Features of the relief of Spain and minerals. Climate and relief of spain

Geographical position, territory and borders of Spain

Spain is a southern European country. It occupies five-sixths of the Iberian Peninsula, the Balearic and Pitius Islands in the Mediterranean Sea, and the Canary Islands in the Atlantic Ocean. The area of ​​the country is 504.8 thousand square kilometers. The Pyrenees mountains are inaccessible and isolate Spain from other European countries, except for Portugal, which occupies the western part of the peninsula. (Yu.N. Gladkiy, 2008).

Spain is washed by the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. The length of its borders is 3144 km. By land, Spain is bordered by Portugal to the west, France (along the ridge of the Pyrenees) and the tiny state of Andorra to the northeast, and Gibraltar to the south. The maximum length of the country from west to east is about 1000 km, from north to south - 840 km. (Yu.N. Gadkiy, 2008).

Spain (after Switzerland) is the highest country in Europe, mountains and plateaus make up 90% of its territory. The Meseta Plateau (which means "table" in Spanish) occupies almost half of the country. In the western part of Meseta there are many tectonic faults and river valleys, in the east it is smoother. The Central Cordillera divide Meseta into northern (Starokastilskiy plateau) and southern (Novokastilskiy plateau). Most of Meseta is flat and waterless, with so little rainfall in Almeria that it can be called the only true European desert. However, lush oases are also found here. (Yu.N. Gladkiy, 2008).

To the north of Meseta, along the coast of the Bay of Biscay, stretch the Cantabrian Mountains with the Picos de Europa (Peaks of Europe) massif in the center. The Cantabrian mountains are a continuation of the most powerful and inaccessible mountain system of Spain - the Pyrenees (several parallel ridges stretching for 450 km from west to east). The average height of the Pyrenees is about 2500 m. The highest peak is Aneto peak - 3404 m. The Spanish southern slope of the Pyrenees is a major international center for mountain tourism.

From the north-east of Meseta stretch the Iberian mountains up to 250 km wide and up to 2313 m high (Moncayo peak). It is in the Iberian mountains that the largest rivers of Spain - Duero and Tagus - originate. Between the Eastern Pyrenees and the Iberian Mountains, the low Catalan Mountains stretch to the Mediterranean coast. (R. Altamira-i-Crevea, 1951)

In the southeast of the country lies the system of massifs and ranges of the Cordillera Betica with the Sierra Nevada mountains in the center. Mount Mulasen (3478 m) is the highest point in Spain. (R. Altamira-i-Krevea, 1951).

The remaining 10% is occupied by the Andalusian Plain between the Sierra Morrena and the Cordillera Betica (along which the Guadalquivir River flows), the Aragonese Plain in the Ebro Valley in the northeast, and shallower lowlands along the Mediterranean Sea. (R. Altamira-i-Krevea, 1951).

The largest rivers in Spain: Ebro (928 km), Tajo (910 km), Guadiana (820 km), Duero (Douro in Portugal) (770 km), Guadalquivir (560 km).

The coast of Spain is very diverse: here you can find dunes, cliffs, and long beaches, sandy or covered with pebbles. Part of Galicia's coastline resembles Norwegian fiords, while the north Atlantic coast is replete with limestone headlands and tiny caves. On the Mediterranean coast, despite the huge number of hotels and cultural beaches, there are deserted lagoons and swamps, the most famous of which is Coto Donana. (R. Altamira-i-Krevea, 1951).

The cultivation of the land was carried out, and in some places is still carried out, using traditional methods, therefore, unlike other European countries, in Spain in many places nature has been preserved in its original form. (R. Altamira-i-Krevea, 1951).

Surface relief

More than 65% of the territory of Spain is located above 500 m (including more than 25% - above 1000 m). The largest discharge is 3478 liters (Mulasen town in the Sierra Nevada ridge). The general plan of the structure of the surface corresponds to the main tectonic structures: the northwestern, western and central parts of the country are occupied by plateaus and medium-altitude ridges and plateaus formed on the site of the Epigercyn platform; the northern, eastern and southern margins are represented by folded mountains and accumulative plains of foothill troughs. Highlands and plateaus (the main one is Meseta) are widespread. 800-1000 m to the northwest. (in Old Castile) and 500-600 m in the south-east. (in New Castile), above the surfaces of which the island mountain ranges of outlier or block origin rise. Between the plateaus of Old and New Castile from the southwest. to S.-V. stretches a system of en-echelon folded-block and block flat-topped steep slopes of the Central Cordillera. On the northwest. the country is the Galician massif and the León mountains, strongly dissected by faults with deep river valleys embedded in them. The Cantabrian Mountains stretch along the Bay of Biscay, turning in the East into a powerful system of weakly dissected Pyrenees Mountains (height up to 3404 m, Aneto Peak) with mountain-glacial relief. From the South, the Pyrenees are bounded by the narrow Aragonese plain with the r. Ebro, south of which are the Iberian Mountains. On S.-V. country, between the Pyrenees and the lower river. Ebro, stretches the Catalan Mountains, strongly dissected by river valleys. South and Y.-V. occupied by the Andalusian mountains with a number of ridges, between which are located numerous inside mountain basins. Y.-Z. the country is occupied by the alluvial Andalusian lowland, the most extensive in Spain, with a hilly relief in the northern and eastern parts near the mountains and slightly dissected near the Gulf of Cadiz. (S. L. Kravts, 1950).

Geological structure, formation of modern relief and minerals

The main place in the geological structure of Spain is occupied by the Proterozoic and Paleozoic folded complexes of the Iberian Meseta, overlain in the East by the Meso-Cenozoic platform cover. In the North, the Iberian Meseta is framed by the southern edge of the Pyrenees, in the South of the Andalusian Mountains (Beta Cordillera). In the Iberian Messet, there are 3 tectonic zones. The northern one, covering the Cantabrian and Iberian mountains, arose on the site of a geosynclinal trough filled with thick terrigenous sediments of the Early Paleozoic, carbonate-terrigenous sediments of the Middle Paleozoic and (in the Asturian Basin) a parallel coal-bearing strata of the Carboniferous. The main folding refers to the end of the Carboniferous (Asturian phase). The center, a zone stretching through Galicia and Castile, corresponds to an ancient geo-anticlinal uplift penetrated by granites; the Cambrian (Sardinian) folding was of great importance here. The southern (geosynclinal) zone (Sierra Morena) is composed mainly of products of basic underwater volcanism and graywackes; she experienced folding in the mid Devonian. The Meso-Cenozoic platform cover is formed by carbonate sediments; in the river basin Ebro, flysch and molasse strata appear in it, which underwent intense folding in the Oligocene (in the Pyrenean phase). The Beta Cordillera consists of a series of tectonic sheets displaced northward. The inner covers are composed of metamorphic Paleozoic, the outer ones are carbonate and detrital rocks of the Mesozoic, Paleogene and Lower Miocene. (L. E. Rodin, 1988).

