A view on the Atlantic Ocean, from Galicia in north-west Spain. This region was successively inhabited by Celts, Romans, Sueben and Vandals. Its capital is the famous pilgrimage site of Santiago de Compostela. The feudal system and the ecclesiastical hierarchy caused Galicia to fall further and further behind in economic terms, compared to the other Spanish provinces. As an example of this backlog, villages are mentioned that were deprived of electricity, even though the power plant stood next to the village for 20 years. The coast is of great beauty, but it can be rough at times. In 2002, Galician beaches were polluted by the oil tanker 'Prestige'. There was a lot of criticism on the Spanish authorities, who towed the ship to open sea, causing the pollution to spread even more. For the population, depending for a large part on fishing, the Prestige was a great disaster. Fishing boats from Galicia fish the entire Atlantic Ocean. The cultivation of mussels and other shellfish is also important. In recent years, the production of algae also plays an increasingly important role.