, formed in
1833 of districts formerly included in Valencia, and bounded on the N.
by Teruel and Tarragona, E. by the Mediterranean Sea, S. by Valencia,
and W. by Teruel. Pop. (1900) 310,828; area, 2495 sq. m. The surface of
the province is almost everywhere mountainous, and flat only near the
coast and along some of the river valleys. Even on the coast the
Atalayas de Alcala and the Desierto de las Palmas form two well-defined
though not lofty ridges. The Mijares or Millares is the principal river,
flowing east-south-east from the highlands of Teruel, between the
Sierras of Espina and Espadan towards the south, and the peak called
Pena Golosa (5945 ft.) towards the north, until it reaches the sea a
little south of the capital, also called Castellon de la Plana. The
Monlleo, a left-hand tributary of the Mijares; the Bergantes, which
flows inland to join the Guadalope in Teruel; the Cenia, which divides
Castellon from Tarragona; and a variety of lesser streams, render the
province abundantly fertile. No considerable inlet breaks the regularity
of the coast-line, and there is no first-class harbour. The climate is
cold and variable in the hilly districts, temperate in winter and very
warm in summer in the lowlands. Agriculture, fruit-growing, and
especially the cultivation of the vine and olive, employ the majority of
the peasantry; stock-farming and sea-fishing are also of importance.
Lead, zinc, iron and other ores have been discovered in the province;
but in 1903, out of 129 mining concessions registered, only two were
worked, and their output, lead and zinc, was quite insignificant. The
local industries are mainly connected with fish-curing, paper,
porcelain, woollens, cotton, silk, esparto, brandy and oils. Wine,
oranges and oil are exported to foreign countries and other parts of
Spain. The important Barcelona-Valencia railway skirts the coast,
passing through the capital; and the Calatayud-Sagunto line crosses the
southern extremity of the province. Elsewhere the roads, which are
generally indifferent, form the sole means of communication. Castellon
(29,904), Villarreal (16,068), the port of Burriana (12,962), and
Peniscola (3142), a town of some historical interest, are described in
separate articles. The other chief towns are Alcala de Chisbert (6293),
Almazora (7076), Benicarlo (7251), Maella (7335), Onda (6595), Segorbe
(7045), Vail de Uxo (8643), Villafames (6708) and Vinaroz (8625).

CASTELLON DE LA PLA