Of the minerals, significant are ore deposits associated with Paleozoic complexes and granites (in the north and south of Spain). The most remarkable is the southern ore belt, confined to the Middle Paleozoic effusive-terrigenous strata and the Hercynian granites of the Sierra Morena and Huelva. It includes pyrite deposits of copper, hydrothermal deposits of mercury, lead and zinc ores. Large deposits of iron ore in Galicia, Asturias, Leon, Vizcaya, Santander, Granada; pyrites - in Huelva, Seville, smaller ones - in Murcia and Asturias; pyrites contain up to 10% copper. The richest reserves of mercury in the world are concentrated in Almadena (province of Ciudad Real). Deposits of lead-zinc ores are known in the provinces of Jaén (Linares, La Carolina) and Murcia (Cartagena, Mazarron), as well as in Santander (Rheosin and Reynosa), etc. Significant reserves of uranium ores, according to which Spain ranks 6th in capitalist world and 2nd place in Europe. The main uranium deposits are located in the provinces of Salamanca, Caceres, Badajoz, Jaén and Lleida. Tungsten and tin ores are found in Galicia and in the provinces of Salamanca and Cáceres. There are deposits of gold, silver, arsenic, manganese. Of the nonmetallic minerals in Spain, potassium salts (carnallite and sylvinite) are known, which occur in the valley of the river. Ebro, kaolin and apatite. Local energy resources consist mainly of coal reserves. Coal basins contain a small number of seams of low thickness with large slopes, highly dislocated, which complicates the mechanization of mining and makes it unprofitable. About 90% of coal production comes from the basins of Asturias, Leon and Palencia. (L. E. Rodin, 1988).

Climate

Spain is one of the warmest states in Western Europe. The average number of sunny days is 260-285. The average annual temperature on the Mediterranean coast is 20 degrees Celsius. In winter, temperatures drop below zero, usually only in the central and northern regions of the country. In summer, the temperature rises to 40 degrees and above (from the central part to the southern coast). On the northern coast, the temperature is not so high - about 25 degrees Celsius. Spain is characterized by very deep internal climatic differences, and it can only conditionally be entirely attributed to the Mediterranean climatic region. These differences are manifested both in temperature and in annual amounts and precipitation regime. (L. E. Rodin 1988).

In the extreme northwest, the climate is mild and humid with slight fluctuations in temperature throughout the year and a lot of precipitation. Constant winds from the Atlantic bring a lot of moisture, mainly in winter, when foggy and cloudy weather prevails with drizzling rains, almost without frost and snow. The average temperature of the coldest month is the same as in the northwest of France. Summers are hot and humid, the average temperature is rarely below 16 degrees Celsius. Annual precipitation exceeds 1070 mm, and in some places reaches 2000 mm. (L. E. Rodin, 1988).

Quite different conditions in the interior of the country - on the plateau of Old and New Castile and the Aragonese plain. These areas are affected by the influence of the plateau-basin relief, significant altitude and local continental air. They are characterized by a relatively low amount of precipitation (no more than 500 mm per year) and sharp temperature fluctuations over the seasons. Old Castile and the Aragonese plain have fairly cold winters with frost and strong, harsh winds; the summers are hot and rather dry, although the maximum precipitation occurs during this season of the year. New Castile has a slightly milder climate, with warmer winters but also low rainfall. Agriculture in all these areas requires artificial irrigation. (L. E. Rodin, 1988).

Water resources

The rivers of most of Spain are mainly fed by rain and sharp seasonal fluctuations in runoff during its winter-spring maximum and minimum in summer, when large rivers become very shallow, and many small ones dry up. Only in the north and north-west are rivers full-flowing throughout the year, with relatively uniform water discharge over the seasons. In the Pyrenees, the Andalusian mountains and partly in the Central Cordillera, the rivers are fed by rain with snow. The largest rivers in the Atlantic Ocean basin: Tahoe, Duero, Guadiana, Guadalquivir. The Mediterranean basin includes pp. Ebro, Hucar, Segura. Most of the large rivers cross sections with rapids, which, along with their summer dryness, impedes navigation. The rivers of northern Spain are used mainly for energy purposes, the rest are mainly used for arts, irrigation (regulating reservoirs have been created on many rivers). The lakes are small, located mainly in the mountains. (E.N. Gritsak, 2005).

Soil cover

The soil cover presents significant differences in wet and dry Spain. In the north of the country, there are two main types of soils - wet forest brown soils (close to Western European ones) and more or less peaty soils, turning into semi-boggy and boggy soils. Peaty soils are especially characteristic of the undulating granite plateaus of Galicia, where there are even large areas of peatlands, which are very rare in Spain.

For dry Spain, the most typical red earth soils developed on the sea coasts and hilly areas. Due to the dryness of the climate, they are usually thin, on rocky slopes they have a skeletal character. The most fertile are the alluvial soils of the coastal lowlands and river valleys. On calcareous rocks, chernozem-like humus-calcareous soils are observed. On a large part of Meseta and on the mountains, soils belonging to the dry varieties of forest brown soils are widespread. In the drier regions of Meseta and the Aragonese Plain, more or less saline low-humus soils are developed, partly of semi-desert thaw, with the appearance here also of individual spots of salt marshes. Low-fertile sandy, pebble and skeletal stony soils are quite widespread on Meset and the Iberian tori.

The position at the junction of Europe and Africa, the closed Mediterranean and the endless Atlantic left an indelible mark on the entire appearance of Spain. In this country, at the same time, you can admire the sandy beaches of the Mediterranean Sea - and the evergreen meadows on the Atlantic coast; the snow-covered peaks of the Sierra Nevada mountain range, the almost inaccessible mountains of the Pyrenees - and the fertile plains of Andalusia, that is, the landscape of one part of Spain is radically different from another. This is the unprecedented beauty and uniqueness of the nature of this region.

Differences in the landscapes of individual areas Iberian Peninsula due to the closedness of its inner parts, with a continental shade of climate, which creates different features of nature in comparison with coastal areas.

In addition, due to the significant height of the mountains and plateaus, the role of vertical climatic and landscape zoning is quite sharply manifested on the Iberian Peninsula.

But, despite these features and the originality of the Iberian Peninsula, by the nature of its nature, it is close to Southern Europe, belonging together with it to a single Mediterranean large geographical area, remarkable for the vivid expression of its typical landscapes.

The average height of the surface of Spain is 660 meters above sea level: the country is one of the most mountainous in Europe (after Switzerland). Most of the territory is occupied by a system of mountain ranges and high-mountain plateaus (90% of the territory!).

Almost half of the territory of Spain is occupied by the largest plateau in Europe, the Meseta.

Their further continuation is high and powerful. In fact, the Cantabrian Mountains are a tectonic continuation of the most powerful mountain system in Spain - the Pyrenees. The Pyrenees are several parallel ridges stretching from west to east for 450 kilometers.

The Pyrenees mountains separate Spain from France. More precisely, it is a mountain system that is located in Spain, France, and also in the Principality of Andorra. It stretches from the Bay of Biscay to the Mediterranean Sea. This is the most remote part of Europe. The Spanish southern slope of the Pyrenees is a major international center for mountain tourism.

The average height of the Pyrenees is not very high(about 2,500 meters), but they have only a few conveniently located passes. All the passes are at an altitude of 1,500-2,000 m. Therefore, only four railways go from Spain to France, two bypass the Pyrenees along the coast from the northwest and southeast, two more cross the Pyrenees in the Aerbe-Oloron-Saint- Marie and Ripoll Prades, through the tunnel system.

The main peak of the Pyrenees - Aneto peak – about 3 405 meters... The entire grandiose Iberian-Cantabrian mountain system is stretched out in a latitudinal direction.

The most inaccessible part of Europe - the Pyrenees

The next major system of Tertiary folded mountains is (Sistema Ibérico, or Celtiberian, also Hesperides) - located along the northeastern edge of Meseta. They stretch from the Cantabrian Mountains to the Mediterranean coast (north of Valencia).

