AST1TRIAS, a northern province of Spain, bounded on the e. by Santander, on the s. by Leon, on the w. by Galicia, and on the n. by the bay of Biscay. The low hills of Leon and Old Castile rise gradually to the mountain-chain which forms the s. boundary, and towers to a height of about 11,000 ft. in the summit Paa-de-Poiaranda. The main road from Leon to Oviedo passes over the mountain-chain at Pajares. The northern slopes are broken by steep and dark valleys or chasms, which are among the wildest and most picturesque in Spain. The summits of the mountains are covered with snow even as late in the year as August. The climate is damp; clouds hang almost continually about the peaks, gathering to them the fogs of the Atlantic. From the mass of calcare pus rock, marble crags rise from 200 to more than 400 ft. The principal kinds of wood are oak, chestnut, silver, and Scotch firs. Some of the forests in the remoter districts are very superb. Alpine pasturage decks the slopes, and a richer covering of green is found in the narrow valleys. In the wider valleys, the soil yields barley, wheat, maize, figs, olives, grapes, oranges. The coasts have good fisheries. The chief minerals of the province are copper, iron, lead, cobalt, arsenic, antimony, and coal. The pasturage of the higher valleys supports an excellent breed of horses, with numerous horned cattle.
never firmly occupied by the Arabs, but afforded a place of refuge to the Goths in the 8th century. Here the famous Pelayo was made king in 718 A.D. ; and his
successors, after contending successfully against the Arabs, were made kings of Leon in the 10th century. The Asturian still boasts of his independence as a free bidalgo, and is simple in manners and brave, but less industrious and sociable than his neighbors in Biscay and Galicia. Many Asturians leave their province to seek a livelihood in other parts of Spain, and after saving money, return to dwell among their native hills and valleys. They have been termed the Swiss of Spain; and they are equally- faithful and fond of money. Among them, the Vaqueros form a distinct caste, intermarrying among themselves, and leading a nomadic course of life, spending the winter on the seacoast, and the summer on the hills of Leytariegos. OvrEno, the capital of A., has, since 1833, given its name to the whole province. The other considerable towns are the ports Gijon and Aviles. The whole area of A. includes 3686 sq.m., with a population of (1870) 610,883.
The eldest son of the Spanish king has the title of prince of A., professedly an imita tion of the English prince of Wales, having been taken at the solicitation of the duke of Lancaster in 1388, when his daughter married the eldest son of Juan I.