Costa del Sol Towns
Estepona is a municipality in the province
of Malaga, in the autonomous community
of Andalusia, Spain. It is situated on the Costa del Sol and is a popular tourist destination,
especially during the summer, for its Mediterranean climate and its 21 km of
beaches.
Estepona is also known for its fishing and farming. Its
registered population is around 60,000, with continued growth, which is
remarkable for its multicultural composition. It is integrated into the
Association of Municipalities of the Costa del Sol.
Geography
Estepona is bordered on the north by Jubrique and Juzcar, on
the northeast by Benahavis, on the east by Marbella,
and on the south and southwest by the Mediterranean Sea.
Estepona extends over a fertile valley, 23 km of
coastline, is over 130 km˛ in area, with small streams and rivers, in a
Mediterranean ecosystem. The climate is mild throughout the year, showing the
proximity of the Strait of Gibraltar (which gives this town a distinctive
individuality, while off the coast of Costa del Sol and bordering Cadiz).
The rate of rainfall is higher than the national average,
with high winds. These winds also determine the conditions and temperatures of
the water: The water can be warm or very cold coming from the Strait, depending
on the wind.
Some highlights of Estepona are the beaches (La Rada and Cristo Beach),
Golden Bay,
the galley, the Kempiski, and the Beaver River.
The Sierra
Bermeja Mountains
are north of Estepona, with a maximum height of 1449 m. The Pinsapo species can
be found in the Sierra
Bermeja Mountains.
It has a Mediterranean climate with average annual data:
17° C temperature during the summer and can reach up to 41°
or 42° in the winter and seldom fall below 10°.
Rainfall: 900L/m˛
Hours of sunshine per year: 2850 h/year
Demographics
2007 Census: 65,358 inhabitants
Male: 25,132
Female: 25,356
Increased relative to the population: 23
Children under 20 years: 24%
Between 20 and 65 years: 63%
Over 65 years: 13%
Its population in the 2005 census was 54,709 inhabitants and
is still growing, although it seems that many of the residents live in
Esteponaonly during the summer.
Estepona also has one of the highest percentages of foreign
population in Andalusia. Out of 60,000 people
surveyed in 2006, 14,600 are of foreign origin, distributed mainly in three
major groups:
4000 people from the U.K.
1600 people from Morocco
Over a thousand from Argentina
Based on the total of the new population, there are many
residents who are multicultural; there are people registered from 103 countries
on five continents.
Estepona’s official seal was awarded in 1729 and is in
the form of a shield under a crown, with a blue sky background, a tower, a
rock, a banner, and a mountain.
