Santander
a seaport on the N. coast of Spain; on an inlet of the Bay of Biscay, about equally distant from Oviedo on the W. and San Sebastian on the E.; 316 miles N. of Madrid. The bay on which it stands is accessible to the largest vessels at all times. The tow occupies a picturesque site, but is quite SANTA ROSA modern in appearance. Of its former convents one now serves as a theater, another a cigar factory. The remaining industries are chiefly breweries, cotton, paper, and flour mills, iron foundries, and ship-building yards. The commerce of the port increases steadily: the exports-flour, wine, foodstuffs, and metals -have in some years reached a value of about $5,000,000, and the importstobacco, foodstuffs, codfish, iron and steel goods, textiles, coal, petroleum, chemicals, timber, upward of $10,000,000.
Santander is a favorite seaside resort in summer. It was here Charles I. embarked for England after his trip to the Spanish court. The town was sacked by Soult in 1808. Pop. (1918) 72,700.