Laredo, Spain facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Laredo
|
|||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Municipality and town
|
|||
Panoramic view of Laredo center
|
|||
|
|||
 Laredo
Location in Cantabria
Laredo
Location in Spain
|
|||
| Country | Spain | ||
| Autonomous community | Cantabria | ||
| Province | Cantabria | ||
| Comarca | Eastern coast of Cantabria | ||
| Judicial district | Laredo | ||
| Settled | 757 | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 15.71 km2 (6.07 sq mi) | ||
| Elevation | 5 m (16 ft) | ||
| Population
(2018)
|
|||
| • Total | 11,148 | ||
| • Density | 709.61/km2 (1,837.9/sq mi) | ||
| Demonym(s) | Laredano/a, pejino/a | ||
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) | ||
| Postal code |
39770
|
||
| Dialing code | 942 | ||
.svg)
.svg)
Laredo is a town in Cantabria, a region in northern Spain. In 2018, about 11,148 people lived there. The town is part of a larger area called a municipality. This area includes small villages like La Arenosa and Tarrueza. Most of these villages have grown into Laredo itself.
Laredo is located between the cities of Santander and Bilbao. It is famous for its long beach, called "La Salvé," which is about 5 kilometers (3 miles) long. The town also has an old historic area that dates back to Roman times.
One of Laredo's most well-known events is the Batalla de Flores (Battle of the Flowers). This festival happens every year on the last Friday of August. During the festival, large parade floats covered entirely with real flowers are shown off in the streets.
Another special tradition in Laredo is the Entierro de la Sardina (Burial of the Sardine). This happens at the end of carnival. A group of men parade a giant sardine through the town. After this, the sardine is burned on the beach, followed by a fireworks show.
Laredo also gave its name to two cities in North America: Laredo in the United States and Nuevo Laredo in Mexico. These cities are located right on the border between the two countries.
Contents
Laredo's Economy and Jobs
Laredo's economy mainly relies on fishing, tourism, and services. It is a popular vacation spot along the coast of Cantabria. Many local businesses process fish, especially anchovies. There are also many small family-run businesses.
More than half of the people in Laredo work in the service industry. This includes jobs in hotels, restaurants, and shops. The town also has a hospital, Laredo Regional Hospital, which serves the people living in the surrounding area.
Getting Around Laredo
Laredo is well-connected to other major cities in Spain. You can take a bus to Bilbao, which is about an hour away to the east. Santander is about 40 minutes away to the west. A bus trip to Madrid, the capital of Spain, takes about 5 hours.
Famous People from Laredo
- Bernardino de Escalante (1537-c. 1605), a writer from the 1500s.
- José Emilio Amavisca (born 1971), a retired professional football player.
- Ignacio Rodríguez Ortiz (born 1982), another professional football player.
Laredo's Sister Cities
Laredo has special connections with other cities around the world. These are called "sister cities" or "twin towns."
Cenon, France (since 1988)
Dakhla, Sahrawi Republic (since 2011)
Laredo, United States
Nuevo Laredo, Mexico
Images for kids
-
"El Canto", old port of Laredo (1883-2006)
-
Works on the new port of Laredo, May 2009
-
Medieval walls (13th century) at the "Puebla Vieja" of Laredo
-
"Santa María de la Asunción" church (13th century-17th century) at the "Puebla Vieja" of Laredo
-
"Santa María de la Asunción" interior
-
"San Martín y Santa Catalina" church (13th century)
-
Beach Volleyball Spanish Championship 2004 in "La Salvé" beach, Laredo
-
"El Regatón" beach
-
Old town hall (1561-2008)
-
New town hall
-
Former Dr. Velasco school, now a cultural center, also used for summer cinema and University of Cantabria courses
-
The Battle of Flowers festival
-
3 Laredos Park
-
Laredo's "El Ensanche" and "La Salvé" beach in the 1950s
See also
In Spanish: Laredo (Cantabria) para niños