The length of the mountains is from 450 to 500 km, the width is up to 250 km. The Iberian system is the largest mountain range in the country in terms of uplift area. It occupies over 40 thousand square meters. km.

Highest point - Mount Moncayo (2316 m).

Many large Spanish rivers originate in the Iberian mountains - Duero, Tahoe, right tributaries Ebro, Hucar, Guadalaviar (Turia).

Iberian mountains give rise to many rivers flowing in both Spain and Portugal

On the island part of Spain - in the Canary Islands - there is the Teide volcano

Lowlands

The remaining (from the mountains and plateaus) about 11% of the territory of Spain is occupied by plains and lowlands.

The largest lowland in Spain - Andalusian(Depresión Bética), with a length of about 300 km, is located in the south of Spain, at the southern edge of Meseta, in the place of a foothill trough. Originally it is a former sea bay filled with Cenozoic marine and river sediments. One of the main rivers of Spain, the Guadalquivir, flows through the lowland.

The Andalusian Lowland is an agricultural region where the world famous wines of Malaga, Jerez and Montilla Moriles are produced

Also on the Mediterranean coast there are narrow stripes, small in area, Murcia and Valencian lowlands - The Valencian Lowland lies at the southeastern edge of the Iberian Mountains system descending to the sea, and to the south, between the capes of Nao, Palos and Gata, wide open bays with a narrow strip of the Murcian Lowland (lying at the southeastern foot of the Beta Mountains) are cut into the coast.

In the north-east of Spain, in the valley of the Ebro River, there is a large Aragonese Plain... It is located at a slightly higher altitude than the lowlands.

The height of the plain is about 250 m, near the mountains - up to 500-700 m (located between the Iberian, Pyrenean and Catalan mountains). Length - 300 km, width - up to 120 km. The surface of the plain is hilly, it itself has a triangular shape and stretches, expanding, from the northwest to the southeast.

Rivers

One of the main rivers of Spain (the only navigable in the lower reaches) flows through the Andalusian lowland - (length 657 km). The river is polluted with sewage and is used for irrigation and power generation.

Navigable river Guadalquivir

The rest of the rivers are distinguished by sharp seasonal fluctuations in level and rapids. The longest river peninsula- Her total length - 1,038 km, in Spain its length 716 km, on the border of Spain and Portugal - 47 km.

The longest river in the Iberian Peninsula - Tahoe

Mila Baskova, specially for

With the capital in the city of Madrid. Spain occupies most of the Iberian Peninsula. According to one version, the name of the country comes from the Phoenician expression "i-shpanim" - "coast of rabbits". It occupies 4/5 of the territory of the Iberian Peninsula, the Canary and Balearic Islands with a total area of ​​504 782 km² (together with small sovereign territories on the African coast, the cities of Ceuta and Melilla), being the fourth largest country in Europe after Russia, Ukraine and France. The average height of the surface of Spain is 650 meters above sea level. The country is one of the most mountainous countries in Europe.

Physical and geographical characteristics

Relief

The relief of Spain is very diverse. The center of the country is located 300 kilometers from the sea. In the relief, the dominant role is played by systems of mountain ranges and high-altitude plateaus.

Highlands and mountains make up about 90 percent of its territory. Almost half of the country's surface is occupied by the vast, highest in Europe - with an average height of 660 meters - the Meset plateau. It is distinguished by the alternation of plateaus, folded-block ridges and mountain basins. The central Cordillera divides Meseta into two parts: north and south.

The Pyrenees are several parallel ridges stretching from west to east for 450 kilometers. This is one of the most remote mountainous countries in Europe. Although on average they are not very high (just over 2500 meters), they have only a few conveniently located passes. All the passes are at an altitude of 1500-2000 m.Therefore, only four railways go from Spain to France: two of them bypass the Pyrenees along the coast from the northwest and southeast, and two more railways cross the Pyrenees in the sections of Aerbe - Oloron- Sainte-Marie and Ripoll - Prades, through the tunnel system. The widest and highest part of the mountains is the central one. Here is their main peak - Aneto peak, reaching 3405 meters.

From the northeast, the system of the Iberian Mountains adjoins Meset, the maximum height (peak of Mon Cayo) is 2313 meters.

Between the eastern Pyrenees and the Iberian mountains, the low Catalan mountains stretch, the southern slopes of which drop off like ledges to the Mediterranean Sea. The Catalan mountains (average heights of 900-1200 meters, the peak is Mount Caro, 1447 meters) follow for 400 kilometers almost parallel to the Mediterranean coast and actually separate the Aragonese plateau from it. The coastal plains developed in Murcia, Valencia and Catalonia north of Cape Palos to the border with France are highly fertile.

The entire southeast of the Iberian Peninsula is occupied by the Cordillera Betica, which is a system of massifs and ridges. Its crystalline axis is the Sierra Nevada mountains. In height, they are second only to the Alps in Europe. Their peak, Mount Mulasen, reaching 3478 meters, is the highest point of peninsular Spain. However, the highest mountain peak in Spain is located on the island of Tenerife (Canary Islands) - this is the Teide volcano, whose height reaches 3718 meters.

Most of the territory of Spain is located at an altitude of about 700 meters above sea level. It is the second tallest country in Europe after Switzerland.

The only large lowland - Andalusian - is located in the south of the country. In the north-east of Spain in the valley of the river. Ebro stretches the Aragonese plain. Smaller lowlands stretch along the Mediterranean Sea. One of the main rivers of Spain (and the only navigable one in the lower reaches), the Guadalquivir, flows through the Andalusian lowland. The rest of the rivers, including the largest: Tajo and Duero, whose lower reaches are located on the territory of neighboring Portugal, Ebro, Guadiana, are distinguished by sharp seasonal fluctuations in level and rapids.

Large areas of the country suffer from a lack of water. Related to this is the problem of erosion - millions of tons of the topsoil are blown out annually.

Climate

Spain is one of the warmest states in Western Europe. The average number of sunny days is 260-285. The average annual temperature on the Mediterranean coast is 20 degrees Celsius. In winter, temperatures drop below zero, usually only in the central and northern regions of the country. In summer, the temperature rises to 40 degrees and above (from the central part to the southern coast). On the northern coast, the temperature is not so high - about 25 degrees Celsius.

Spain is characterized by very deep internal climatic differences, and it can only conditionally be entirely attributed to the Mediterranean climatic region. These differences are manifested both in temperature and in annual amounts and precipitation regime.

On extreme northwest the climate is mild and humid with slight fluctuations in temperature throughout the year and a lot of rainfall. Constant winds from the Atlantic bring a lot of moisture, mainly in winter, when foggy and cloudy weather prevails with drizzling rains, almost without frost and snow. The average temperature of the coldest month is the same as in the northwest of France. Summers are hot and humid, the average temperature is rarely below 16 degrees Celsius. Annual precipitation exceeds 1070 mm, and in some places reaches 2000 mm.

Completely different conditions in internal parts countries - on the plateau of Old and New Castile and the Aragonese plain. These areas are affected by the influence of the plateau-basin relief, significant altitude and local continental air. They are characterized by a relatively low amount of precipitation (no more than 500 mm per year) and sharp temperature fluctuations over the seasons. Old Castile and the Aragonese plain have fairly cold winters with frost and strong, harsh winds; the summers are hot and rather dry, although the maximum precipitation occurs during this season of the year. New Castile has a slightly milder climate, with warmer winters but also low rainfall. Agriculture in all these areas requires artificial irrigation.

