OVIEDO, a maritime province of northern Spain, bounded on the north by the Bay of Biscay, east by Santander, south by Leon and west by Lugo. Pop. (193o) 791,855, area, 4,205 sq.m. In popular speech Oviedo is often called by its ancient name of Asturias, which only ceased to be the official title of the province in 1833, when the Spanish system of local government was re organized. An account of the physical features, history and in habitants of this region is given under ASTURIAS (q.v.). Oviedo is rich in forests, coal, streams and waterfalls, greatly contributing to its modern industrial development. The horses of Oviedo rank among the best in Spain. Wild deer, boars and bears were formerly common among the mountains ; and the sea-coasts, as well as the streams, abound with fish, including salmon and lam preys. The climate is mild and wet; the broken relief hinders cultivation.
Although no trace exists of the gold for which Asturias was celebrated under its Roman rulers, Oviedo possesses valuable coal measures, which are worked at Langreo (39,777), Mieres (42,787), Siero (30,647) and elsewhere. The copper mines near
Aviles (16,077) and Cangas de Onis (9,890) have lost their im portance; but lead, magnesia, arsenic, cobalt, lapis lazuli, alum, antimony, jet, marble and rock-crystal are found in various parts of the province, while amber and coral are gathered along the coast. There are manufactures of fine textiles, coarse cloth and ribbons in Salas (13,598), Piloria (17,533) and Aviles; of paper in Pianton; of porcelain and glass in Gijon (78,239), Aviles and Pola de Surro; of arms in Oviedo and Trubia; while foundries and works for the manufacture of agricultural imple ments, rails and pig-iron are numerous. An important highway is the i6th century Camino real, or royal road, leading from Gijon to Leon and Madrid, which cost so much that the emperor Charles V. inquired if it were paved with silver. A railway from Madrid to Oviedo, Gijon and Aviles runs through some of the most difficult parts of the Cantabrian chain. There are also several branch railways, including numerous narrow-gauge lines.