BARACALDO

also spelled Barakaldo, industrial municipality, northern Biscay (Vizcaya) provincia, in the autonomous Basque Country, northeastern Spain. It lies on the south bank of the Nervin River. Baracaldo consists of the Bilbao suburbs of El Regato, San Vicente de Baracaldo, Iruregui, and Alonstegui. It is the terminus of a mining railway; the locality's primary economic activities include iron refining and the manufacture of steel tubing, machinery, and shipbuilding equipment. With Sestao (northeast), Baracaldo is the leading iron and steel centre of Spain. Pop. (1981) 117,422; (1991 prelim.) 104,883.