequent marginalization of these efforts under [[Spain under Franco|Franco's regime]], the use of the name of Cantabria decreased, to the point that for official purposes it was relegated to sports associations, the only arena in which Cantabria was noted as a region.
In 1963 the president of the Province Council, [[Pedro Escalante y Huidobro]], proposed reapplying the name of Cantabria to the [[Province of Santander]], in accordance with a scholarly report written by the chronicler [[Tomás Maza Solano]]. Notwithstanding active steps taken and the affirmative vote from the townships, the petition wasn't successful, mostly due to the opposition of the City of Council of Santander.
On [[December 30]], [[1981]] a process started on April 1979 by the Council of [[Cabezón de la Sal]], under the presidency of [[Ambrosio Calzada Hernández]], was brought to completion. This municipality initiated the process outlined by Article 143 of the [[Spanish Constitution]] to bring the self-rule to Cantabria. An additional 85 townships of the region and the Province Council also signed on to the proposal of the Town Council of Cabezón de la Sal.
Cantabria based its claim to autonomy on the constitutional precept that made provision for self government for "''provinces with an historic regional character''".
The Mixed Assembly, formed by the province deputies and the national members of parliament, initiated the tasks for the composition of the [[Statute of Autonomy of Cantabria|Autonomy Statute]] on [[September 10]] of 1979. After the approval of the General Courts on [[December 15]] [[1981]], the [[Juan Carlos I|King of Spain]] signed the corresponding Organic Law of the Autonomy Statute for Cantabria on [[December 30]] of the same year. Thus, the province of Santander broke its link to Castile, and exited the pre-autonomy regime of Castile and León to which it had belonged up to that time, together with the provinces of [[province of Ávila|Ávila]], [[province of Burgos|Burgos]], [[province of León|León]], [[La Rioja (Spain)|Logroño]], [[province of Palencia|Palencia]], [[province of Salamanca|Salamanca]], [[province of Segovia|Segovia]], [[province of Soria|Soria]], [[province of Valladolid|Valladolid]] and [[province of Zamora|Zamora]].
On [[February 20]] [[1982]] the first Regional Assembly (now Parliament) was formed, with provisional status. From then on, the former province of Santander has been known as Cantabria, and has thereby regained its historic name. The first home-rule elections were held in May 1983.
The 4th Legislature (1995–1999) brought into effect the first great reform of the Autonomy Statute of Cantabria, approved by all the parliamentary groups.
== Government and administration ==
The '''[[Autonomy Statute of Cantabria]]'''<ref>{{es icon}} [http://www.congreso.es/constitucion/estatutos/ind_estatutos.jsp?com=69 Constitución española: Estatuto de Autonomía de Cantabria.] Congreso de los Diputados: España. Retrieved on [[2007-06-09]].</ref> of [[December 30]], [[1981]], established that Cantabria has in its institutions the will to respect the fundamental rights and public freedom, at the same time it consolidates and stimulates regional development, based on democratic relationships. This document gathers all competences of the Autonomous Community that were transferred from the [[Government of Spain]]. It must be remarked that, as in other Communities, some fields haven't been transferred, as the Justice, for instance. The Statute also defines the symbols that should represent the region: The [[Flag of Cantabria|flag]], the [[Coat of arms of Cantabria|coat of arms]] and the [[Himno de Cantabria|anthem of Cantabria]].
The '''[[Parliament of Cantabria]]'''<ref>{{es icon}} [http://www.parlamento-cantabria.es Actividad Parlamentaria.] Parlamento de Cantabria. Retrieved on [[2007-06-09]].</ref> is the principal self government institution of the Autonomous Community, being the representative body of the Cantabrians. Presently it is constituted by thirty nine deputies elected by universal, equal, free, direct and secret suffrage.
The primary functions of the Parliament are: to exercise the [[Legislation|legislative power]], to approve the budgets of the Autonomous Community, to motivate and control the actions of the government, and to develop the rest of the competences that the [[Spanish Constitution]], the Autonomy Statute and the rest of the legal order bestow on it.
