The Community Forale de Navarre

Geography

Relief and climate

The Community forale of Navarre is located at the north of the Spain, and made border with the France (163 km of borders). It can be divided north in the south into three great geomorphological zones and climatic: the mountain zone, the central zone and Ribera.

The mountain zone

It is located at the north of the community, and extends on the end is Basque mounts (subset of the Cantabric system) and the Western end of the the Pyrenees. This zone is limited by the solid masses of Urbasa, Andía, Sarvil, Perdón, Aláiz, Izoco and Leire.

The north-western zone , extends to horse on the Eastern end from the Basque solid masses (Cantabric) and on the Western end of the the Pyrenees, wet Navarre is called, because of sound climate of oceanic influence soft (average temperatures of 11 with 14,5°) and with the generous pluviometry (between 1.400 and 2.500 Misters of annual precipitations). The relief - irregular and broken - is characterized by the presence of many valleys: Cinco Villas, Urumea, Leizarán, Araitz, Basaburúa Menor, Doneztebe/Santesteban, Bertizarana, Baztan, Burunda, Aranaz, Arakil, Larraun, Basaburúa Mayor, Imotz, Atez, Odieta, Ulzama and Anué.

The Pyrenean valleys compose the landscapes of the North-East of Navarre. This zone present of the more homogeneous reliefs, along the Pyrenean chain, from where escape from the valleys perpendicular to the axis of the solid mass: valleys of Arga, the Erro, Arce, Aezkoa, Almiradío de Navascués, Salazar and Roncal. Altitude grows there of west in is (1459 meters in Adi, 2436 meters with the Mesa of los Tres Reyes). The Climat is thus of continental type wet and cold in north, drifting towards a Mediterranean climate cold towards the south and the basin of Pampelune. One records there average temperatures of 7 with 12°, and the average precipitations ranging between 900 and 2200 Misters.

To the south of these two subsets, the pre-Pyrenean valleys extend , in the continuation of the channel of Berdun in Aragon. These valleys is two: that of Pampelune and that of Lumbier-Aoiz. One finds there a climate of transition between the soft Mediterranean climate cold and Mediterranean climate, with average temperatures of 10 with 13°, and a pluviometry oscillating between 700 and 1400 Misters.

The central zone

The central zone is a zone of transition between Ribera and the zone from mountain, which one finds certain elements.

The average Navarre Eastern (including between the Arga river and the Aragonese border ) consists of a flat alternation of and little marked reliefs leaning with soft mountains marrying certain rivers. The climate is of Mediterranean influence (average temperatures of 12,5 with 14°, precipitations from 450 to 750 mm).

The area known as of Tierra Tudela extends between the Eastern Navarre average and the Álava. It is about a whole of valleys, flat and mountains very heterogeneous deployed around Tudela. The climate is there oceanic in north (1100 to 1500 mm of precipitations, temperatures spread out between 9 and 11°) and Mediterranean in the south (500 to 800 mm of precipitations, for temperatures ranging between 11,5 and 13,5°).

Ribera

The Ribera indicates the southern part of Navarre, which announces already the dry plates of Castille. The distinction which is often made between Ribera Tudelana (around Tudela) and Ribera Estellesa (around Estella) is due more to cultural criteria that geographical, the physical differences between these two regions being very mean. Ribera is characterized by a relief very broken and relatively low (peaks, ditches, plates,…). The climate is there of Mediterranean type continental, marked by dry summers, supported winds, strong annual thermal contrasts, and a pluviometric mode of low intensity (less than 500 mm of annual precipitations). The valley of the Èbre brings the recourse hydraulics necessary to the development of the Agriculture, grace in particular to the irrigation.

Hydrography and vegetation

The northern zone of Navarre is crossed by very many river whose powerful and regular flow is ensured by suitable climatic conditions. These rivers are divided into two slopes: the Cantabric slope and the Mediterranean slope. Those of the Cantabric slope are thrown in the the Bay of Biscay (Nive, Nivelle, Bidassoa, Urumea, Leizarán, Araxes,…). Those of the Mediterranean slope join the Èbre or its affluents (Arga, Arakil, Larraun, Ultzama,…) and the Mediterranean. It is not thus astonishing to see in this area an alternation thick forests of oaks, fir trees, woodland pines, beeches, chestnuts, large meadows and pastures, but also of moors.

