Arabic Wādī al-Kabīr ancient Baetis
River, southern Spain.
Rising in the mountains of Jaén province, it flows west 408 mi (657 km) to empty into the Gulf of Cádiz. Spain's second longest river, its natural environment is one of the most varied in Europe, containing representatives of half of the continent's plant species and nearly all those of the North African region. Its fauna also includes a great variety of European and North African species.