Scott Connor, age 14, of Nampa, Ida., for his question:
WHERE IS CATALONIA?
Catalonia is a region in the northeastern part of Spain that comprises the provinces of Tarragona. Lerida, Barcelona and. Gerona. It is bounded on the north by the Pyrenees Mountains, on the west by the region of Aragon and on the east by the Mediterranean Sea. It is an area shaped like an inverted triangle.
Catalonia is bisected by the Sierra Llena mountain range, which extends from the southwest to the northeast. Most of the territory is wooded and contains few meadows and little pastureland.
The principal cities of Catalonia include the ports of Tarragona and Barcelona.
Catalonia was an early possession of the Romans, who lost it to the Goths and Alans about 470 B.C. The Moors conquered the region in A.D. 712 but were expelled 76 years later by Spaniards allied with Charlemagne.
Frankish counts subsequently ruled Catalonia and made it an independent domain. In 1137 it was united with the kingdom of Aragon and later was included in the kingdom of Spain.
The French held it as a possession from 1640 to 1659, from 1694 to 1697 and again from 1808 to 1813.
French influence in Catalonia contributed to the development of a distinct Catalan culture. In the 19th Century a movement for cultural and governmental autonomy developed.
In 1932, following the overthrow of King Alfonso XIII in the Spanish revolution of 1930 31, Catalonia was granted the right to have its own president and parliament, within the framework of the Spanish republic.
In the Spanish civil war (1936 39), Catalonia supported the Republican cause against the counterrevolution led by Gen. Francisco Franco. Franco was victorious and under his regime, the autonomy of Catalonia was ended.
Corn, wheat, rye. flax and licorice are cultivated; pigs, goats and sheep are raised; and almonds, chestnuts, walnuts, figs, oranges and grapes are grown in Catalonia.
Among the main industries are fishing, wine making, the manufacture of cotton textiles and potash mining.
After Franco's death in 1975, all of Spain became a monarchy. A king, a prime minister, a Cabinet and a parliament all have important roles in the government. The government has taken some steps to provide for more widespread participation in government in all sections of the country. For example, it has allowed new political parties to operate.
In 1977, the Spanish government granted the Catalan provinces limited autonomy and permitted the re establishment of the (ital) Generalitat (unital), Catalonia's historical governing body. The (ital) Generalitat (unitai) is both legislature and executive council and its members are elected for four year terms.