CANTABRIA

PROVINCES:Cantabria

The region (autonomous community) of Cantabria is on the north coast of Spain. It borders the Bay of Biscay (also known as the Cantabrian Sea) to the north and the regions of Asturias to the west, Basque Country to the east and Castilla y Leon to the south.

Cantabria has an extensive and dramatic coastline along the Bay of Biscay/Cantabrian Sea. It has a long barrier made up of abruptly rising mountains parallel to the sea, which are part of the Cantabrian Mountains. The mountains occupy most of Cantabria's area. Cantabria's capital is Santander, its largest city and an important tourist port.

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. The area bears that name because it has particularly lush vegetation, due to a wet and moderate oceanic climate. Because of the gulf stream, Cantabria has a climate much more temperate than might be expected for its latitude. The region has a humid oceanic climate, with warm summers and reasonably mild winters except in the higher mountainous areas.