The '''[[President of Cantabria|President of the Autonomous Community]]''' holds the highest representation of the Community and ordinary representation of the Country in Cantabria, and presides over the Government, coordinating its activities. He is elected by the Parliament among its thirteen members, after query to the politic groups represented in it, and he is appointed by the King. He must present his politic program to the full chamber, and be granted absolute majority in first session or simple in subsequent.
The '''[[Government of Cantabria]]'''<ref>{{es icon}} [http://www.gobcantabria.es/portal/page?_pageid=33,31118&_dad=interportal&_schema=INTERPORTAL Consejo de Gobierno.] Gobierno de Cantabria. Retrieved on [[2007-06-09]].</ref> is the body in charge of directing the political activities and exercising the executive and regulatory powers according to the Constitution, the Statute and the laws. The Government is made up of the President, the Vicepresident (in which the President can delegate his executive functions and representations) and the Councillors, who are appointed and ceased by the President.
After several legislatures presided by the [[Partido Popular]] or by Juan Hormaechea's UPCA, the Regional Government of Cantabria is directed by a coalition of the [[Regionalist Party of Cantabria]] and [[PSOE]] from year 2003. The current President is [[Miguel Ángel Revilla]] of [[Partido Regionalista de Cantabria|PRC]], and the Vicepresident is [[Dolores Gorostiaga]] of PSOE.
== Territorial organization ==
The autonomous community of Cantabria is structured in ''[[municipio]]s'' (municipalities) and ''[[comarca]]s'' (regions).
=== Municipalities ===
[[Image:Comarcas administrativas de Cantabria.svg|right|thumb|300px|Map of the municipalities and ''comarcas'' of Cantabria
{{Legend|#FF0000|[[Asón-Agüera|Asón and Agüera valleys]].}}
{{Legend|#D40055|[[Besaya Valley]].}}
{{Legend|#D4AA00|[[Campoo]].}}
{{Legend|#00AA00|[[Western coast of Cantabria]].}}
{{Legend|#892CA0|[[Eastern coast of Cantabria]].}}
{{Legend|#AA0000|[[Liébana]].}}
{{Legend|#CCFF00|[[Saja and Nansa valleys]].}}
{{Legend|#808000|[[Santander, Cantabria|Santander]].}}
{{Legend|#66FF00|[[Trasmiera]].}}
{{Legend|#008080|[[Pas and Miera valleys]].}}
]]
There are currently 102 municipalities in Cantabria generally comprising of several townships, and from these, several districts. A number of municipalities bear the name of one of their townships (be it its capital or not), but not all them do. Each municipality is governed by its own [[city council|city]] or [[municipal council]], and two of them, [[Tresviso, Cantabria|Tresviso]] and [[Pesquera, Cantabria|Pesquera]], do it by ''[[Concejo abierto]]'' (Open council), having less than 250 inhabitants.
It should be noted that the [[Mancomunidad Campoo-Cabuérniga]] isn't a municipality as such, despite its extension. It is a communal property, singular for its size and characteristics, of shared management between the municipalities of [[Hermandad de Campoo de Suso]], [[Cabuérniga]], [[Los Tojos]] and [[Ruente]]. This mountain estate is used as a grazing ground for [[Tudanca cattle]] and also for horses in less amount, in its ''brañas'' or grass prairies, and even nowadays [[transhumant]] cattle farming traditions survive in this region.
See also:
*[[List of municipalities in Cantabria]]
=== ''Comarcas'' (regions) ===
The Cantabrian legislation divides the autonomous community in administrative regions called ''comarcas'', but traditionally, other subdivisions of the territory have been used.
*'''Administrative regions'''
The ''Law 8/1999 of ''Comarcas'' of the Autonomous Community of Cantabria'' of [[April 28]] [[1999]] establishes that the comarca is a necessary entity, integral in the territorial organization of the region. This law opens the development of the ''comarcalization'' in Cantabria promoting the creation of ''comarcal'' entities, which have barely begun to appear. The law also establishes that the creation of ''comarcas'' won't be mandatory for the whole territory until at least the 70% of it hadn't been ''comarcalized'' by its own will. Likewise it states that the city of Santander won't be ruled by said law of ''comarcalization'', as it should establish its own [[metropolitan area]] instead.
