CADIZ, a province of southern Spain, formed in 1833 of districts taken from Seville. It is bounded on the north by Seville, east by Malaga, south-east by the Mediterranean sea, south by the Strait of Gibraltar, and west by the Atlantic ocean. Pop. (1930) 507,972; area, 2,834 sq.m.; inclusive, in each case, of Ceuta, on the Moroccan coast, which, for administrative purposes belongs to Cadiz. The main features of the Atlantic coastline of Cadiz are the broad Guadalquivir estuary which marks the frontier of Seville, the double bay of Cadiz, outlet for the Guadalete, chief river of the north districts, and Cape Trafalgar. Farther south, the river Barbate draining the broad, marshy Laguna de la Janda, flows into the Strait of Gibraltar and Punta Marroqui, on the strait, is the southernmost promontory of the European mainland. On the east coast the rock and fortress of Gibraltar overlook Algeciras bay and the river Guadiaro, which drains the eastern highlands, enters the Mediterranean close to the frontier of Malaga. In the interior there is a striking contrast between the comparatively level western half of the province and the picturesque well-wooded mountain ranges of the east. These mountains, which form the west end of the Boetic Cordillera, attain their greatest altitudes in the Cerro de San Cristobal (5,63oft.) and the Sierra del Pinar (5,413f t.) .
The climate is mild and equable, and with naturally fertile soil makes fruit, vine and olive growing one of the chief sources of wealth in the province, though severe droughts often cause great distress. Jerez de la Frontera (Xeres) is famous for the manufacture and export of sherry, and Tarifa for its oranges. Much cork is obtained from the mountain forests, and quantities of fish are caught off the coast and are salted for export. A considerable amount of salt is obtained by evaporation of sea water in pans near Cadiz bay. In 1924 the province produced over 300,00o tons of salt, over one-third of the total Spanish output. Railway communication is limited in the west to a line from Seville to Cadiz, with branch lines to Sanlucar from Jerez and Puerto de Santa Maria, and from Sanlucar a few miles north to Bonanza; and in the east to a line from Granada to Algeciras. The principal towns are Cadiz, pop. (1930), 75,769, La Linea ; Sanlucar (26,887) ; the naval station of San Fernando (29,232); Algeciras (21,431) ; Puerto de Santa Maria Tarifa (12,435) and Puerto Real (11,185) on the coast; Jerez de la Frontera (72,055) ; Arcos de la Frontera 07,675) ; Vejer de la Frontera (18,298); Medina-Sidonia (10,923) and Chiclana (15,09o) inland. These are described in separate articles. Olvera (11,426), San Roque (Io,61o), Jimena de la Frontera (9,285) and Grazalema, probably the Roman Lacidulermium (4,257) are lesser towns trading in farm produce, wine and leather. (See also ANDALUSIA.)