In the central zone the river are fewer, but the majority of them going down from the mountains, they have a flow regular and powerful, the principal ones of them are the EGA and Urederra. The vegetation answers the drier climate: less forests of beeches, Oaks and fir trees, but of the mixed solid masses of oaks reopen and holm oaks alternating with the scrubland.

Ribera, drier, presents a very Mediterranean vegetation. The forests are absent there and the scrubland reign as a Master.

Demography

The Population of Navarre rises with: 600231 inhabitants (January 1st, 2006), against a little more: 500000 in 1980. The increase in the population fast and was supported (though in-on this side Spanish national average ), but was not equal on all the territory of the community. Thus, the great urban centres - the first of which Pampelune - saw to increase their population, while the Pyrenean valleys and the central zone continue to lose inhabitants.

Today thus, the major part of the population is installed in the agglomeration pamplonaise and Ribera. 42,3% of the population reside in cities of more than: 20000 inhabitants (Pampelune, Tudela, Barañáin), and 39,2% in communes of: 2000 with: 20000 inhabitants. The remainder being distributed in the villages with the population lower than: 2000 inhabitants.

Navarre does not owe its demographic vitality with its natural balance, but with the immigration, phenomenon tending to be accentuated in all the Spain. In 2006, the foreigners account for 9,1% of the Navarrese population thus. The rich Community and thrives, Navarre attracts the migrant, which are established in priority in the area of Ribera.

Economy

General tendencies

Navarre was traditionally perceived like a small agrarian area with the weak economic development, and this, in spite of the proximity of Basque industries.

Since the Program of industrial promotion launched by the administration forale in 1964, the area however experienced a spectacular development, confirmed by new reserved competences by the State at the time of the Spanish Transition (Constitution of 1978 and Statut of Autonomy of 1982). The Navarrese public authorities, benefitting from the excellent geographical position of Navarre (on the axes the Mediterranean-Atlantic and France-Spain) and of tax autonomy, knew to develop the infrastructures and to encourage the creation and the establishment of companies, in the fields of industry and the services in particular. The development of an excellent public service of education and research clearly contributed to reinforce this tendency.

The Navarrese population was until in the Sixties employee for half in the agricultural sector. This figure could be brought back around 6%, while the share of the industrial employment in the active population turns from now on around 32%. Unemployment rate is established there from now on to 5,7% of the active population, one of the figures low of all the European Union. Today, GDP per capita reached: 23156 euros (figures 2004), while growth rate is established to 3,4% annual. This growth is supported by a dynamic foreign trade.

Tendencies by sector

Agriculture

The agricultural activity remains established very well in Navarre. The Community forale indeed has a variety of climates and landscapes allowing a great diversity in the production. The northern - mountain and wet, marked by landscapes of forests and meadows - is very strongly turned towards the pastoralism. The bovine, but especially ovine breeding there is very developed, as well as the culture of corn. The productions of the central zone of Navarre are more directed towards the cereal, fodder and fruit-bearing cultures. The southern zone of Ribera has many wine, but such market-gardening surfaces.

Thanks to this diversity, the community knew to turn to an agriculture of quality of which it markets products famous and protected by a label of origin ( Denominación de Origen ):

Industry

Navarrese industry - characterized by many small and medium-size companies - is very definitely localized in two zones: the Valley of Èbre and the area of Pampelune. Made of many companies autochtones, local industry also counts on the presence of great national, European and international industry groups. Two activities arise by their importance: the car and capital equipment. Agribusiness industry also plays a big role in this unit. It is mainly thanks to the industrial sector that Navarre could make grow its standard of living, and industry continues to exert a considerable weight in the economy forale, by its capacity to be exported and its high added value due to a very high technological level.

The tertiary sector

One of twenty last years the significant facts was the rise to power of the service sector in the Navarrese economy. The sector at present represents more half of employment and GDP of the Community. Tourism (ways of St-Jacques, country holidays, festivals of San Fermín,…), the services with the companies, the real estate in particular contribute to the vitality of the sector.

History

Political organization and administrative

The current juridico-administrative organization of Navarre is directly resulting from the Spanish Democratic transition having followed death from Free. During the years 1975 to 1982 the two texts are adopted which govern the operation of the Community today: the Spanish Constitution of 1978 and the statute of autonomy of 1982.

