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Galicia (Formerly a kingdom)

formerly a kingdom and afterward a province in Spain, bounded N. and W. by the Atlantic, S. by Portu. gal, and E. by Leon and Asturias, with an area of 11,340 square miles. It has been divided since 1833 into the minor provinces of Coruña, Lugo, Orense, and Pontevedra, whose joint population is about 2,10 2,100,000. The country is mountainous, being traversed by offsets of the peaks to about 6,500 feet. The W. spurs, Asturian chain, rising in their highest Capes Ortegal and Finisterre, project into the Atlantic. The numerous short but rapid rivers form small estuaries which afford secure havens and roads.

The principal river is the Minho, which, with its feeder, the Sil, is navigable for small vessels on its lower course. Galicia is one of the most fruitful portions of Europe, and has a mild, nourishing climate. Mines of lead, tin, copper, and iron pyrites are worked. The inhabitants, called Gallegos, are a robust, vigorous, GALICIA industrious race. Great numbers of them annually visit central and southern Spain and Portugal, where they find employment as harvesters, water carriers, porters, etc. Chief exports, live cattle, preserved meat, eggs, minerals, fish, fruits and grain; imports, coal, oil, hides, spirits, sugar, and tobacco. The principal towns are Santiago di Compostella and the two strongly fortified seaports Coruña and Ferrol. Galicia was a kingdom under the Suevi from 411 to 585, and again from 1060 to 1071, at which date it was finally incorporated with Leon and Castile.