Catalonia

Catalonia (Spanish Cataluña), autonomous region in northeastern Spain, comprising the provinces of Barcelona, Gerona, Lérida, and Tarragona. The shape of an inverted triangle, Catalonia is bounded on the north by the Pyrenees Mountains, on the west by the region of Aragón, and on the east by the Mediterranean Sea. It is bisected by the Sierra de la Llena mountain range, which extends from the southwest to the northeast. Most of the territory is wooded and contains few meadows and little pastureland. Among the principal rivers are the Ebro, the Llobregat, and the Ter, which drain into the Mediterranean. Major cities include the ports of Tarragona and Barcelona, the region's capital.

Catalonia is one of the most prosperous regions of Spain. Corn, wheat, rye, flax, and licorice are cultivated; pigs, goats, and sheep are raised; and almonds, chestnuts, walnuts, figs, oranges, and grapes are grown in Catalonia. Among the main industries are fishing, wine making, the manufacture of cotton textiles, and potash mining.

Catalonia was an early possession of the Romans, who lost it to the Goths and Alans about 470 bc. The Moors conquered the region in ad 712, but were expelled 76 years later by Spaniards allied with Charlemagne. Frankish counts subsequently ruled Catalonia and made it an independent domain. In 1137 it was united with the kingdom of Aragón and later was included in the kingdom of Spain. The French held it as a possession from 1640 to 1659, from 1694 to 1697, and again from 1808 to 1813.

French influence in Catalonia contributed to the development of a distinct Catalan culture. In the 19th century a movement for cultural and governmental autonomy developed in Catalonia. In 1932, following the overthrow of King Alfonso XIII in the Spanish revolution of 1930 and 1931, Catalonia was granted the right to have its own president and parliament, within the framework of the Spanish republic. In the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939), Catalonia supported the Republican cause against the counterrevolution led by General Francisco Franco. Franco was victorious, and under his regime (1939-1975) the autonomy of Catalonia was ended. In 1977, however, the Spanish government granted the Catalan provinces limited autonomy and permitted the reestablishment of the Generalitat, Catalonia's historical governing body, both legislature and executive council; its members are elected for four-year terms.

In 2006 about 74 percent of voters in Catalonia approved a referendum on a new autonomy measure that had been passed by the national parliament. The referendum made the new self-government charter binding and final. The charter went into effect on July 1, 2006. Under the measure Catalonia obtained more regional control over the collection of tax revenues, immigration policy, judicial appointments, and infrastructure, such as highways and train service. The measure acknowledges that Catalonia considers itself a nation. It also requires residents to learn the Catalan language.

Area, 32,113 sq km (12,399 sq mi); population (2003) 6,704,146.