Short Spanish history of Navarre

In 1512, Ferdinand d' Aragon, ensuring the regency of Castille according to the wishes of his Isabelle wife, deceased in 1504, advances obscure family ties to seize more or less legally the kingdom of Navarre, to the great displeasure of the Gascon family of Albret, legitimate holder of the throne. The intervention of François Ier de France makes it possible to maintain the Lowone (jurisdiction of St-Jean-Pied-de-Port) in the inheritance of Albret, and thus in French mobility. At all events Navarre is found definitively separate in two entities, in spite of the attempts at François Ier to take again peninsular Navarre.

The High Navarre (or peninsular Navarre, the current community forale) is integrated into the Crown of Castille, while preserving its statute of kingdom, and, so very an high degree of autonomy with respect to the central capacity. This autonomy will be called into question first once with the arrival on the throne of Spain of the Bourbon, which, unloaded very centralizing kingdom of France, tries to apply in a minimal way the French model in Spain. November 30th, 1833, the liberal mode in place carries out the cutting of Spain in 48 provinces, on the model of the French departments. Navarre loses its statute of kingdom, and is made up in province, with for Pampelune capital. A law of 1839 however comes to confirm its fors, which will be abolished in 1876-77, marking the end of the centralizing process. Navarre, den of carlists and phalangists, will see themselves however rewarded by the General Free for his support at the time of the Civil war of 1936-1939. The dictator grants to him a re-establishment - certainly limited - of his mode foral.

Constitution of the Community forale

During the Democratic transition, Navarre is only constituted in autonomous community, refusing to join the three close Basque provinces, which wish to form with it only one and even community. Nevertheless, a transitional provision of the Spanish Constitution provides that, in the future, this bringing together could be done in the event of mutual understanding and of agreement. Based on the old right foral inherited the Middle Ages, the statute of autonomy of Navarre (called Ley de Reintegración there Amejoramiento del Régimen Foral de Navarra , of August 10th, 1982) devotes this one in the Community forale (it is only Spanish autonomy not to be entitled autonomous Communauté), having for Pampelune capital.

Administrative cutting

Communuaté forale of Navarre is composed of 232 common, divided into:

5 Merindades
19 Comarques
5 legal Districts (partidos judiciales)
3 linguistic zones

Institutions

Equipped with particular statuses, Navarre does not profit from all the competences granted to the nationalities recognized like histories ( nacionalidades históricas ), i.e. the communities equipped with an identity collective, linguistic and cultural different from the remainder of Spain and having asserted their specificity and their right to autonomy within the country before the II° République (it is of Catalonia, Galicia, the Pays Basque, and, of Andalusia, which is however not indicated like such in its statute of autonomy). Navarre however has a very high level of autonomy, thanks to its historical right foral. In addition to enjoying clean institutions like any Spanish community ( Gobierno Foral , Parlamento Foral ,…) and to exert the competences envisaged by the Constitution, Navarre has its own police force (the Policía Foral , which acts as collaboration with the Guardia Civil and the Policía Nacional ), of two official languages (the Castilian in all the community and the Basque in the northern half, according to rules fixed by the Ley Foral del Vascuence of 1986, Loi Forale of the Basque language), and especially, of exclusive capacities out of tax matter, privilege which it divides with the three Basque provinces. Whereas in all the Spanish autonomous communities, it is the Central state which calculates the amount of the tax and collects it for its account and that of the autonomous communities (to which the State transfers the corresponding share), in Navarre, this prerogative belongs to the Foral Government. This one has all capacities on the tax authorities, which are clean besides for him. According to a given precise operation in agreement with the State, the community takes and manages the fruit of the tax (except for the VAT and of the extra-community customs duties, charged by Madrid) then reverse a quota at the Central government of Madrid. This system is called Convenio Económico .

Linguistic abilities

The Community forale of Navarre has two official languages. The Castilian, is the language common to all Spain and must be known by all the citizens. The other, the Basque, is official only in the Basque autonomous Community and in Navarre. A law (the Ley Foral del Vascuence , of 1986) ensures its defense and determines three zones, for all that statutes different from the Basque language, and of its use in the public life. Navarre is linguistically divided into 3 zones where out of 272 communes, 61 communes are in the zone bascophone , where the Castilian and the Basque have a statute of Co-officiality, 50 communes in the mixed zone where bilingual services are envisaged for the bascophones, and 161 communes in the Spanish-speaking zone where only the Castilian is official language.

See too

List of comarques of Navarre
Merindades of the Low-Navarre Community Forale de Navarre
Kingdom of Navarre

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