ByGalicia.
  • busqueda avanzada
  •   

Business opportunities

Geographical location

Galicia is situated in the northwest of the Iberian Peninsula, at the western end of Europe, and has an area of 29,575 km².

The terrain of the region is relatively rugged. It is characterised by the low mountains of the Cantabrian-Galician massif. A third of the territory has an altitude of over 600 metres. The most prominent mountains are those of the large south eastern range, which is home to the territory's main peak: Pena Trevinca, at 2,124 metres above sea level. El Courel, Los Ancares and Serra de Meira are the other large massifs of the country. The Xunta, through SITGA, offers a complete collection of maps of Galicia.

Galicia is a land of waters. Many rivers run through the territory. There are estimated to be over a thousand of them, fed by the heavy winter rains.

Regarding climate, Galicia is in a temperate zone at the north western end of Spain. Its climate is mostly maritime. It combines light showers with sunny spells, making for a richly colourful landscape that is predominantly green. Meteogalicia offers up-to-date information on the climate conditions in Galicia, including a weekly forecast.

The most notable geographical characteristic of Galicia is its coast, which features magnificent 'rias' (flooded river valleys). These are bodies of seawater reaching inland creating an irregular coast. They are divided into three groups: the Rías Altas, between Ribadeo and Ortigueira, known for their cliffs; the Rías Medias, which extend from Cedeira to Corcubión and are much less pronounced; and the Baixas, from Muros to Vigo, which are much larger than the others and are known for their gentle topography, as well as for being important safe havens as sea ports.

Galicia's geostrategic position at the western end of Europe has made it a major transport point for cargo and passengers crossing the Atlantic, particularly those heading to and from Latin America. There are still many maritime routes today connecting the two parts of the world.