Santander

Santander, city (1990 pop. 194,221), capital of Cantabria prov., N Spain, in Cantabria, on the Bay of Biscay. It is a seaport, fishing center, and a popular resort. On the nearby peninsula of Magdalena is a former royal summer palace. An ancient port, Santander became, after the discovery of America, one of the busiest harbors of N Spain. The exploitation of nearby mines has favored the development of industries (ironworks and shipyards). The 13th-century cathedral and the business district were destroyed by fire in 1941, but have been restored. There is an international summer university named for the writer Marcelino Menéndez y Pelayo. It is the site of the Univ. of Santander (1972).

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Santander

Port city (pop., 2001: 180,717), capital of the autonomous community (comunidad autónoma) of Cantabria, northern Spain. A major seaport and summer resort, it is situated on the southern shore of Cape Mayor, a rocky peninsula extending east and sheltering Santander Bay, an inlet of the Bay of Biscay. The city was rebuilt after a disastrous fire in 1941. In addition to tourism, the economy is based on fishing, iron refining, and shipbuilding. The caves of Altamira and Castillo are nearby.

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Santander

a port and resort in N Spain, on an inlet of the Bay of Biscay: noted for its prehistoric collection from nearby caves; shipyards and an oil refinery. Pop.: 184 778 (2003 est.)

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Santander 

a department in eastern Colombia, on the right bank of the Magdalena River and the western slopes of the Cordillera Oriental. Area, 30,900 sq km. Population, 1,157,000 (1971). The capital is Bucaramanga.

Santander’s economy is based on agriculture. Livestock is raised on pasturelands; coffee, cacao, sugarcane and other tropical crops are grown in the foothills. Industry includes the extraction and refining of oil and the production of food and textiles. There is trade across the border with Venezuela.

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Santander 

a city and port in northern Spain, in Old Castile; situated on the Bay of Biscay. Capital of Santander Province. Population, 149,700(1970).

Santander is an important industrial and commercial center. Industry includes metallurgy, metalworking, machine building (including shipbuilding), oil refining, and the production of chemicals, including plastics. There are also enterprises for the production of textiles and paper and the processing of food, including fish. The city has a university (founded 1892). Santander is a seaside resort.