The soil

In the north-west of Spain, on the coastal plains and the windward slopes of the mountains, brown forest soil is developed. The interior regions of the country - Old and New Castile, the Iberian mountains and the Aragonese plateau - are characterized by brown soil; in the driest, treeless areas, there is a thin calcareous gray-brown soil with areas of solonchaks in relief depressions. In the arid landscapes of Murcia, gray soils are developed. They are not gypsum-bearing and not saline; when irrigated, they give high yields of fruit and other crops. The heavy clay soil of barros stands out on flat ancient alluvial plains, which is especially favorable for rice cultivation.

Flora and fauna

The variety of climatic conditions - from humid in the north to arid in the south - determines the heterogeneity of flora and vegetation in Spain. In the north, there are features of similarity with Central Europe, and in the south with Africa. Traces of forest vegetation in Murcia, La Mancha and Granada indicate that in the past a significant part of the territory of Spain was forested, but now forests and light forests occupy only 30% of the country's area, with only 5% being full-fledged closed stands.

Evergreen oak forests grow in the northwest of the country. Mountain forests have more deciduous oak species, along with beech, ash, birch and chestnut trees, which are typical of Central Europe. In the interior regions of Spain, small tracts of dry evergreen forests with a predominance of oak, interspersed with pine forests and shrubs, have been preserved in places. In the driest areas of New Castile, the Aragonese plateau and Murcia, there are fragments of semi-deserts (usually on salt marshes).

In areas of southern Spain with more rainfall, especially along the coast, there are typical Mediterranean dwarf shrub-herb communities such as garriga and tomillara. Garriga is characterized by the participation of local species of gorse and cornflowers, while tomillara is characterized by the presence of aromatic labiates (shrub species of thyme, rosemary, etc.), as well as cistus. A special variety of garriga are scattered thickets of the dwarf fan palm, which is very characteristic of Andalusia, as well as communities with a predominance of tall grass alpha, or esparto, a hardy xerophyte that gives strong fiber.

In the fauna of Spain, Central European and African ties are evident. Among the European species, two varieties of the brown bear deserve mention (large Asturian and smaller, black, found in the Pyrenees), lynx, wolf, fox, forest cat. There are deer, hares, squirrels and moles. The burial eagle is found in Spain and North Africa, and the blue magpie found in the Iberian Peninsula is also found in East Asia. On both sides of the Strait of Gibraltar, there are genetas, Egyptian mongooses and one species of chameleons.

Minerals

Minerals of Spain: The mineral resources of Spain abound in minerals. Especially significant are the reserves of metal ores, the deposits of which are associated with the outcrops of the folded base of Meseta or with the volcanic rocks of mountain structures. On the northwestern outskirts of Meseta, within the Gallic massif, in the Caledonian and Proterozoic granite intrusions, there are tin, tungsten and uranium ores. A strip of lead-zinc-silver deposits stretches along the southern outskirts of Meseta. There is also a large mercury deposit of world importance - Almaden. Iron ores are found in the north and south of Spain. They are confined to the structures of the Mesozoic and Alpine magmatic cycles. These are the well-known deposits of the Bilbao region on the northern slope of the Biscay Mountains and in Almeria on the southern slope of the Cordillera Beta. In the north, in the Carboniferous deposits that fill the foothill depression of the Asturian Mountains, there is the country's largest coal basin. In addition, there are small deposits of coal on the southern slope of the mountains and in some other areas. In the Cenozoic sediments of intermontane and intramontane depressions, strata of salts and brown coal occur. Significant reserves of potash salts are located within the Ebro Plain.

It should be noted, however, that most of the mineral deposits in the country are of very modest size and are quite exhausted, like many deposits in other European regions, which makes Spain dependent on imports of minerals, mainly from North Africa.

Economy

Airports in Spain are subordinate to the public organization Spanish Airports and Air Navigation (Aeropuertos Españoles y Navegación Aérea (Aena)), which in turn is subordinate to the Ministry of Development (Ministerio de Fomento de España). According to the 2006 Act on Autonomy of Catalonia, three Catalan airports have been transferred to the Generalitat of Catalonia, which runs them jointly with the public organization Aerocat. Madrid Airport (Barajas) with a passenger traffic of 50.8 million in 2008 is one of the busiest airports in the world. Barcelona Airport (El Prat) handled 30 million passengers in 2008. Less busy airports are in Gran Canaria, Malaga, Valencia, Seville, Mallorca, Alicante and Bilbao.

The Spanish airlines are: Air Europa, Air Nostrum, Air Pullmantur, Binter Canarias, Iberia LAE, Iberworld, Islas Airways, Spanair, Vueling Airlines.

Spain aims to have a million electric vehicles by 2014 as part of the government's plan to save energy and improve the environment.

Light industry

Food industry

In the food industry, winemaking stands out (in the production of grape wines, Spain is second only to France and Italy in Europe), the production of vegetable oil (1.7 million tons in 1996; Spain is the world leader in the production of olive oil (about 0.5 million tons per year). ), fruit and vegetable and canned fish. Spain is among the top ten world manufacturers of cars, ships, forging equipment and gas compressors, machine tools, oil products and chemical products. Half of industrial production is concentrated in the north-east (Catalonia), north of the country (Asturias, Cantabria, Basque Country) and in Greater Madrid.

Agriculture

The leading branch of agriculture is crop production (gives over 1/2 of the cost of production). They grow wheat (about 20% of the cultivated area), barley, corn (in the central and southern regions of the country), rice (on the irrigated lands of the Mediterranean coast; its yield in Spain is one of the highest in the world), potatoes and sugar beets, legumes, tomatoes, onions, peppers, eggplants and other vegetables (vegetables occupy 60% of the cultivated area), olives - (leading in the cultivation of olives in the world) - (Andalusia, Castile la Mancha, Extremadura), citrus fruits and tobacco. Viticulture - on the Mediterranean coast and in the regions of Castile-la-Mancha, Extremadura. In the very south of the country, almonds (the leading export in Western Europe), dates and sugar cane (in Europe grow only in Spain), figs, pomegranates, and cotton are grown.

Fishing

Spain is among the top ten countries in the world for catching fish and seafood (1.1 million tons in 1996) and their processing, is a major exporter of fresh fish and canned fish.

Most of the fishing takes place off the coast of the Basque Country and Galicia. Most of all caught sardines, hake, mackerel, anchovies and cod. Every year, 20-25% of the total catch is processed for canned food.

Banking sector

Spanish banks need a € 59.3 billion recapitalization, according to stress tests posted on the Spanish central bank's website. The financial crisis in Spain led to an explosion of separatism. The economic crisis in Spain is beginning to gradually develop into a political one. On the one hand, the regions with their extremely weak banks need the help of the country's government. On the other hand, some territories, in particular Catalonia, believe that without the guiding and guiding hand of Madrid, they would feel much better.

The crisis was not limited to the financial sector. Property prices fell, which in turn increased unemployment. Spanish construction company Martinsa-Fadesa has filed for bankruptcy after failing to refinance a € 5.1 billion debt. In the second quarter, property prices in Spain fell by 20%. In the Castile-La Mancha region, approximately 69% of all buildings built in the past three years are still pending. Deutsche Bank expects a 35% fall in property prices in Spain by 2011. Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Zapatero has accused the European Central Bank of exacerbating the situation due to raising interest rates.