Currently, ''comarcas'' in Cantabria have not reached administrative nature and barely have definite borders. Only Liébana for its geographic position in Picos de Europa, Trasmiera and Campoo, in the Ebro basin are established are clearly defined ''comarcas'' in the region. Nevertheless, functional differences in the territory can be distinguished, dividing it in the following areas: [[Santander Bay]], of industrial and urban nature; [[Besaya valley|Besaya]], also industrial; [[Saja and Nansa valleys|Saja-Nansa]], eminently rural; [[Western coast of Cantabria|Western Coast]], which has urban character; [[Eastern coast of Cantabria|Eastern Coast]], vacational; the traditionally renown [[Trasmiera]]; rural [[Pas and Miera valleys|Pas-Miera]]; [[Asón valley|Asón-Agüera]], also mainly rural; the very well defined [[Liébana]], and [[Campoo|Campoo-Los Valles]], rural and industrial by regions.
*'''Natural regions''' (regarding geographical features)
**Coastal strip
**Central strip (Cantabrian valleys perpendicular to the coast): Liébana, Saja and Nansa, Besaya, Pas and Miera, and Asón-Gándara valleys.
**Southern strip (Rivers Ebro and Duero's basins): Campoo and Southern valleys
*'''Historic regions'''
Until the 13th century, Cantabria was organized in valleys, as was typical in all of northern Spain. From then on, it was substituted by the organization in cities, towns or historic ''comarcas'' that grouped several valleys.
The most remarkable were Liébana, Asturias de Santillana, Trasmiera, Campoo and [[Valderredible]]
== Economy ==
[[Image:Santander.Banco.Santander.jpg|right|thumb|300px|[[Banco Santander]] headquarters, in ''Paseo de Pereda'', Santander]]
The [[economy]] of Cantabria has [[primary industry]], now in decline, employing 5.8% of the active population in the sectors of cattle farming, traditional dairy farming, and meat production; agriculture, especially corn, potatoes, vegetables, and roughage; maritime fishing; and the mining of [[zinc]] and [[quarry|quarries]].
The [[secondary industry]] which employs 30.3% of the active population is the sector with the most productivity in recent years due to construction; that of [[ironwork]]ing, food service, [[Chemical industry|chemistry]], paper production, [[textile]] fabrication, [[pharmacy]], industrial groups and transport, etc. .
The [[service sector]] employs 63.8% of the active population and is increasing, given that large concentrations of the population live in the urban centers and the importance that [[tourism]] has acquired in the recent years.
The [[unemployment]] rate in Cantabria, as of March 2007 is 8.11%, compared to 9.44% in Spain; while its [[purchasing power parity]] is 21.897€, compared to 22.152€ in Spain and 24.500€ in the [[EU]]25. In 2007 Cantabria's growth of real [[GDP]] was 4.1%, compared to a 3.9% average for Spain.
==Transportation and communications ==
The most significant consequence of the strong relief of the Cantabrian territory is the existence of topographic barriers that condition decisively the courses of the linking infrastructures, as much in the north-south orientation in the accesses to the [[Geography of Spain#The Meseta Central and Associated Mountains|Castillian Mesa]], as in the east-west in the communication between valleys. Moreover, the cost of their construction and maintenance is much higher than average.
This fact is specially remarkable in ''the Mountain'', with roads and railways with slow and winding courses in order to avoid the greater slopes, that being the most problematic and distinct characteristic of the communication network of Cantabria.
[[Image:Santander.Airport.jpg|left|thumb|250px|Parayas airport, located in the munipality of [[Camargo, Cantabria|Camargo]], 5 km from Santander]]
An interesting case is the Cantabrian village of [[Tresviso]]. To access it by road you have to go via the neighbouring province of Asturias. The only way in or out of the village, famous for its blue cheese, from Cantabria is on foot.
The main communications infrastructures of the region are:
*[[Santander Airport]]
*Cantabrian Motorway ([[Autovía A-8]], European route E-70)
*Cantabria-Meseta Motorway ([[Autovía A-67]]) (in construction)
*Narrow-gauge [[railway]] [[Santander, Cantabria|Santander]]-[[Oviedo]] ([[FEVE]])
*Narrow-gauge railway Santander-[[Bilbao]] (FEVE)
*Broad-gauge railway Santander-[[Palencia]]- [[Valladolid]] - [[Ávila]] - [[Madrid]] ([[RENFE]])
*[[Ferry]] line Santander-[[Plymouth]]
*[[Port of Santander]]
==Mass media and public opinion==
In Cantabria there are two daily regional newspapers in addition to the national ones: ''El Diario Montañés'' and ''Alerta'', as well as many weekly, fortnightly and monthly publications.
