GERONA, a maritime frontier province in the extreme north east of Spain, formed in 1833 of districts taken from Catalonia and bounded on the north by France, east and south-east by the Mediterranean sea, south-west and west by Barcelona, and north west by Lerida. In the north-west a small section of the province, with the town of Llivia, is entirely isolated and surrounded by French territory, otherwise Gerona is separated from France by the Pyrenees. The population (1920) was 325,619, 325,551. Area 2,264 sq. miles. The region has numerous historical asso ciations (see CATALONIA), and it acted as the guardian of the passes through the Pyrenees at the eastern end, performing the same service as Roncesvalles in the west. The three main rivers, the Ter, Muga and Fluvia, rise in the Pyrenees and flow in a south-easterly direction to the sea. Along their banks there is much good arable land, while the lower slopes of the Pyrenees are well wooded with oak, pine and chestnut. Cape Creus is a marked feature of the coastline and is the most easterly point of the Iberian peninsula. It is formed by the dying down seawards of the Pyrenees. The climate varies locally. The Cerdane district and other mountainous tracts are cold during eight months while Gerona, La Bisbal and Santa Coloma have typical Mediter ranean features.
The coastal fisheries are important especially at Llama., Rosas, Palamos and Blanes. The cork industry flourishes at San Feliu de Guixols (with fisheries), Palafrugell and Cassa. There is also a little metalliferous mining. Much use is made of water power and the linen, cotton and general textile manufactures are important. The main railway from Barcelona to France runs through the province. Gerona (q.v.) is the capital while Figueras (q.v.) was long a most important frontier fortress.