Comparative analysis of the countries Bulgaria, Spain, Northern Cyprus and Egypt. Bulgaria for everyone
Why is preference given to these countries? Everything is very obvious here. These countries provide not only an opportunity to spend a wonderful sea vacation but are also great places to invest Money in real estate, training and their own health. The specialists of the Land of the Sun company conducted a comparative analysis between Egypt, Northern Cyprus, Spain and Bulgaria.
Which of these countries will dominate? Let's try to compare and evaluate the possibilities of these areas.
1. Climatic conditions All four countries, of course, are the favorites of Russians precisely because of their geographical position. Firstly, sea recreation is a beneficial effect on the human body. If we talk about the sea, then rather, Egypt will be the leader thanks to the Red Sea. After all, it is no secret to anyone that the Red Sea is one of the cleanest and most beautiful, undersea world which annually come to see millions of tourists from all over the world. Also, Egypt remains the main sea destination for those who are considering a sea holiday for themselves throughout the year, because. air and water temperature allows you to meet even New Year on the beach. But there are those who prefer to spend the winter not at sea, but doing winter sports. It is for such fans, of course, the choice will be for Bulgaria and Spain. And Northern Cyprus will be of interest to those who choose to rest and stay, on the one hand, in the arms unique nature and the most beautiful ecological conditions, and, on the other hand, in a quiet, fertile place.
2. Language, customs, culture If we compare the four countries in terms of this indicator, then most likely Bulgaria can be ranked first. Because both the language and culture of the Bulgarians are very close to Russian realities. Since the times of the USSR, many Bulgarians speak excellent Russian, and even without an interpreter, it will not be difficult to catch the main topic of conversation in Bulgaria. And more exotic country consider Egypt. Still Arabic is considered one of the most complex, and the culture of the East is considered far enough for a European to understand.
Spain and Northern Cyprus can be "put" on the 2nd and 3rd places, respectively. Whatever it was Spanish, This European country, which is generally understandable to the European. Despite the fact that Northern Cyprus can also be called a secular state, where many foreigners live, however, proximity to Turkey may impose some oriental highlights on the local Turkish Cypriots.
3. Economic situation and forecasts for 2013 On this issue, most likely, we can put an equal sign between the countries. The thing is that today, whether it is Egypt, Spain, Bulgaria or Northern Cyprus, each of these countries is going through a turbulent period to one degree or another. There are several reasons for this: here are internal political events, and the influence of general economic trends, some echoes of the economic crisis. However, the economies of these countries cannot be called deplorable, on the contrary. Despite some shocks, these four countries are named by economic experts as reliable markets for investment. Moreover, the coming year 2013 and the next, 2014, are considered years that will allow these countries to find stability.
4. Buying real estate - where is it more profitable to invest? Just imagine a picture when a person sits and puzzles over the question of where it is more profitable to buy an apartment, in Egypt, Northern Cyprus, Spain or Bulgaria. Everything compares and compares prices. How to help him? But no way. Don't be surprised by this answer. Exactly no way. Because you will not lose in any of the options. Choosing one of the four countries, you can be sure that it is the attractiveness of the value of real estate that is their main trump card. Moreover, if you buy a property in one of the countries we compare, you can be sure that it can work for you, even when you are in Russia. Those. apartment rentals are in the highest demand in these areas. If we talk about where the cheapest housing is, probably, the arrow on the scales will tend, nevertheless, to Egypt, as to the country where you can buy the cheapest housing from the countries we are considering. And Northern Cyprus, Spain and Bulgaria will "stand" in second place and the cost of apartments in these countries will be approximately the same.
5. Cost of living - where is it lower? Each person has his own needs, which are expressed in the amount of money that he is willing to spend on himself and on his daily needs. If we talk about the cost of products and daily services, then Egypt can be "put" in first place (in ascending order of cost), then Bulgaria. And the third place will be shared between Spain and Northern Cyprus. And even this scale can be relative, because in Spain and Bulgaria, for sure, you may have financial expenses, for example, for ski equipment, which is not cheap, but in Egypt and Northern Cyprus these expenses will not be for obvious reasons.