The main national radio stations have transmitter stations in places like Santander, Torrelavega, Castro-Urdiales, or Reinosa. There are also numerous local and regional stations.
For the moment there is no Cantabrian autonomic television with public financing, although some local channels exist (including Canal 8 DM, TeleBahía, Telecabarga, Localia TV Cantabria, etc.).
In recent years, the Internet has allowed new informative proposals to emerge in the shape of digital diaries or blogs, which contribute to enrich the mediatic panorama of the region.
==Culture==
===Language===
[[Spanish language|Spanish]] is the official language of Cantabria. The eastern part of Cantabria contributed to the language's origins in a significant way. [[Cantabrian language]], or Mountain language, is hardly preserved in the West of Cantabria and some zones of the Pas Valley and the [[Valley of Soba]], in its Eastern zone. This language has neither regulation nor official recognition.
=== Monuments and museums ===
*'''Caves''': [[Altamira (cave)|Altamira Cave]], El Soplao, Del Valle, El Pendo, [[Cueva de La Pasiega|La Pasiega cave]], Las Monedas, El Castillo, Morín, and others.
*'''Civil arquitecture''': Magdalena palace, Capricho de Gaudí, [[Comillas Pontifical University|Pontifical University of Comillas]], Sobrellano palace, Bárcena palace, Castle of Argüeso, and others.
*'''Religious arquitecture''': Collegiate of Santillana del Mar, Collegiate of Santa Cruz de Castañeda, [[Santo Toribio de Liébana|Santo Toribio de Liébana Monastery]], Santa María de Lebeña, Santa María de Piasca, Santa María del Puerto, and others.
*'''Museums''': Bay of Biscay Maritime Museum, Ethnographic Museum of Cantabria, Santander Museum of Fine Arts, Regional Museum of Prehistory and Arqueology of Cantabria, Cantabrian Museum of Nature, Altamira National Museum and Investigation Centre, and others.
===Universities===
[[Image:Santander.Palacio.de.la.Magdalena.jpg|right|thumb|300px|'''International University Menéndez Pelayo'''. Palace of the ''Magdalena''. Venue for the summer courses of the UIMP (Santander).]]
*[[University of Cantabria]] [http://www.unican.es (UC, UNICAN)]
*[[International University Menéndez Pelayo]] [http://www.uimp.es (UIMP)]
*[[Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia]] [http://www.uned.es (UNED)]
*[[Campus Comillas]] [http://www.fundacioncampuscomillas.es (CIESE-CC)]
===Fairs and festivals===
[[Image:La Vijanera.jpg|300px|thumb|right|La Vijanera carnival in Silió.]]
Regarding the [[fair]]s, understood as big markets of products periodically celebrated, it is remarkable the ''Livestock Fair of Torrelavega'' taking place in the National Livestock Market "Jesús Collado Soto", the third biggest of Spain, that groups the buy and sell of all kinds of cattle in the region itself and the adjacent ones, being the bovine the main product. All over the region cattle and typical products fairs are celebrated weekly, monthly, or annually to gather the neighbours of the land.
There are many different festivities in Cantabria, some of them limited just to small villages, but there are also festivals that attract tourism from all the country. The most important are the following:
*''Carnaval marinero'' (Sailor Carnival), in February in [[Santoña]]. Commonly known as "the carnivals of the North", in this carnival, started in 1934, many people of the town participate dressing themselves up as fish. The main event is the "Trial at the bottom of the ocean", where the "''[[Bream|besugo]]''" is judged before the last act, "The burning of the ''besugo''". (A ''besugo'' is a foolish person besides a type of fish).
*''La Folía'', April in [[San Vicente de la Barquera]], a parade of local fishing boats following one with a statue of the Virgin.
*''Coso Blanco'', first Friday in July in Castro Urdiales. Colorful parade with carts.