Population

Population dynamics:

• year - 6.5 million people;
• city ​​- 4.5 million people;
• city ​​- 6 million people;
• city ​​- 11.3 million people;
• city ​​- 6.2 million people;
• year - 11.55 million people;
• year - 18.6 million people;
• city ​​- 24.1 million people;
• city ​​- 29.9 million people;
• city ​​- 36.3 million people;
• year - 45.97 million people

The population of Spain is 46.16 million (October 2011).

According to a 2008 genetic study by the University of Leeds, 20% of the modern population of Spain has Jewish roots, and 11% have Arab and Berber roots.

History

On the southwestern coast of Iberia in the Bronze Age, a culture emerged, from which at the end of the 2nd millennium the Tartesse civilization was formed, which traded metal with the Phoenicians. After the depletion of the mines, Tartess falls into decay.

Along the east coast of Spain in the III millennium BC. NS. Iberian tribes appeared; some hypotheses link their ancestral home with North Africa. From these tribes comes the ancient name of the peninsula - Iberian. In the middle of the II millennium BC. NS. Iberians began to settle in fortified villages in what is now Castile. The Iberians were mainly engaged in agriculture, cattle breeding and hunting, they were able to make tools of labor from copper and bronze. The Iberians used the Paleo-Spanish script previously created by the Tartessians. The Iberian language was not related to Tartessian.

There is Roman evidence that Ligurs previously lived in Spain, but nothing is known about their existence in the historical period.

In the late Bronze Age, the culture of the fields of burial urns penetrates into Iberia (the remnants of which in the historical period were probably the Lusitanians), and at the beginning of the 1st millennium BC. NS. most of Iberia is colonized by Celtic tribes. Part of the Celts who lived in the neighborhood with the Iberians, having fallen under their influence, created the Celtiberian culture; the Celts, who lived in the western part, maintained a relatively conservative lifestyle, were unwritten. Celts of Iberia became famous as warriors. It was they who invented the double-edged sword, which later became the standard weapon of the Roman army and was used against their own inventors.

XX century

XXI Century

In March 2004, in Madrid, on the outskirts of the Atocha train station, 13 explosions thundered, as a result of which 191 people were killed and 2050 were injured. This attack was organized by an underground Islamist organization that followed the ideology of Al-Qaeda. The explosions took place three days before the parliamentary elections and were terrorists' response to the participation of the Spanish military in the military operation in Iraq. Most Spaniards blamed the attacks on the government of Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar, who sent Spanish troops to support the United States and Britain. Aznar's government adopted this decision unilaterally, without coordinating it with the parliament (Kortes) and despite the massive protests of civil society, which took part in thousands of demonstrations against the participation of the Spanish army in the war. In addition, mass polls conducted by a government agency indicated that about 80% of the country's population was against Spain's entry into the war. The People's Party led by Aznar lost the elections on March 14, 2004.

In early 2004, the new socialist government of Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero made a sharp turn in Spanish foreign policy: from supporting the US course to solidarity with most of the EU countries. After winning the elections on March 14, 2004, the socialist government withdrew Spanish troops from Iraq, thus fulfilling an important point in the electoral program of the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSWP). The subsequent parliamentary elections in 2008 were again won by the PSOE. New parliamentary elections in Spain took place on November 20, 2011.

In 2005, same-sex marriage was legalized in Spain. Thus, Spain became the third state in the world, after Holland and Belgium, to recognize the legal equality of marriage unions regardless of the sex of the spouses. Nowadays, same-sex marriage is recognized in many countries, as well as in some states in the United States.

One of the problems of modern Spain is the problem of immigration. Basically, residents of the Maghreb countries and Latin America come to Spain. At the beginning of the new century, according to rough estimates, there were 2.5 million Hispanics in the EU, 800 thousand of whom were in Spain. However, after the terrorist attacks in 2004, the attitude of the Spaniards towards immigrants has changed significantly.

Political structure

Administrative division

50 provinces included in 17 autonomous regions. Also in Spain there are 2 so-called autonomous cities (ciudades autónomas) in Africa - Ceuta, Melilla and the sovereign territories of Spain.

Andalusia (Spanish. Andalucía) Aragon (Spanish. Aragón) Asturias (Spanish. Principado de Asturias) Balearic Islands (Spanish. Islas baleares, cat. Illes balears) Basque Country (Spanish. País Vasco, basque. Euskadi) Valencia (Spanish. Comunidad valenciana) Galicia (Spanish. Galicia, galis. Galiza) Canary Islands (Spanish. Islas Canarias) Cantabria (Spanish. Cantabria) Castile-La Mancha (Spanish. Castilla-La Mancha) Castile and Leon (Spanish. Castilla y León) Catalonia (Spanish. Cataluña, cat. Catalunya) Madrid (as an autonomous region) (Spanish. Madrid) Murcia (Spanish. Región de Murcia) Navarra (Spanish. Navarra, basque. Nafarroa) Rioja (Spanish. La Rioja) Extremadura (Spanish. Extremadura)

Cities

The largest cities in Spain are:

Culture

Spain is rightfully considered an open-air museum. The vastness of this country carefully preserves cultural and historical monuments that are world famous.

The most famous museum in Spain, the Prado Museum, is located in Madrid. Its vast exposition cannot be viewed in one day. The museum was founded by Isabella of Braganza, wife of King Ferdinand VII. The Prado has its own branch located in Cason del Buen Retiro and stores unique collections of Spanish painting and sculpture of the 19th century, as well as works of English and French painters. In the museum itself, large expositions of Spanish, Italian, Dutch, Flemish and German art are presented. The Prado owes its name to the Prado de San Jerónimo alley, where it is located, which dates back to the Enlightenment. The Prado Museum currently holds 6,000 paintings, over 400 sculptures, and numerous treasures including royal and religious collections. During several centuries of its existence, the Prado was patronized by many kings.

It is believed that the very first collection of the Prado Museum was formed during the reign of Charles I, known as the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V. His heir, King Philip II, became famous not only for his bad character and despotism, but also for his love of art. It is to him that the museum owes priceless acquisitions of paintings by Flemish masters. Philip was distinguished by a gloomy worldview, it is not surprising that the ruler was an admirer of Bosch, an artist known for his bizarre pessimistic fantasy. Initially, Philip acquired Bosch's paintings for El Escorial, the hereditary castle of the Spanish kings. It was only in the 19th century that the paintings were transferred to the Prado Museum. Now here you can see such masterpieces of the Dutch master as "The Garden of Delights" and "The Hay Carrier". Currently, in the museum you can enjoy not only painting and sculptures, but also theatrical performances designed to "revive" famous canvases. The first such performance was dedicated to the paintings of Velazquez and was a huge success with the public.

There are many more unique museums and galleries in Spain: the Picasso Museum and the National Art Museum of Catalonia, located in Barcelona, ​​the National Sculpture Museum in Valladolid, the El Greco Museum in Toledo, the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, the Museum of Spanish Abstract Art in Cuenca.

Spanish cuisine

Sport

The main sport in Spain has been football since the beginning of the 20th century. Basketball, tennis, cycling, handball, motorsport and, more recently, Formula 1 are also important thanks to the presence of Spanish champions in all of these disciplines. Today Spain is a leading sports power in the world, and the development of sports in the country was particularly pushed by the Summer Olympic Games in Barcelona. In 2008 Spain won the European Football Championship and in 2010 it won the World Football Championship. In 2012, Spain won the European Football Championship 4-0 over Italy.
In general, in the 2000s, the Spanish national teams won the world and European championships in almost all game sports: football, basketball, water polo, field hockey, roller hockey, handball, volleyball and the Davis Cup in tennis.

