ANDALUSIA, (Sp. Anda lucia for Vandalusia, the Land of the Van dals). A region in the southern part of Spain, a part of the old Roman province of l3t,ica, which comprises the present provinces of Granada. Almeria, :Malaga, Cadiz, Huelva, Seville, Cordova, and Jaen (Nap: Spain, C 4). Its area is 33,663 square miles. The region is divided into Upper and Lower Andalusia. The former comprises the mountainous regions of the Sierra Norena on the north and the Sierra Nevada on the south, with the valley of the upper stream of the Guadalquivir. Lower Andalusia consists chiefly of the valley on both sides of the lower Guadalquivir. The lower regions have a very mild, almost African, climate. On the Atlantic coast the temperature is much lower, and in the highlands snow is not infrequent. The soil is very fertile, both in the mountain valleys of Up per Andalusia. and in the deep valleys along the Guadalquivir, and the warm climate allows of the cultivation of many southern fruits. Or
anges, olives, and sugar are cultivated suc cessfully, while wheat, corn, and other grains ripen as early as April and yield abundant crops. The districts along the coast are generally un fruitful, and in some cases utterly unfit for cul tivation. In ancient times the fertility of Andalusia was proverbial, as evidenced by the different epithets applied to the region, such as "granary," "wine cellar," and "gold purse" of Spain. Even at present Andalusia is considered one of the most fertile parts of Spain. Cattle raising is highly developed, and the Andalusian breed!: of horses, mules, and hulls have long been famous. The population was 3,450.209 in 1897, and 3,283,436 in 1877. The Andalusians are a very graceful people and picturesque in their at tire. Their language is Spanish with a slight admixture of Arabic.