*''Cantabria Day'', second Sunday of August in [[Cabezón de la Sal]]. Traditional Cantabrian music, ceramics fair, local foods, [[bowling]] championships, ox dragging contests and public speeches.
*SAUGA folk music festival, celebrated the third weekend of August in [[Colindres]].
*''Floral Gala'', August en [[Torrelavega]]. A festival of international touristic importance with carts decorated with flowers.
*''Battle of Flowers'', August, in Laredo. Carts decorated with flowers and fruit. [[Fireworks]] in the evening.
*''Campoo Day'', September in [[Reinosa]]. Tourist fair of regional importance since 1977 and celebrated since the 19th century, it shows customs and traditions of the [[Campoo|Campurrians]] in their capital. [[Cattle]] shows, local products market and regional costumes are the items in this festival.
The following [[festival]]s are also remarkable in modern Cantabrian culture: [[Santander International Festival]]<ref>{{es icon}} [http://www.festivalsantander.com/index_es.html Festival Internacional de Santander website]</ref> (Arts festival), Santander Summer Festival<ref>{{es icon}} [http://www.santandersummerfestival.com/ Santander Summer Festival website]</ref> (Music festival), Sotocine<ref>{{es icon}} [http://www.sotocine.tk/ Sotocine website]</ref> (Film festival)
===Mythology===
{{main|Cantabrian mythology}}
Northern Spain is a rich area for [[mythology]]. In the whole Green Spain, from [[Galicia, Spain|Galicia]] to the Basque Country, passing by Asturias and Cantabria, there are rites, stories and imaginary or impossible beings (or maybe not so).
The mythology of Cantabria turns the Cantabrian forests and mountains into magical places where the [[myth]]s, [[belief]]s and [[legend]]s have been present as an essential part of the [[Cantabrian culture]], either because they have been living in the popular heritage through the [[oral tradition]] transmitted from father to son, or because they have been recovered by scholars ([[Manuel Llano]] and others) who have worried about preserving the cultural heritage.
Its mythology and [[superstition]]s present a great [[Celt]]ic influence that has diluted with the pass of time, being [[Religion in ancient Rome|romanized]] or [[Christianity|christianized]] in many cases. It is remarkable, as in many other cultures, the presence of faboulous beings of [[Giant (mythology)|giant]] proportions and [[Cyclops|cyclopean]] features (the ''ojáncanos''), fantastic animals (''[[cuélebre|culebre]]s'', ''caballucos del diablo'' (lit. horses of the devil, [[damselfly|damselflies]]), ''ramidrejus'', etc.), [[Fairy|færies]] (''anjanas'', ''ijanas'' of Aras), [[Duende (mythology)|duendes]] (''nuberos, ventolines, [[trenti]]s, trasgus, trastolillos, musgosu, tentirujo''), [[anthropomorphic]] characters (the ''sirenuca'' (little mermaid), the [[fish-man]], the [[cuegle]], the wife-bear of Andara, the ''guajona''), etc.
==Cuisine==
{{main|Spanish Cuisine}}
*'''Typical dishes''': ''[[cocido montañés]]'' (Highlander stew) made with [[common bean|beans]] and [[collard greens]], ''[[cocido lebaniego]]'' ([[Liébana]]n stew) made from [[chickpeas]], ''[[marmita]]'' or ''[[sorropotún]]'' (similar to [[marmitako]]), and ''[[olla ferroviaria]]'' (Railway pot), as main courses.
*'''Meat dishes''': [[Beef]], [[ox]], [[deer]], [[roe deer]] or [[boar]]. Cooked to the grill, stewed or with vegetables.
:The livestock farming reputation of the region and its climatologic conditions in favour for [[cattle]] breeding allowed the [[European Union]] to pass the "Meats of Cantabria" denomination as a ''[[Protected geographical indications in the European Union|Protected Geographic Denomination]]'' for the [[beef]] of certain kinds of native races (''Tudanca'', ''Monchina'', Asturian of the valleys and Asturian of the mountain), and other adapted to the environment (''Limusina'') or integrated by assimilation (Brown alpine).