It is also worth noting that Real Madrid Football Club is officially recognized as the best club in the world of the 20th century.

Military establishment

In the new doctrine 1/2004, the main enemy of Spain (both external and internal) is terrorism. It is noted that from now on, Spanish troops will be able to take part in international peacekeeping actions directly approved by the UN or, as it was in Kosovo, enjoying the obvious support of the world community. In addition, participation in hostilities will require permission from the Spanish Parliament.

The new military doctrine increases the role of the JEMAD Defense General Staff, headed by General Felix Sans. At the end of October 2004, he made a statement about the need to "balance" unequal relations between Spain and the United States, which emerged after 1953, when Spain and the United States signed a military defense cooperation agreement, according to which the United States received the right to use several large military bases in Spain.

In 2001, Spain abolished military service and completely switched to a professional army.

There are no laws in Spain prohibiting openly gay and lesbian people from serving in the military. On March 4, 2009, Spanish Defense Minister Carme Chacon (the first woman in this post) issued a decree repealing a previously existing law that prohibited transgender people from serving in the military.

Spanish foreign policy

The preamble of the Spanish Constitution proclaims the readiness "to cooperate in strengthening peaceful relations and cooperation with all countries of the world." Currently, Spain's foreign policy is mainly based on three areas: Europe (especially the EU), the Ibero-American direction, the Mediterranean countries.

Today Spain has diplomatic relations with all UN countries. More recently, Spain has relations with Bhutan (since October 2010), South Sudan (since its independence from Sudan in July 2011) and the Caribati state (since September 2011).

On April 12, 1994, the Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation between the Russian Federation and the Kingdom of Spain was signed. Currently, bilateral relations between the Russian Federation and the Kingdom of Spain have an extensive legal framework: the basis of interaction in various fields is formed by more than 50 treaties, agreements, protocols and other documents.

Morocco

In the foreign policy of Spain, Morocco occupies one of the key places, for which the Moroccan kingdom is the most important African partner, at least due to its territorial proximity. The main directions of Spanish policy in Morocco are: issues related to the enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla, the unresolved problem with Western Sahara, problems of illegal migration, issues of stopping drug smuggling, etc.

Relations between Spain and the Maghreb countries began to develop most actively after the Socialist Party came to power in Spain in 1982.

Under the government of the People's Party, headed by Prime Minister H.M. Aznar, who were in power from 1996 to 2004, relations could not be called good and were rather characterized by instability, in particular, the conflict around the island of Perehil (Leila) in 2002.

The socialists, who came back to power in April 2004, led by Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, had a firm intention to improve relations with their neighbors, primarily with Morocco. After the meeting between Mohamed VI and Juan Carlos in 2005, relations between the two monarchs have improved markedly. The conflict in Western Sahara, which arose long ago, has always had an adverse effect on relations between the two countries. After a disrupted quadripartite conference, Morocco in 1975 sanctioned the Green March to Western Sahara with the aim of “clearing” Western Sahara from Spain. The result was an agreement between Spain, Mauritania and Morocco on the transfer of temporary control over the Sahara to Morocco and Mauritania.

Close economic ties are an important component of relations between the two countries. In 1995, the Moroccan government decides to stake everything on foreign investors, the most important of which are Spain and France.

Peacekeeping missions

The Spanish Armed Forces, consisting of 3,000 people, took part in 5 peacekeeping missions of the EU, NATO, UN. These missions are: International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan; EUFOR in Bosnia and Herzegovina; KFOR in Kosovo; FINUL to Lebanon and the UN Mission in Darfur (Chad).

Various questions

Transport in Spain

The length of highways is 328,000 km. The car park - more than 19 million cars. 90% of passenger and 79% of cargo transportation is carried out by road. The length of the railways is 14,589 km. About 6.5% of all land transport cargo and 6% of passengers are transported.

About 300 vessels with a total displacement of 1.511 million tons are involved in maritime transport. Vessels under Spanish flags carry from 30 million tons of foreign trade cargo annually. 24 seaports control almost 93% of all traffic.

The leading place is occupied by air transport. Of the 42 airports, 34 carry out regular flights. Madrid International Airport handles 56 million passengers every year. The airport in Barcelona serves about 30 million passengers annually.

Education in Spain

Spain has a system of compulsory free secondary education from 6 to 16 years old. About 70% study in public schools, 96.5% in public universities.

The largest universities in the country: Autonomous University of Madrid, Complutense (in Madrid), Barcelona Central and Autonomous, Santiago de Compostea, Polytechnic University in Valencia.

Mass media in Spain

Spain has a well-developed media network. 137 newspapers and about 1000 magazines are published. Most read daily newspapers: Pais, Mundo, Vanguardia, ABC, Periodico, Marka. Magazines for women "Patrones", Labores del HOGAR, Moda.

The leading radio stations are SIR, COPE, Radio Nacional de España (RNE). The international division of Spanish national radio, known as Radio Exterior de España, broadcasts in Spanish and six foreign languages. The Russian service of Spanish foreign broadcasting has been operating (with a short break) since the days of Franco, but is less known than similar broadcasters in Russian from the USA, Germany, and France.

Major TV channels: TVE (covering the entire territory of the country), private studios Telesinko and Antena 3, as well as the round-the-clock news channel Canal 24 Horas, which broadcasts around the world. The Autonomous Communities have their own regional television broadcasting in national languages.

Siesta in Spain

Crime in Spain

In recent years, the proportion of immigrants among Spanish offenders has gradually increased. This is due to the increase in immigration to Spain (including illegal) from African countries, as well as from Latin America. Among the latter, two gangs from the Dominican Republic became especially active: Dominicans Don't Play and Trinitarios (Trinitarians - named after the underground organization La Trinitaria, which fought for the independence of the Dominican Republic from Haiti in 1838 ).

Real estate market in Spain

The average cost per square meter in Spain for the 1st trimester of 2011 is 1777.6 euros (1793.8 euros - new construction; 1764.8 euros - from second hand). The highest prices (in € / m²): San Sebastian - 3762.3; San Cugat del Valles - 3282.6; Getcho - 3224.3; Barcelona - 3103.5; Pozuelo de Alarcon - 2964.0; Madrid - 2921.0.

The main real estate in Spain is villas, apartments and apartments. At the moment, buying real estate in Spain has become more profitable, since on August 20, 2011, the Spanish government temporarily changed the tax - VAT on the purchase of new housing from 8% to 4%.

Telecommunications in Spain

In astronomy

In honor of Spain, the asteroid (804) Spain is named, discovered on March 20, 1915 by the Spanish astronomer Jose Comas Sola at the Fabra Observatory in Barcelona. It was the first asteroid discovered from Spain.

see also

	Portal "Spain"
	Spain in Wiktionary
	in Wikisource
	Spain at Wikimedia Commons
	Spain on Wikinews

• Spanish grand
• Spanish galleon

Spain is a large state in the southwestern part of Europe, occupying most of the Iberian Peninsula, the Canary Islands, Pitius and Balearic Islands. Territory area - 504 750 sq.m., land area - 499 400 sq.m.

Geographic characteristics

The Kingdom of Spain is located in southern Europe, occupying about five-sixths of the territory of the Iberian Peninsula. The situation is isolated, due to the presence of the Pyrenees Mountains. Except Portugal on the west side.

The territory is bordered by countries such as France, Andorra and Gibraltar to the northwest and south. Approximately 30% of the country is the massif of the Meseta plateau with the Central Cordillera ridges in the central part. The rest of the territory is occupied by the Pyrenees, which make the center of Spain difficult to access from the mainland.

