Extremadura - History

pop (2000e) 1 064 000; area 41 602 km²/16 058 sq mi. Autonomous region of W Spain on the Portuguese frontier; crossed by the Tagus and Guadiana Rivers, bounded (N) by the Sierra de Gata and Sierra de Gredos (rising to 2592 m/8504 ft); merino sheep, pigs, vines, figs, olives, almonds; considerable industrial development since the 1970s through the use of hydroelectricity and irrigation channels.

Comunidad Autónoma de Extremadura

Flag Coat of Arms
Capital	Mérida
Official language(s)	Spanish;
Area  – Total  – % of Spain	Ranked 5th  41,634 km²  8.2%
Population  – Total (2005)  – % of Spain  – Density	Ranked 12th  1,083,879  2.5%  26.03/km²
Demonym  – English  – Spanish	Extremaduran  extremeño/a
Statute of Autonomy	February 26, 1983
Parliamentary representation  – Congress seats  – Senate seats	10  2
President	Juan Carlos Rodríguez Ibarra (PSOE)
ISO 3166-2	EX
Junta de Extremadura

Extremadura is an autonomous community of western Spain.

Map of Extremadura

History

Lusitania, an ancient Roman province approximately including current day Portugal (except for the northern area today known as Norte Region), and a central western portion of the current day Spain, covered in those times today's Autonomous Community of Extremadura. Hernán Cortés, Francisco Pizarro, Pedro de Alvarado, Pedro de Valdivia were all born in Extremadura and many towns and cities in America carry a name from their homeland: Mérida is the name of the administrative capital of Extremadura, and also of important cities in Mexico and Venezuela;