*'''Fish and seafood''': [[anchovy|Anchovies]] of [[Santoña]], [[Colindres]], Laredo and Castro Urdiales, [[angler]], [[hake]], [[European seabass|Sea bass]], [[Soleidae|sole]], [[Atlantic horse mackerel|mackerel]], [[sardine]], [[European anchovy|European anchovies]], [[bonito]] of the North (of Spain), [[gilt-head bream]], [[sea bream]], [[Largescaled scorpionfish|scorpionfish]], [[red mullet]], as well as some river fish as [[trout]] and [[salmon]]. ''Rabas'' (fried [[calamari]]) and ''cachón en su tinta'' ([[cuttlefish]] cooked in its own ink). Regarding seafood, it can be remarked: [[clam]], [[blue mussel|mussel]], ''muergos'' ([[Ensis|jackknife]]), [[Cockle (bivalve)|cockle]], [[velvet crab]], [[Maja squinado|spider crab]], [[Gooseneck barnacle|barnacle]], [[lobster]], [[Norway lobster]], [[Common periwinkle|periwinkle]] or [[European lobster]].
*'''Desserts''': ''[[Quesada Pasiega|Quesadas]]'' and ''[[sobao]]s'' of the Pas valley, ''[[frisuelos]]'' from Liébana (similar to [[crêpe]]s), [[Unquera]]'s ''[[corbata]]s'' (neckties) and [[Torrelavega]]'s ''[[polka (pastry)|polkas]]'' (both basically [[puff pastry]]), ''[[Sacristán|sacristanes]]'' in [[Liérganes]], ''[[Palucos de Cabezón|Palucos de Cabezón de la Sal]]'' and ''[[pantortilla]]s'' of [[Reinosa]].
*'''Cheeses''': Spicy [[cheese]] of Bejes-Tresviso, ''quesucos'' (little cheeses) of Liébana, cream cheese, etc. (many of them with [[Protected designation of origin|PDO]]).
*'''Drinks''': [[apple cider]] and [[orujo]] (liquor made from [[pomace]]) from Liébana, with its variations: (''orujo'' cream, ''orujo'' with honey, herbal ''orujo'', etc.); [[Txacoli|chacolí]], and [[tostadillo (wine)|tostadillo]] of Potes.
==Sports==
[[Image:Regata Pedreña.JPG|300px|right|thumb|''Trainera'' regatta at the [[Santander bay]]]]
The traditional sport par excellence in Cantabria is the game of '''''bolos'''''<ref>{{es icon}} [http://www.ayto-selaya.com/index.php?a=vbohis History of the ''Bolos'' in Cantabria.] Selaya Township website. Retrieved on [[5 August]] [[2007]].</ref> ([[Skittles (sport)|skittles]]) in its four forms: ''[[Bolo Palma]]'', ''pasabolo tablón'', ''pasabolo losa'' and ''bolo pasiego''. The first one is the most extended, exceeding regional nature and reaching the eastern zone of Asturias and also being the most complex in its game rules. The existence of ''boleras'' or skittle rings is important in every Cantabrian township, often being near the church or the village pub.
From the late 1980s, skittle play has consolidated with the reinforcement of skittle schools, revamped by the different town councils and Cantabrian institutions, the various competitions (League, Cup championships, Regional and National Circuits, etc), or the expansion in the media due to the social interest. Sometimes ''bolos'' can also refer to the American [[bowling]], which can also be played at malls and similar in the cities.
As in the whole North coast of Spain, particularly in Cantabria and the Basque Country, the '''remo''' ([[Rowing (sport)|rowing]]) is a very traditional sport in the coastal towns. The origins of rowing in Cantabria go back many centuries, when several ''[[trainera]]s'' (traditional fishing [[longboat]]s) competed for the selling of the caught fish, which was reserved for the first ship to arrive to the [[fish market]]. At the end the 19th century work became sport and people started to celebrate [[regatta]]s between Cantabrian townships. The sport clubs of Cantabria, specially the [[Sociedad Deportiva de Remo Astillero|Astillero]], [[Sociedad Deportiva de Remo Castro Urdiales|Castro Urdiales]], and the [[Sociedad Deportiva de Remo Pedreña|Pedreña]] belong to the most prize-winning teams of the history of this sport, and nowadays they are having on of the best moments after a decades-long period of trophy draught.
