Basque Autonomous Community, Autonomous region in northern Spain
The Basque Country is an autonomous region in northern Spain divided into three provinces: Álava, Gipuzkoa and Bizkaia. The landscape ranges from the Atlantic coast with cliffs and beaches to forested mountains inland.
Cave paintings in Altxerri and Ekain show that people have lived here since the Stone Age. The region gained political autonomy in the late 20th century after decades of centralized rule.
Street signs, menus and daily conversations reflect the presence of Euskara, a language unrelated to any other in Europe. Villages and towns hold traditional festivals with music, dance and local food that visitors can experience throughout the year.
The region is best explored by car, as coastal towns, mountain villages and larger settlements are linked by winding roads. Public transport serves main towns but is less frequent in remote areas.
Two watersheds, Atlantic and Mediterranean, are separated by mountain chains that shape the climate and vegetation of the region. This divide influences where rivers flow and which ecosystems develop on either side.
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