However, instead, in Egypt, you can also spend money on buying air conditioners (several!) And monthly payment for their everyday use. Whereas in Spain and Bulgaria, by and large, you can live without air conditioning. And there are many, many more such examples. 6. Invest in education - which country to look for for higher education? If you choose a country for your child to study in European level and subsequently received a European diploma, then you, first of all, should turn your attention to Spain and Northern Cyprus. It is in one of these countries that you can get a decent education, and, importantly, diplomas received at the end of your studies will open the doors of European Universities for your children. And the cost of education will be significantly lower than in Germany, Switzerland or the UK. Bulgaria and Egypt are still inferior to Spain and Northern Cyprus in this matter, although here you can find very decent options for getting an education. As you can see from all the above information, despite the fact that on the one hand, Egypt, Spain, Bulgaria and Northern Cyprus seem to be different countries, they have a lot in common.
Definitely, it is not possible to recommend or vote for this or that country, because each of us has our own priorities and goals in life, and only they can influence the choice of one or another option. If you have already started considering options for purchasing property in one of the four countries, it is important for you to answer a few questions for yourself, the answers to which will help you make your final choice, for example:
(1) What is your purpose of purchasing real estate?
(2) How often will you come and what kind of vacation do you prefer?
(3) Will children come with you, is their education planned?
(4) Are you considering the issue of recovery and treatment abroad?
(5) Do you want to open your own business?
And there may be many more of these questions .... In general, perhaps the most profitable option is to buy real estate in each of the listed countries. That is, for an apartment in Egypt, Spain, Northern Cyprus and Bulgaria Then you will not only be able to compare the advantages of a particular country. You will be able to enjoy all the benefits and get amazing emotions every time, flying from one culture to another! Enrich your knowledge about it beautiful world and have a great rest!
Bulgaria is located in southeastern Europe, borders on Romania, Serbia, Macedonia, Greece, Turkey and is washed by the Black Sea. The northern border with Romania runs along the Danube to Silistra. The territory of Bulgaria is 110,550 km2, slightly larger than Iceland. The country is located on west coast Black Sea, in the north it borders on Romania, in the south - on Greece and Turkey, in the west - on Serbia. Despite its relatively small size, Bulgaria's landscape is very diverse. Even in small areas of the country, one can simultaneously see valleys, plateaus, hills, mountains, reservoirs, gorges, and deep river valleys. Geographic center Bulgaria is located in the Uzana region.
Although historical events were often the reason for change national boundaries Bulgaria in the first century of its existence, the natural features of the landscape defined most of its borders after 1944, and yet no group of people experienced any serious economic difficulties in connection with this. In post-war Bulgaria, most of the inhabitants were ethnic Bulgarians, despite the fact that in different time Bulgaria experienced numerous migrations. None of the borders have been officially contested since 1991, but nationalist Bulgarians continue to believe that Bulgaria should own part of Macedonia, which is today divided between the Republic of Macedonia and Greece, at least because of the ethnic ties between Bulgarians and Macedonians.
The length of Bulgaria's borders is 2,264 km. At the same time, the river border is 680 km, and the Black Sea coast is 400 km; the southern and western borders are defined mainly by mountain ranges. The western and northern borders divide Bulgaria with Serbia and Romania respectively, the Black Sea coast represents the eastern border of the country. The Romanian border runs along the Danube for 464 km from the northeastern end of the country to the city of Silistra, and then goes southwest for 136 km. The Danube, with its steep cliffs on the Bulgarian side, and low-lying wetlands on the Romanian, is one of the most spectacular river frontiers in Europe. The part of the border passing through Dobruja was disputed and changed several times by international treaties. In this process big influence rendered locals who chose the country in which they preferred to live. The southern borders pass with Greece and Turkey, the length of the Greek border is 491 km, the Turkish border is 240 km.
Relief of Bulgaria
The relief of Bulgaria is heterogeneous. In a relatively small area of the country there are lowlands, plains, hills, low and high mountains, a large number of valleys and deep gorges. The main feature of the topography of Bulgaria is the alternation of stripes of high and low landscape that run from east to west across the country. These bands (called geomorphological regions) from north to south are named: Danube plain, Stara Planina, Upper Thracian lowland and Rila-Rhodope mountain range. The easternmost regions near the Black Sea are hilly, they gradually gain height to the west, and the extreme West Side highland countries.
