The Basque Country

The Basque Country (a brief introduction) Also known as: Euskal Herria (in Basque), País Vasco (in Spanish) or Pays basque (in French) Official languages: Basque, Spanish, French (English comes 4th, if at all) Located: at the western end of the Pyrenees, around a bend in the Bay of Biscay Not a country: more a region inhabited by the Basque people Within: mostly Spain but partly France Definitely contains: the three provinces of Álava, Bizkaia and Gipuzkoa in Spain Also definitely contains: the three provinces of Labourd, Lower Navarre and Soule in France Arguably contains: Chartered Community of Navarre (in Spain) Population: 3 million approx (i.e. the size of Wales) Area: 8000 square miles (i.e. the size of Wales) Largest cities: 1) Bilbao (350,000), 2) Vitoria-Gasteiz (250,000), 3) Pamplona (200,000), 4) San Sebastián (190,000) Internet domain: .eus Basque Scrabble tiles: [1 A E O T N I U] [2 K R] [3 D] [4 B Z] [5 G H L S] [8 J M P RR TS TX TZ] [10 F X] 30 photos on Flickr: (so far)