Álava

Álava [' alaβa ] (Basque Araba [ aɾaβa ] ) is the southernmost of the three provinces of the autonomous community of Basque Country (Guipúzcoa, Vizcaya and Alava ) in Spain. Álava is 3037 km ² and has 321,417 inhabitants ( 2013). The capital is Vitoria- Gasteiz. The former license plate was VI, the postcode is 01xxx.

Geography

Álava extends from the Cantabrian Mountains in the north, although this is not a concrete boundary line, up to the Ebro in the south.

Climate of Álava provides a transition from the Maritime climate of the Atlantic coast in the north to the continental climate of the Castilian plateau in the south; within Álava are therefore to be found in a small space very different ecosystems. The northern valleys (eg the Nervión valley or the valley of Aramaio ) are marked by green pastures and deciduous forests (mainly beech ), the middle areas of the Llanada Alavesa ( high level of Álava) and Treviño are already much drier, the climate of Ebrobeckens with the neighboring province of La Rioja has been consistently continental.

Álava is crossed by foothills of the Cantabrian Mountains, which run mountain ranges generally from east to west, and often represent weather sheaths. The highest elevation of the province is Mount Gorbea 1,480 m. The area is generally mountainous, the official directory of the Basque mountains is one of Álava 127 peaks that are between 600 m and 1,480 m altitude.

The central area in Álava is the high level Llanada Alava, which is located at about 550 m altitude.

The main river of the province is the Ebro, which represents the southern boundary of the Basque Country. The river Zadorra crosses the high plains of Alava, Vitoria clips the capital and flows into the Ebro Miranda de Ebro. Other important rivers of the province are the Nervión and Bayas.

Álava borders the Basque provinces of Vizcaya and Guipúzcoa in the north, to the west by the province of Burgos ( Castile and León), south to the Rioja and on the east by Navarre.

History

• Basque Country
• Navarre
• French Basque Country

By Álava runs since the Stone Age one of the main compounds of the Iberian Peninsula with the rest of the European continent. Testimonies of the early settlement of the space are the Alava Dolmen.

In ancient times, the Romans settled in the area of today's province, whose testimony the settlement Iruña - Veleia in the Llanada Alavesa is around 15 km from the present-day Vitoria.

With the disintegration of the Roman Empire Suevi, Alans, Vandals and Visigoths left during the Migration tracks in Álava.

From the 8th to the 10th century, the Moors at times dominated the Basque province. The Muslim historian Ibn al - Athir reports that Alava and the local forts in the year 838, was conquered from the Moors under Abd ar - Rahman II, Lord of Andalusia, pillaged and partially depopulated. Since the 9th century, the princes of Castile and Navarre gained influence. Ultimately, they ousted the Moors final. From the 10th century to Álava belonged alternately to the Kingdoms of Castile and Navarre, Navarre but lost over time in strength, so that the province in 1332 finally fell to Castile.

In spite of belonging to Castile, and thus later to Spain Alava has preserved until the 19th century a number of special rights (Spanish fueros ). These special rights to live up to the present time continued in the rights of the autonomous regions of the Basque Country and Navarre.

Population

Cities and towns

The capital and only large city in the province with 241 386 inhabitants (as of 2013) is Vitoria -Gasteiz, where over 75 % of the population of Alava is domiciled. Vitoria is simultaneously the capital of the Basque country. In addition to Vitoria in Álava are the places Llodio, Amurrio and Salvatierra important.

Largest communities

See also: List of municipalities in the province of Álava

Language

The population of Alava, unlike the Basque provinces of Vizcaya and Guipúzcoa, largely Spanish-speaking. Basque is used primarily in Aramaio Valley and isolated in Legutiano, but also in the capital, Vitoria by some immigrants, conditional, spoken by the Basque Government and the University. In 2001, 93.6 % of the population of Alava Spanish as their first language, 1.9% and 3.5 % Spanish Basque and Basque.

Administrative divisions

The administrative regions of Álava, which are otherwise referred to in Spain as Comarcas, hot in Álava Cuadrillas. Álava is divided into seven Cuadrillas:

• Añana
• Ayala
• Campezo - Montaña Alavesa
• Laguardia - Rioja Alava
• Salvatierra
• Vitoria
• Zuya

In addition to the above Cuadrillas located in the middle of the province of Álava the enclave Condado de Treviño, which is part historical reasons for the Castilian province of Burgos. The Condado de Treviño is the object of a political dispute between the autonomous communities of Castile and León and the Basque Country, both of which claim the enclave itself. Many residents of Condado de Treviño are - albeit largely for practical reasons because of the immediate vicinity of the city of Vitoria - more inclined to belong to the Basque country.