Statistical indicators of Bulgaria
(as of 2012)
More than two thirds of the country are plains, plateaus or hilly lands with a height of less than 600 m. Plains (below 200 m) make up 31% of the territory, plateaus and hills (200 ... 600 m) - 41%, low mountains (600-1000 m) 10% , medium mountains (1000-1500m) 10, and high mountains (more than 1500m) 3%. Average Height Bulgaria - 470 m.
The modern relief of the country is the result of continuous geological development. This development has created igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks different origin, age and composition. Their formation began more than 500 million years ago during the Precambrian period and continues to the present. The Bulgarian lands were often covered with ancient seas and lakes, some layers of the earth were rising, others were sinking. Volcanic eruptions occurred frequently, both on land and in water bodies.
The Danube Plain extends from the western borders to the Black Sea. It covers the area between the Danube, which runs along most of the country's northern border, and the Stara Planina in the south. The Moesian platform is located on part of the Danubian plain. As a result of the weathering process, the relief became flat, valleys and plateaus appeared in the east. The plateau slowly rises from the cliffs near the river to low northern mountains Balkan range. The most high point- Tarnov-Dyal (502 m) on the Shumen plateau. The valleys of the Vit and Yantra rivers divide the Danube plain into three parts - western, central and eastern. Height rises from west to east. In the north, the plain ends with the steep banks of the Danube or forms fertile alluvial plains (Vidinskaya, Chernopolskaya, Belenskaya, Pobrezhie, Aydemirskaya). Hills and plateaus are typical of the topography of the plains. Most of the heights and all the plateaus are located in the eastern part. There are 14 basalt rocks between Svishtov and the village of Dragomirovo.
The southern part of the Danube Plain, which passes into the foothills of the Stara Planina, is sometimes regarded as the Bulgarian part of the Carpathians. The shape of the Carpathians is reminiscent of the reflection of the letter "S", they originate in the Czech Republic and Slovakia, pass through western Ukraine, northern Romania, then turn south to the middle of Romania, and then go west, where they are better known as the Transylvanian Alps. Further, the mountains continue to go west to the Iron Gates, a gorge on the Danube on the Romanian-Serbian border. At this point they pass into the Bulgarian Stara Planina.
The Stara Planina (Balkan Mountains) begins in the Timoshko Valley in Serbia and continues south to the Sofia Basin in central-western Bulgaria. From there, the mountains go east to the Black Sea. The Balkan Mountains are about 600 km long and 30 - 50 km wide. Their highest site is in central Bulgaria where Mount Botev is located, the highest point Balkan mountains 2,376 m high. The Balkan Mountains gradually decrease to the rocks of the Black Sea coast. Passing through most of Bulgaria, the Balkan Mountains form a watershed from which the rivers located to the north carry their waters to the Danube, and to the south - to the Aegean Sea. Some smaller rivers in the eastern part of the mountains flow directly into the Black Sea. Sredna Gora - narrow mountain range approximately 160 km long and 1,600 m high, oriented from east to west, parallel to the Stara Planina. Located between two parts of the Rose Valley, famous for its rose oil used in perfumery and spirits.
The southern slopes of the Balkan Mountains and Sredna Gora pass into the Upper Thracian Lowland and the Sofia Basin. Triangular in shape, the Upper Thracian Plain begins at a point east of the mountains near Sofia and widens into eastbound to the Black Sea. On it are the valley of the Maritsa River and the lowlands, which are located between the river and the Black Sea. Like the Danube Plain, most of the Upper Thracian Plain is hilly and is not a plain in the usual sense. Most of area suitable for agriculture.
The largest basin in Bulgaria is the Sofia basin. Its width is 24 km, length - 96 km, the capital of the country and the territories adjacent to it are located in the basin. The route through the basins and valleys from Belgrade to Istanbul (formerly Constantinople) via Sofia has been historically important since ancient rome, which determined strategic importance Balkan Peninsula. Largest cities Bulgaria were laid down on this route. Ironically, although the mountains have made many Bulgarian villages and towns difficult to besiege, Bulgaria has always been susceptible to incursions by invaders, as there are no natural obstacles on the way through Sofia.