Nature

The mountains

The main part of the country is occupied by the Meset plateau with the Central Cordilleras. In the north and east are the Iberian, Pyrenees, Cantabrian, Catalan mountains, south side - Sierra Morena and Andalusian mountains. Most of the territory is occupied by plains, pastures, the coast is distinguished by beautiful beaches and bays ...

Rivers and lakes

Numerous rivers flow on the territory and there are lakes with a predominantly rain origin. This affects the water level - in the summer, with low humidity, rivers and lakes become very shallow, in winter the water level rises.

The following rivers flow through the country: Tajo with a length of 910 km, Duero - 780 km, Guadiana, whose length is 820 km, Guadalquivir with a length of 560 km. The country's lakes are located mainly in mountainous regions, they are not subject to seasonal fluctuations as much as the water resources of the plains ...

Seas and ocean washing Spain

The special geographical position of Spain makes it attractive to tourists. This is due to the presence of more than 4 thousand km of coastline with luxurious beaches, picturesque cliffs, quiet, cozy bays. The country in the south and east is washed by the warm waters of the Mediterranean Sea, in the north - by the waters of the Bay of Biscay, and in the southwest - by the waters of the Atlantic Ocean ...

Plants and animals of Spain

The flora of Spain is very rich, it has about 8 thousand plants, many of which are endemic. But vast forests have survived only in the north of the country, which is associated with active economic activity. The diversity of the flora is determined by the climate, mainly deciduous forests (ash trees, chestnuts, elms, beech, oaks), in the mountains there are evergreen coniferous and oak forests, there are vast alpine meadows higher up.

Spain is characterized by deciduous forests, including pedunculate and rock oaks, ash, hazel. Beech and fir are widespread in the mountains. Mediterranean areas are rich in plantings of laurel and stone oak. Due to human intervention, many forests have already disappeared or turned into vast pastures, along the edges of which there are rare forest belts and primary shrubs. Such a border consists of broom, retama, hawthorn, thorns, thickets of wild roses.

The richest in flora are the North Atlantic slopes of the country, the flat parts of the Ebro River. The "dry" part of the country is distinguished by Mediterranean types of vegetation - thickets of juniper, myrtle, and cistus.

The fauna is also very diverse; roe deer, wild boars, deer live in the northern regions, the Pyrenean goat and deer are preserved in the mountains. Also in the mountains you can find brown bear, foxes, wolves, lynxes. The country's territory is considered the richest in Europe in terms of the variety of birds. In summer, about 25 species of birds of prey live on the territory, in late autumn and early spring you can observe rare species of birds, colonies of flamingos, geese on the territory.

In Spain, reptiles are found in abundance - snakes, lizards, chameleons. Scorpions and tarantulas can be found in the southeast and semi-desert. In the inland waters, the surrounding seas are found salmon, lobsters, as well as tuna, lobsters, crayfish ...

Climate of Spain

The climate is pronounced Mediterranean subtropical, winters are mild and rainy, summers are hot and dry. But from the northwest to the southeast, the climate changes dramatically, due to the proximity of Africa. The average annual temperature ranges from + 14 / + 19 °, in winter - up to + 4 / + 5 °, in summer the average temperature is + 29 °. The level of precipitation is different for individual regions of the country - in the mountains it reaches 1000 mm per year in winter, in flat areas - 300-500 mm per year ...

Resources

Spain is rich in natural resources due to its geographic location. The Sierra Morena mountains contain the largest deposits of zinc, lead ores, manganese, and copper pyrite. Iron ore is concentrated in the Basque Country, Leon, Asturias, Almeria, Teruel, Granada, the estimated volume of such ores is about 2.5 million tons. Galicia and the northern part of the country are rich in tungsten and tin, the provinces of Salamanca and Cordoba are rich in uranium ores.

In terms of mercury reserves, Spain is in first place, large reserves of cinnabar are in the valley of the river. Baldeasage, province of Ciudad Real. Pyrites are concentrated in the southern regions of the Sierra Morena mountains. The reserves of coal, lingites, anthracite are concentrated in the northern regions, Galicia, Aragon, Asturias. But there is very little coking coal, its overall quality is not high ...

Spain occupies most (85%) of the Iberian Peninsula. It is fenced off from its northeastern neighbor - France - by the Pyrenees, in addition, it has land borders with Portugal, Andorra, the English colony of Gibraltar and Morocco. In the east and south it is washed by the Mediterranean Sea, in the north and west - by the Atlantic Ocean (Bay of Biscay). Spain includes the Canary Islands in the Atlantic Ocean, the Balearic and Pitius Islands in the Mediterranean Sea. The cities of Ceuta and Melilla in Morocco are under Spanish rule.

Spain is the second country in Europe in area (505.9 thousand km2) and in mountainousness (average altitude above sea level - 600 m), with a population of 39.7 million people.

After Switzerland, Spain is considered the highest mountainous country in Europe. Plateau and mountains make up about 90% of its territory. Almost half of the country's surface is occupied by the highest plateau in Europe, the Meseta (in Spanish - "table"), its average height is 660 m. Meseta is a huge monotonous dry flat area with very hot summers and cold winters. Local residents say about their land: "We have three months of cold and nine months of hell."

The most powerful mountain system in Spain - the Pyrenees - is a series of parallel ridges stretching from west to east for 450 km and separating the Iberian Peninsula from the rest of Europe. This is one of the most inaccessible mountainous countries in Europe, but also one of the most picturesque. The Pyrenees are especially diverse and beautiful in the central part, where glacial landforms, alpine lakes and snowfields meet. The main peak of the Pyrenees is Aneto Peak (3404 m).

The Spanish Pyrenees is a large area of ​​international tourism with excellent conditions for mountaineering, skiing, cycling, alpine skiing.

The entire southeast of the Iberian Peninsula is occupied by the Cordillera Betica, which is a system of mountain ranges and ridges. The highest mountain range, the Sierra Nevada, is second only to the Alps in height in Europe. Here is the highest peak of the Iberian Peninsula - Mount Mulasen (3478 m).

Valleys, hollows and lowlands occupy only 11% of the territory of Spain. The largest plain is the Andalusian, along which the Guadalquivir River flows. In the north-east of the country, in the valley of the Ebro River, is the Aragonese Plain. Lowlands stretch along the Mediterranean coast in a narrow strip.

Statistical indicators of Spain
(as of 2012)

Approximately 60% of the territory of Spain is arid, so the water problem is one of the most important in the country. Spain's hydro resources are distributed extremely unevenly: in the northern and north-western regions there is an abundance of water, while in the Mediterranean and central regions there is a huge water shortage.

Minerals of Spain

The bowels of Spain are distinguished by their ore content and have large reserves of various ores. Mineral fuel reserves are relatively small. The main mineral deposits are located in the mountain ranges surrounding Meseta and in the peripheral regions of the country. The main deposits of coal, iron ore and zinc are located in the Cantabrian mountains. Sierra Morena contains the largest reserves of pyrites and polymetals. Significant reserves of iron ore and polymetals are also found in the Andalusian mountains. Deposits of tin, tungsten, uranium are located in the Galician mountains. Deposits of lignites and potassium salt are concentrated at the junction of the Pyrenees and Catalan mountains with the Aragonese lowland.

Spain has large (up to 2 billion tons) reserves of high-quality iron ore with a metal content of up to 50%. The main deposits are located in the north of the country. Asturias and Galicia account for up to 20% of all iron ore reserves. Large deposits of iron ore are found in the Andalusian mountains, north of Almeria.

