GALICIA, Sp. ga-leitlie-a, Spain, an ancient kingdom and province, bounded north and west by the Atlantic, south by Portugal and east by Leon and Asturias, with an area of 11,256 square miles. It has been divided since 1833 into the minor provinces of Coruna, Lugo, Orense and Pontevedra, whose joint population is about 2,109,000. The country is mountainous, being traversed by offsets of the Asturian chain, rising in their highest peaks to about 6,500 feet. The west spurs, Capes Ortega! and Finisterre, project into the Atlantic. The numerous short but rapid rivers form small estuaries which afford secure havens and roads. The principal river is the Minho, which, with its feeder, the Sil, is navigable for small vessels on its lower course. Galicia has a mild, damp cli mate, favoring the development of a sturdy race devoted to agricultural pursuits; capital, however, is scarce, roads are bad and railways are few. Rich meadows and dense forests oc cur everywhere, but the soil is more suited to the cultivation of garden produce than of corn.
Mines of lead, tin, copper and iron pyrites are worked. The inhabitants, called Gallegos, are robust, vigorous, industrious and, in comparison with the Spaniards of the southern and central parts of the peninsula, heavy witted and un polished. Great numbers of them annually visit central and southern Spain and Portugal, where they find employment as harvesters, water car riers, porters, etc., and laboring men from this region seek employment in many parts of Latin America. Chief exports, live cattle, preserved meat, eggs, minerals, fish, fruits and grain; im ports, coal, oil, hides, spirits, sugar and tobacco. The principal towns are Santiago di Compostella and the seaports Vigo, Corufia and Ferrol. Galicia was a kingdom under the Suevi from 411 to 585, and again for a few years after the death of Ferdinand the Great, in 1065, was an independent kingdom under his son Garcia for a few years. In the main, however, its fortunes were united with those of Castile.