Relatively high mountains occupy the area between the Upper Thracian Plain and the Sophia Basin and the border with Greece in the south. There are three ranges in the west of the country: Vitosha south of Sofia, Rila further south and Pirin in the southwestern part of the country. They are the highest topographic region in Bulgaria and the entire Balkan Peninsula. The Rila range includes Mount Musala at 2,925 m, the highest mountain in Balkan countries. About a dozen other mountains in the Rila system are over 2,600 m high. The highest mountains are characterized by sparse bare rocks and occasional lakes above the tree line. The lower peaks are covered with alpine meadows. The Pirin Range is characterized by rocky peaks and stone slopes. Its highest peak is Vihren with a height of 2915 m, the second highest peak in Bulgaria. Further to the east are the Rhodopes.
A significant part of the territory of Bulgaria is prone to earthquakes. Two areas particularly sensitive to them are the borders of the Northern Bulgarian Upland (an area centered on the town of Gorna Oryakhovitsa) in North-Central Bulgaria, and the Western Rhodopes, a broad area extending through the Rila and northern Pirin regions to Plovdiv and in south-central Bulgaria . Particularly strong earthquakes also occur diagonally from Skopje in the Republic of Macedonia and Razgrad in northeastern Bulgaria, and from Albania eastward across the southern third of Bulgaria via Plovdiv. Bulgaria experienced sixteen strong earthquakes between 1900 and 1986, the last two in Strazhitsa on the Skopje-Razgrad line. These two earthquakes damaged more than 16,000 buildings, half of them were destroyed. One village was almost completely leveled to the ground, others were badly damaged.
Minerals of Bulgaria
The Republic of Bulgaria is not rich in mineral resources, and their extraction and processing occupy an insignificant place in the economy. main view The mineral fuel in Bulgaria is coal, so small oil deposits cannot replace it. Lignites (brown coal) make up 92% of all coal reserves, which are estimated at 5–10 billion tons. The main deposits and basins in which development and production take place are East Maritsky and West Maritsky, as well as the Sofia region. In addition, there are about 40 minor brown coal deposits. A small amount of anthracite is mined in the vicinity of Svoge. Since the country is poor in fuel and energy resources, it is forced to widely import oil, gas and coal.
Uranium ore is mined in the Sofia region and in Sredna Gora. The country's total iron ore reserves are estimated at only 10 million tons. There are several iron ore deposits with impurities of manganese, chromium, and molybdenum. Deposits of lead, zinc and copper are also of economic importance.
Small reserves of gold have been discovered in the Stara Planina mountains. Tungsten and bismuth ore is mined in the Rhodopes. There are more than 600 natural mineral springs, which have healing properties with a water temperature of 8 ° to 100 ° C.
The features of the relief and climate in different regions determined the diversity of soil cover and vegetation. On the Danube Plain, soils are predominantly chernozem and gray forest podzolized; south of Stara Planina, brown and dense chernozems predominate; mountainous regions are characterized mainly by brown forest and mountain-meadow soils.
High soil fertility is determined by the fact that within the Lower Danube Plain, composed mainly of loess, chernozems are developed, which have a porous structure, fine texture, high moisture capacity and contain a large amount of humus. Brown soils predominate in the Maritsa valley, while gray podzolic and mountain meadow soils are common in the mountains. Alluvial soils are found in floodplains and coastal areas. IN Lately there has been a decrease in the natural fertility of soils in a number of regions of the country due to soil erosion and excessive use of natural organic and mineral fertilizers.
Water resources of Bulgaria
Lake Tevno Vasilashko in Pirin in Bulgaria The Balkan Mountains divide Bulgaria into two almost equal river systems. big system provides a catchment area for the northern part of Bulgaria, its runoff goes to the Black Sea, mainly along the Danube River. This system covers the entire Danubian Plain and extends 48-80 kilometers inland from its coastline. The second system collects the flow of water from the Upper Thracian Plain and most of the highlands of the countries of the south and southwest into the Aegean Sea. Of all the rivers, only the Danube is navigable, but many other rivers and tributaries in Bulgaria have a high potential for hydroelectric power generation and as a source of irrigation water.
