Geography of Bilbao
Bilbao, Spain, a city and the capital of Vizcaya, one of the four Basque provinces. It is on the Nervión estuary, about seven miles (11 km) from the Bay of Biscay and 200 miles (320 km) north of Madrid. Bilbao is the center of one of the largest industrial areas in Spain and is a major producer of iron and steel, ships, and chemicals. It is also a major seaport.
Bilbao was founded about 1300. Until industrialization began in the 19th century, its principal economic activity was exporting wool. Bilbao was the capital of an autonomous Basque republic for a brief period during the Spanish Civil War.
Population: 368,710.