In terms of reserves of copper pyrite, Spain ranks first in Europe. The main deposits of Tarsis, Rio Tinto and Sarsa are located in the province of Huelva (Andalusia), in the Sierra Morena mountains between the Guadiana and Guadalquivir rivers. They were developed many centuries before our era. In Andalusia there are also significant reserves of non-ferrous metals, in the province of Jaén - deposits of lead-zinc ores (Linares, La Carolina). Zinc deposits are being developed in Santander on the Biscay coast (Reosin region). Tungsten ores are mined in Galicia. Manganese and tin are also found there. Uranium deposits have been discovered near the Portuguese border.

Almaden's main mercury deposit is located in the province of Ciudad Real (New Castile), at the junction of Meseta and Sierra Morena. The ore mined in Almadena contains up to 6-9% mercury. In Andalusia and Galicia, there are deposits of platinum, gold and silver. Up to half of all coal reserves are in Asturias - the country's main coal basin. In the northwest, in León, there are deposits of anthracite. The largest reserves of brown coal are located in the east of the country - the Utrillas region near Teruel. Shale is mined in Puertollano (Ciudad Real). Catalonia (Suria region) has large reserves of potash salts. Phosphorites are mined in Extremadura and sulfur in Albacete, asphalt in the upper Ebro valley. In the period from 1952 to 1955. in the upper reaches of the Ebro at considerable depths, signs of oil were found. It is believed that oil is also available in other areas located on the slopes of the Pyrenees and in the Andalusian lowlands. A methane deposit has been discovered in the province of Seville.

Climate of Spain

Due to the length of Spain from north to south and an extensive mountain system, the climate is quite noticeably different in different regions of the country. Vertical zonation is also clearly visible.

The northern regions are in rather peculiar conditions - here the influence of humid sea masses from the Atlantic is strong, therefore in Galicia, Asturias, Cantabria and the Basque Country, mild (from + 8 ° C to + 14 ° C) and rather humid winters, and moderately warm summers ( from + 21 ° С to 26 ° С). However, from the north, this region is fenced off by a powerful wall of the Pyrenees Mountains (altitude up to 3404 m), so in mountainous areas the temperature in winter can drop to -7 ° C, and in summer it usually does not warm up above + 22 ° C. At the same time, these same mountains, as it were, block the strongly heated air masses coming from the south, from the territory of Africa, which in summer often leads to an increase in daytime temperatures up to + 32 ° С. A narrow strip of coastline north of the mountains in terms of its weather conditions already belongs to the temperate maritime climate. Precipitation falls up to 1200 mm per year, mainly in the autumn-winter period. Frosts and heavy snowfalls are not uncommon in high-mountainous regions in winter.

The central regions of Spain are located in the area of ​​high plateaus and mountain ranges of Meseta, so the climate here is close to sharply continental - day and night temperatures can differ by 10-15 degrees even in summer. Winters are dry here and for such a southern region - cold (from -4 ° С to + 8 ° С), summers are hot (up to + 30 ° С during the day) and dry. In Madrid in summer, the average temperature is around + 25 ° C (at the same time, at night it can drop to + 16 ° C, and during the day the thermometer can exceed + 38 ° C), in winter - about + 5 ° C. There is no more than 500 mm of precipitation per year, mainly in spring and autumn. In the mountainous regions of Aragon and northern Castile, snow often falls during the winter. In the Pyrenees, Sierra Nevada and Sierra de Guadarrama, many peaks are covered with snow all year round.

The east coast of the country is located in the subtropical Mediterranean climate zone. It has dry hot summers and mild winters. In summer, the temperature can reach + 36-38 ° С with an average level of about + 27 ° С, in winter the thermometer does not drop below + 12 ° С, although it usually stays in the region of + 14-18 ° С (the Mediterranean coast of the country is quite long, therefore in the south it is always somewhat warmer than in the north). There is little precipitation (500-600 mm per year), mainly in autumn and winter. In summer, the water warms up to + 23-27 ° С, so the beach season here lasts from May-June to October.

The Balearic Islands have a subtropical Mediterranean climate. However, due to their position, the islands receive slightly more rainfall than the nearby continental coast of the country. And summer temperatures are somewhat lower here - + 26-28 ° С with daily highs around + 30-32 ° С. The beach season on the Balearic Islands begins in March, when the water temperature rises to + 18 ° C, and ends in October.

On the islands of the Canary archipelago, the climate is close to the tropical trade wind. The proximity of a cold ocean current noticeably softens the summer heat inherent for this entire region, but it also evens out the general temperature background - in summer on any of the islands of the archipelago, the average temperature ranges from + 18 ° С to + 21 ° С with maximums from + 36 ° С to + 38 ° С, in winter the thermometer does not drop below + 12 ° С with maximums up to + 24 ° С. However, the hot wind "harmattan" blowing from the coast of Africa is capable of sharply increasing the air temperature at any time of the year, but the summer trade winds almost completely neutralize its influence during this period. The water temperature is even more constant - + 20-23 ° С all year round.

There is little rainfall - from 250 to 400 mm per year, and Fuerteventura, Lanzarote and the southern regions of Gran Canaria and Tenerife are quite arid (no more than 200 mm per year), and the north-western regions (especially mountainous ones) are much more humid. Local rains are very heavy, but short-lived. They are often accompanied by powerful thunderstorms.

Flora and fauna of Spain

Apart from the flora of the Canary Islands, about 8,000 plant species grow in Spain, many of which are endemic, that is, they grow only here. Only a small part of the once vast forests remains, mainly in the north of the country. In humid Spain, the forests are mainly broad-leaved (beech, elm, oak, chestnut, ash, linden, poplar), higher in the mountains, evergreen species appear (varieties of oak, pine, spruce), even higher the forests turn into alpine meadows.

The richest vegetation on the North Atlantic slopes of the Cantabrian mountains and the Galician massif - these areas are called "green" Spain. On the plain of the Ebro River at the foot of the mountains, evergreen shrubs and grasses grow, there is also semi-desert vegetation with a predominance of wormwood and salt marshes. "Dry" Spain is dominated by Mediterranean vegetation, evergreen shrubs - maquis, garigas and dwarf shrubs - tomillars. The maquis include myrtle, juniper, wild pistachio, cistus and low trees.

The fauna of Spain is very rich and varied. In the north, the fauna is Central European: many deer, roe deer, wild boars. Red deer and Iberian ibex have survived in the mountainous regions. Reindeer hunting is allowed. Sometimes in the Cantabrian mountains and the mountains of León, a brown bear is found. Of the predators, quite a few wolves, foxes have survived, and at the mouth of the Guadalquivir - Spanish lynxes.

Spain is considered the richest country in Europe in terms of the number of bird species found here. In summer in Spain, you can see up to 25 species of birds of prey: hawks, eagles, griffins, falcons (the largest colony of black hawks in the Torrejón reservoir on the Tagus River). Many rare species only hibernate here, and it is best to observe them in early spring or late autumn. There are many colonies of waterfowl: geese, ducks, herons, flamingos, white storks. Spain is also home to many species of reptiles: lizards, snakes, chameleons, and tarantulas and scorpions are found in the semi-deserts in the southeast of the country. A lot of fish is found in river estuaries and in the Atlantic, mainly sardines, less - Baltic herring, cod, anchovies and various types of molluscs. The Mediterranean Sea is home to tuna, salmon, anchovies, crayfish and lobster.