All Bulgarian tributaries of the Danube, except for the Iskar, originate in the Balkan Mountains. The Iskar flows from south to north into the Danube from its source in the Rila Mountains, passing through the eastern suburbs of Sofia and through a gorge in the Balkan Mountains.
The Danube receives a little over 4% of its total volume from its Bulgarian tributaries. Despite the fact that it runs along the northern border, the width of the Danube is on average from 1.6 to 2.4 km. The highest water level in the river usually occurs during floods in June; The Danube freezes for an average of forty days a year.
Some major rivers flow directly into the Aegean Sea. Most of them quickly flow down from the mountains and through deep, picturesque gorges. Maritsa with its tributaries - river system, collecting runoff from the western part of the Upper Thracian lowland, the Sredna Gora massif, the southern slopes of the Balkan Mountains and the northern slopes of the eastern Rhodopes. After the Maritsa leaves Bulgarian territory, it flows along most of the Greek-Turkish border. Struma and Mesta (which flow from the Pirin Mountains and from the main massifs of the Rhodopes) are also major Bulgarian rivers in the basin Aegean Sea. Struma and Mesta flow into the sea in Greece.
The climate of Bulgaria
The area of Bulgaria is small, but its climate is quite diverse. The country is in the continental and Mediterranean climatic zones. The Bulgarian mountains and valleys are natural barriers or channels for air masses, which creates a sharp contrast in the weather on a relatively short distances. The continental climate zone is somewhat larger, since continental air masses easily fall on the Danube lowland.
The impact of the continental climate is stronger in winter when heavy snowfalls occur; influence mediterranean climate worse during the summer when the weather is hot, dry. The effect of the barrier of the Balkan Mountains is felt throughout the country: on average, northern Bulgaria one degree colder and she gets 192 millimeters more rain than southern Bulgaria. Since the Black Sea is not large enough to be the main factor influencing the weather in the country, it has a predominant effect only on its coast.
Balkan mountains - northern border an area in which continental air masses circulate freely. The Rhodopes are the southern limit of the dominance of Mediterranean weather systems. The area in between, which includes the Upper Thracian Plain, is influenced by a combination of the two systems, with continental predominance. This combination creates a flat climate, with long summers and high humidity. The climate in this region is generally more severe than in other parts of Europe at the same latitude. Since this is a transitional area, average temperatures and precipitation are erratic and can vary greatly from year to year.
The average rainfall in Bulgaria is about 630 millimeters per year. Dobruja in the northeast, the Black Sea coast, and parts of the Upper Thracian Plain usually receive less than 500 millimeters of rainfall. The rest of the Upper Thracian Lowland and the Danube Upland are slightly less than the national average; The Upper Thracian lowland often experiences a summer drought. In more high territories, which receives the most rainfall in the country, the average rainfall can be more than 2,540 millimeters per year.
IN in large numbers basins located in the highlands, there are temperature inversions as a result of air stagnation. Sofia is located in such a basin, but at this altitude (about 530 meters) there is a tendency for the summer temperature to decrease and the high humidity to decrease. Sofia is also protected from northern European winds by the mountains that surround its trough-like basin. Temperatures in Sofia average -2°C in January and around 28°C in August. The level of precipitation in Sofia is about the average for the country, and in general the climate is quite comfortable.
On the coast of Bulgaria, the climate is temperate due to the Black Sea, however strong winds and severe local storms are frequent in winter period. Winters on the Danube coast are very cold, while the sheltered valleys in the south near the Greek and Turkish borders may have as mild a climate as the Mediterranean or Aegean coasts.
The average annual temperature is approximately 12 C. January temperatures range from -2 C in the north to positive temperatures in the south. In July, average temperatures are 23 - 24 C. By Black Sea coast smaller temperature amplitudes. For example, in Varna, the average January temperature is 3 C, and in summer it is about 21 C.
