Geography of Spain

Spain is the 2rd largest country in Western Europe after France, is located in southwestern Europe and comprises about 85% of the Iberian Peninsula. Its national capital is Madrid.

The Straits of Gibraltar, at its narrowest extent, separate Spain and Morocco by only 8.1 mi.

Spain is comprised of 17 autonomous communities which are divided into 50 provinces. These provinces are further subdivided into 8,112 municipalities

Its total area is 194,897 sq mi of which 192,874 sq mi (98.96%) is land and 2,023 sq mi (1.04%) is water. Spain’s Total Coastline: 3,084.49 miles. The Atlantic coast is 441 miles long. Total land border is 1,191.7 mi.

Spanish territory also includes the Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean, the Canary Islands in the Atlantic Ocean off the African coast, and two autonomous cities in North Africa (Ceuta and Melilla), that border Morocco. Furthermore, the town of Llivia is a Spanish exclave situated inside French territory.

SPAIN

The most important topographical feature of Spain is the great, almost treeless, central plateau, called the Meseta Central, sloping generally downwards from north to south and from east to west, and with an average elevation of about 2,000 ft above sea level.

The tableland is divided into northern and southern sections by irregular mountain ranges (sierras).

Between many of the mountains are narrow valleys, drained by rapid rivers. The country is drained by an estimated 1,500 rivers (mostly small). The longest and most important rivers include the Douro (Duero), Ebro, Jucar, Tagus (Tejo), Guadiana and Guadalquivir

The coastal plain is narrow, rarely as much as 20 miles wide and, in many areas, broken by mountains that descend to the sea to form rocky headlands, particularly along the Mediterranean coast. These deeply indented coastal areas include countless bays and coves, and most have sandy beaches. In the far northwest, along the Bay of Biscay, rugged cliffs front the coastline.

Mainland Spain's highest point (Mulhacen at 11,461 feet) stands in the Sierra Nevada.

Topography of Spain

Minerals of Spain

Natural Resources of Spain

Land use: Ariable Land: 30% Permanent Crops: 9% Permanent Pastures: 21% Forests and Woodland: 32% Other: 8%

Spain FaunaThe Spanish fauna includes the wolf, lynx, wildcat, fox, wild boar, wild goat, deer, and hare. Among the more famous domesticated animals are the bulls for bullfighting. Birdlife is abundant, with varieties of birds of prey. Insect life abounds. Mountain streams and lakes team with fish such as barbel, tench, & trout.

Land Utilization in Spain

Climate of Spain Due to both its geographical situation which exposes only its northern part to the Jet Stream’s typical path and its orographic conditions, Spain experiences diverse and extreme temperatures with generally low rainfall (less than 24” except for in the north).

Oceanic Climate• Mild winters / warm

summers• Abundant rainfall

Continental• Wide variations in temperature• Low precipitations

Mediterranean• Rainfall in autumn and spring• Warm winters / Hot summers

Semi-Arid• Extremely hot summers• Very dry

Mountain• The climate becomes colder at

high elevations.• The main form of precipitation

is often snow, often with stronger winds.