Zaragoza, also called Saragossa in English, is the capital city of the autonomous region and former Kingdom of Aragon in Spain. It is situated on the river Ebro and its tributaries, the Huerva and Gállego, near the centre of the region, in a valley with a variety of landscapes, ranging from desert (Los Monegros) to thick forest, meadows and mountains. According to 2006 data from the Zaragoza council , the population of the city of Zaragoza was 660,895, ranking fifth in Spain. The population of the metropolitan area was estimated in 2006 at 702,662 inhabitants. The municipality is home to more than 50% of the Aragon population. The city lies at an altitude of 199 metres above sea level, and constitutes a crossroads between Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia and Bilbao—all of which are located about 300 kilometres (200 miles) from Zaragoza.