Flora of Bulgaria
About 30% of the territory of the Republic of Belarus is occupied by forests (mainly beech and oak, coniferous in the Rila-Rhodope Mountains). At the end of the 20th century, forests in Bulgaria occupied 3.8 million hectares, or about 30% of the country's area. Of these, about 31% are coniferous, and the rest are deciduous with a predominance of beech, oak, ash and hornbeam. Only 15% of forest plantations are of industrial importance, and the rest are predominantly low-productive or perform water protection and soil protection functions.
The forests of Bulgaria are represented by oaks on the plains and coniferous trees in the mountains. The pride of the country is flowers. In the first place in popularity - of course, roses. Without them it is impossible to imagine the Bulgarian landscape. In addition, the cultivation and sale of roses, as well as products made from these flowers, is the main source of income for the inhabitants of Bulgarian villages. Bulgaria is famous for its oil-bearing roses, which bloom throughout the Kazanlak Valley, known as pink valley. High in the mountains there are very rare and beautiful flowers - edelweiss. The varieties of Bulgarian tobacco are familiar to the whole world. Lilac is common here - a shrub or a low tree from the olive family.
Animal world of Bulgaria
The fauna of the country is very diverse: roe deer, chamois, red deer, and wild boars live in the Bulgarian forests. There are many bears in Bulgaria; they are most often found in mountainous areas especially the sparsely populated. There are also wolves, deer, roe deer. Vipers can be found in the mountains of the southeastern part of the country. There are many turtles in the south of Bulgaria. This is a rare species of reptiles, which is on the verge of extinction, and the country's authorities are trying to preserve it.
The country is famous for its birds. In the Danube Delta there is a huge number of migratory birds that prefer to spend the winter here because of favorable conditions. climatic conditions. Birds of prey live in the mountains: eagles, vultures, falcons and hawks.
But animal world The country has suffered greatly due to the reduction of forested areas. Bear, wild boar, deer, and chamois are still found in the forests. The ferret, weasel, wolf, fox, badger, jackal are also common; from rodents - a squirrel, a hare, a dormouse. In the 1970s, packs of wolves became a real disaster, attacking villages on winter nights in search of sheep or calves, but in last years the number of these predators has been significantly reduced. IN national parks created on the territory of the country, work is underway to preserve and increase the number of animals under state protection.
It is quite reasonable, before deciding to purchase real estate, to take an interest in the positive and negative aspects of a particular country. After all, your well-being in subsequent years depends on the decision you make. Is it better to buy a Spanish apartment or become the owner of a Bulgarian villa? Buying a property is always a pleasure and opens up new perspectives. Therefore, it is worth reflecting on what opportunities will present themselves and whether it is possible to miss something important when making a deal.
Real estate prices
The very first thing we are interested in is the pricing policy that has been formed in these countries. Therefore, we compare real estate prices in Bulgaria and Spain and consider these states in terms of financial benefits. Experts in the real estate market note that prices over the past 10 years have Spanish resorts practically did not change significantly. If you invest in the acquisition of such real estate, then if necessary, its sale may cause problems. Since this country is much more difficult to survive the consequences of the crisis and the demand is not so great, you can sell the purchased property. On this moment the cost of one square meter is about 1000-2000€. How are things in Bulgaria? Here the opposite situation is observed. Over the past decade, Bulgarian real estate has noticeably begun to attract the attention of foreign investors. Currently the average price is 500-1500€ per square meter. Because there is no big gap between prices, investing money in Bulgarian real estate will be more productive. Given the constant increase in demand, in a few years (if necessary) it will not be difficult to sell such a property.
Taxation
Sooner or later you have to deal with the payment of property taxes. If you compare these figures in Bulgaria and Spain, you can find a significant difference. For example, the Bulgarian property tax is 0.25%. In Spain, it ranges from 0.2-2.5%. In the case of a donation or inheritance, it ranges from 0.01% to 7%. The Spanish state has set the rate from 8% to 34%.
Ecology
Each state is fighting for the preservation of the environment in its country. In Spain international organization Greenpeace has been registered as a high environmental risk. This was due to the active operation of coal-fired thermal power plants, which led to huge emissions. carbon dioxide. In addition, you can suffer from floods and hurricanes, which are not uncommon in this state. In contrast, in Bulgaria Special attention devoted to the preservation of the environment. The Bulgarian government has directed its efforts to the creation of many nature reserves, park areas which are under the protection of UNESCO. The location of this state minimizes natural disasters.
