Capital: Santander.
Area: 5,300 km²

Cantabria lies on the north coast of Spain. It boasts beautiful beaches, lush river valleys and green mountains. Santander, the capital city, has both a ferry port and an airport.

The highest peaks are to be found in the Picos de Europa mountain range which is shared between Cantabria, Castila-Leon and Asturias. The Peña Vieja summit at 2,613 m is the highest point within Cantabria. The Pico de Tres Mares is well known as three different rivers begin here, the Duero ending in the Atlantic Ocean, the Nansa finishing in the Cantabrian sea and the Ebro leading to the Mediterranean Sea.

The Altamira cave is 270 metres (890 feet) long, discovered by a hunter in 1868 it is famous for its magnificent prehistoric paintings and engravings. It can be found around 30 kilometres (19 miles) west of Santander.