Province of Cuenca

Cuenca is a province of central Spain, in the eastern part of the autonomous community of Castile -La Mancha or the ancient kingdom of Castile.

It borders the provinces of Valencia, Albacete, Ciudad Real, Toledo, Madrid, Guadalajara and Teruel.

The province has 217 363 inhabitants (2008 ). Its capital is Cuenca, where about a quarter of the province's population lives. Overall, the province has 238 municipalities, of which have next to the city of Cuenca only six more than 5,000 inhabitants.

The province of Cuenca shows a divided landscape. It extends from the highlands of Cuenca ( Serranía de Cuenca ) in the north and east, the highest peak of the 1,800 m high Cerro San Felipe, to the plains of La Mancha to the south and west. The main river in the highlands is the Júcar with its tributaries. In the plane, the Guadiela, a tributary of the Tagus, significant water source. The spruce forests of the Serrania de Cuenca are known throughout Spain.

The climate is continental with hot summers and relatively cold winters.

Traditionally, in the province of Cuenca was grazing in the highlands and the cereal cultivation in the lowlands. In addition, forestry and mining (iron, copper, salt, saltpetre ) were operated, the latter is largely abandoned. Today ( 2nd quarter of 2004, source: INE) are 49.6 per cent of workers in the service sector, 21.6 percent in agriculture, 17.1 percent in construction and 11.8 percent employed in industry.

Population Development

Biggest Towns

(As of 1 January 2005)

See also List of municipalities in the province of Cuenca