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entire territory where the Catalan language is spoken received
the name of Catalan Countries at the end of the 19th Century
in order to further the collective reality. The area includes
a continental zone and numerous islands. These lands, the fruit
of the enlargement of Catalonia in the 13th Century are brought
together by their cultural values, economics and humanity. 93%
of the united trans-frontier region is situated on Spanish soil,
6% on French soil (North Catalonia) and 1% represents the national
territory of Andorra. About a hundred small areas, the comarques,
are organized over 69 823km2.
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The
Catalans Countries has its nerve centre in South Catalonia (Principat
de Catalunya, Barcelona). It is bordered in the south by the
region of Valencia, at the east by the Baleares Islands, at
the west by the Franja de Ponent and in the north by North Catalonia
and by Andorra. This region stretches over 1150km from north
to south, not including the Catalan-speaking enclave of Alguer
on Sardinia. The administration of Catalan territories is multiple.
The Spanish regions in South Catalonia; the region of Valencia,
the Baleares Islands and the Frange du Couchant (including the
community of Aragon) are autonomous, Andorra is a sovereign
state and North Catalonia is in the French department of the
Pyrénées-Orientales. The Mediterranean climate
of the Catalan Countries is generally temperate, with a contrast
between zones of humidity and dry zones, which encourages population
and economic activity in the coastal regions. The mountainous
sectors have maintained their traditional agricultural activity
while also developing an economy based of leisure activities.
The united Catalan territory is characteristic of the union
between the north and south of Europe. It has an agricultural,
industrial and cultural focus and is also a much-loved tourist
destination. With 11 million inhabitants, the Catalan Countries
are in 32nd place in Europe compared with states. Today, the
reinforcement of the Euro-Catalan space on the axis of València-Barcelona-Perpignan
is an affirmation of the Catalan Countries.
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