ALICANTE, seaboard province, south-eastern Spain, formed (1833) from parts of the provinces of Valencia and Murcia. Pop. 545,838; area, 2, 24osq.m. ; density per sq.m., 243.7. In the north and west there are extensive calcareous mountain ranges cut by deep ravines ; further south the land is more level with fertile valleys. On the coast, unhealthy salt marshes alternate with pleas ant and productive huertas or gardens, such as those of Alicante and Denia. The Segura, the only large river, flows from the high lands of Albacete through Murcia and Orihuela. The scanty tor rential rainfall makes irrigation from the Segura with its network of canals important. 4o% of the area is cultivated, nearly a quar ter being devoted to vines, the most important culture, producing wine and raisins from stocks immune against the phylloxera. The wine is famous in Spain and inferior kinds are sent to France to be mixed with claret. Cereals (barley first in importance, rice sec ond) are profitable only in such irrigated lands as the Huerta de Orihuela; wheat and barley are imported from Algeria and maize from Argentina. Olives, almonds, oranges (especially in the Segura valley and on the coast), carobs and date-palms are grown in large plantations. The fruit-trees (1923), estimated at 2,500,000, gave produce worth over thirteen million pesetas, the almond, the char acteristic fruit-tree of Alicante, representing six millions. Oranges are sent to England, Germany, Holland and Belgium, and other fruits to the interior of Spain. In sericulture, Alicante is second only to Murcia (1925). Stock-raising is not important, and the roads are mostly poor. Except in the Orihuela district, most of the land is in small properties and fertility and skill in cultivation have made the population dense even apart from Alicante and Alcoy. The annual value of agricultural produce is about 163 million pesetas. Mineral products include superphosphates, salt and rock-salt. Hydrochloric, nitric and sulphuric acids are made in quantities. Fine cloths, silk, cotton and woollen fabrics, lace, paper, hats, leather, earthenware, soap, oil and brandy are made. Fisheries of tunny and anchovy are active. The dialect is a variety of the Valencian. In 192o, 53.95% of the population was returned as illiterate. The principal towns (separately described) are Ali cante, the capital (pop. Crevillente (11,991), Denia (13,063), Elche (38,013), Novelda (9,508), Orihuela (38,57o), and Villena (17,638).