Other factors
Those who are going to move to the country for permanent residence, of course, are concerned about more pressing issues. Although wages are higher in Spain than in Bulgaria, taxes are also higher. Bulgaria has one of the lowest crime rates in Europe. What can not be said about Spain. There are about 40-50 crimes per 1000 inhabitants. And finally, just spending your vacation in Bulgarian resorts will be less expensive than spending a vacation in Spain. Decision is on you. But the above facts will surely help you make the right choice!
Spain occupies an area of 505,955 sq. km and thus is among the 50 largest countries in the world in terms of territory.
Most of the territory is located on the Iberian Peninsula, the rest - about 12,500 sq. km falls on the islands - Balearic and Canary, more than 32 sq. km is occupied by the cities of Ceuta and Melilla, located on the African coast.
The location of the Iberian Peninsula in the south-west of Europe and its remoteness from the African continent at a distance of only 14 km provide Spain with great strategic importance: on the one hand, access to the Mediterranean Sea, on the other, the role of a crossroads on the way to Africa and America.
The peninsular location of a significant part of Spain also explains the presence of extensive coastlines - along Atlantic Ocean And mediterranean sea.
Spain is located at the crossroads of important maritime and airways linking Europe with Africa and the Americas. Of particular importance are the Mediterranean position and the relative proximity of oil and gas regions. North Africa and the Middle East. This contributes to the development of large coastal industrial complexes on the basis of imported raw materials and, above all, oil. Thanks to the progress of transport, the system Pyrenees mountains ceased to be a serious obstacle to overland communications with Western European countries.
The strategic position along the Strait of Gibraltar at one time allowed Spain to be the mistress of the Mediterranean Sea. Largely due to this, Spain has become the birthplace of many great navigators and discoverers.
The smallest (about 7 sq. km) neighbor of Spain is considered to be the possession of Great Britain in the South of the Iberian Peninsula, near Strait of Gibraltar- Gibraltar. A small territory with a population of 30 thousand people primarily serves the naval and air bases Great Britain. The local economy is supported by the profits generated from well-equipped docks, where ships go to repair. The Port of Gibraltar is a transit port.
In addition to servicing ships, the economy of Gibraltar also receives replenishment due to the small number of tourists and vacationers coming from neighboring Spain.
Gibraltar is a member of the EU, having a special status within the union, according to which it is exempt from the common customs tariff, general rules agriculture and value added tax. True, it is worth noting that agricultural products are not produced in Gibraltar.
Treaty between Gibraltar and European Union, was a key factor in strengthening the country's status as a financial center. The inclusion of Gibraltar in the European economic system, along with the advantages of an offshore zone, made it possible to significantly increase the profitability of investments directed to various areas of the country's financial business. This circumstance and the efforts made by the Gibraltar authorities to improve legislation have provided real conditions for the accelerated development and growth of financial services.
Companies incorporated in Gibraltar, foreign companies or branches of foreign companies under the (Taxation and Benefits) Laws may apply for exempt company status. Exempt companies are not subject to income tax, capital gains, return tax on dividends and interest and stamp duty (except for capital tax at a rate of 0.5% and tax on the transfer of immovable property located in Gibraltar). Bank interest earned by an exempt company in Gibraltar is not subject to local taxation. The company's command and control center can be located anywhere. Thus, the small territory is one of the favorite places for registering offshore companies, receiving modest but stable dividends to the treasury, and is gradually turning into a developed international financial center.
The Principality of Andorra, despite its small area (465 sq. km) and population of 57.1 thousand people, is developed in a European way, having a stable economy. The basis of the economy is service foreign tourists(from 9 to 12 million people per year), tobacco and textile industries. According to the data for 2000, the GNP per capita is $16,660, which is a very good indicator for the principality. The manufactured goods are exported to Spain (58%) and France (38%). Andorra also imports goods from France and Spain, being in a certain dependence on its neighbors, directly explaining the fact that before the introduction of the euro in Andorra there was no national currency. Instead, the Spanish peseta and the French franc were in circulation.