[[Image:Palacio de los Deportes de Santander.jpg|400px|thumb|left|Santander Sports Palace: a basketball game featuring the local team, the ''[[Cantabria Lobos]]'' (wolves).]]
The Pasiegan jump is another of the outstanding rural sports of the region and a clear example of how the use of a work skill that disappears with the pass of time, gives rise to games and competition. Similar to other forms, like the [[Salto del pastor|Canarian shepherd jump]], in the beginning this technique was used in the Pasiegan valleys to cross the stone walls, the fences, the creeks or the ravines that bordered the fields and obstructed the pass in the abrupt geography of the highland areas of Cantabria.
Referring to mass sports, Cantabria is present in national and international competitions through teams such as the ''[[Racing de Santander]]'', the ''[[RS Gimnástica de Torrelavega]]'' and the [[Cantabria autonomous football team]] in '''[[Football in Spain|football]]'''; the ''[[CB Cantabria|Club Balonmano Cantabria]]'' that has won several [[Liga ASOBAL|Leagues]] and [[Copa del Rey de Balonmano|King's Cups]] as well as international titles in '''[[handball]]'''; or the [[Cantabria Baloncesto|Cantabria Lobos]] that has played in the [[Asociación de Clubs de Baloncesto|ACB]] in '''[[basketball]]'''.
==Notable Cantabrians==
Cantabria has been the birthplace of exceptional and notable individuals in fields such as literature, arts, sciences, etc. Many of them have played a decisive role, not only in the history and events of the region, but also on the national and international levels. These include:
*'''Military''': [[Laro (person)|Laro]], [[Corocotta]], [[Pedro Velarde]].
*'''Religion''': [[Emeterius and Celedonius|San Emeterio, San Celedonio]], [[Beatus of Liébana]].
*'''Explorers''': [[Juan de la Cosa]], [[Vital Alsar]], [[José de Bustamante y Guerra]].
*'''Literature''': [[José María de Pereda]], [[Concha Espina]], [[Gerardo Diego]], [[Manuel Llano]], [[Álvaro Pombo]], [[Amós de Escalante]].
*'''Painting''': [[María Blanchard]], [[Casimiro Sáinz]], [[José de Madrazo]].
*'''Science and technology''': [[Leonardo Torres Quevedo]], [[Augusto González Linares]], [[Juan de Herrera]].
*'''Politics''': [[Luis Carrero Blanco]], [[Alfredo Pérez Rubalcaba]], [[Joaquín Leguina]], [[Miguel Ángel Revilla]].
*'''Music''': [[Jesús de Monasterio]], [[Ataúlfo Argenta]], [[David Bustamante]], [[La Fuga]].
*'''Sports''': [[Francisco Gento]], [[Carlos Alonso González|"Santillana"]], [[José Manuel Abascal]], [[Severiano Ballesteros]], [[Óscar Freire]].
*'''Film, radio, and TV''': [[Juan Manuel Gozalo]], [[Mario Camus]], [[Manuel Gutiérrez Aragón]], [[Eduardo Noriega]], [[Antonio Resines]], [[Nacho Vigalondo]].
*'''Other''': [[Emilio Botín]], [[Jesús de Polanco]], [[Ángel Schlesser]].
See also [[:Category:Cantabrian people]]
== References ==
*''This article draws heavily on the [[:es:Cantabria|corresponding article]] in the [[:es:Portada|Spanish-language Wikipedia]], which was accessed in the version of [[March 31]], [[2007]].''
{{reflist|2}}
== Bibliography ==
*Echegaray González, J. (1993). ''Los cántabros''. Santander: Estvdio, 1993. ISBN 84-87934-23-4.
*VV.AA.:''Guía de la naturaleza de Cantabria''. Santander: Estvdio, 1993. ISBN 84-87934-21-8
*VV.AA.: ''Gran Enciclopedia de Cantabria''. Santander: Cantabria, 1985 (8 tomos) y 2002 (tomos 9, 10 y 11). ISBN 84-86420-00-8
*VV.AA.: ''Cantabria 1898-1998. Un siglo de imágenes''. Santander: Caja Cantabria, 1999.
==External links==
* [http://www.camaracantabria.com Camara de Comercio de Cantabria]
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