Spain geographic location estimate. The geographical position of Spain. Kingdom of Spain - Reino de Espana
The capital of Spain is Madrid. Spain occupies most (85%) of the Iberian Peninsula. From the northeast it borders with France, they are separated by the Pyrenees. The country also borders on Portugal, Andorra, the English colony of Gibraltar and Morocco. In the south and east 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 Pititus Islands in the Mediterranean Sea. Spain is the second largest country (509.9 thousand km2). Population - 40.85 million people.
Physical and geographical characteristics of the region and the specifics of Spain
The relief of Spain is very diverse. The center of the country is located at a distance of 300 kilometers from the sea. The relief is dominated by systems of mountain ranges and high plateaus.
Plateaus and mountains make up about 90 percent of its territory. Almost half of the country's surface is occupied by a vast, Europe's largest high plateau - with average height 660 meters Meset. It is distinguished by the alternation of plateaus, fold-block ridges and mountain basins. The Central Cordillera divides Meseta into two parts: northern and southern.
In the north, Meseta is bordered by the powerful Cantabrian Mountains, which stretch along the coast. Bay of Biscay for 600 kilometers, isolating the hinterland from the influence of the sea. In their central part there is the Picos de Europa massif (from Spanish - Peaks of Europe) with heights up to 2648 m. These mountains of the Alpine type are composed mainly of deposits of the Carboniferous period - limestone, quartzite, sandstone. The Cantabrian mountains are an orographic and tectonic continuation of the most powerful mountain system Spain - Pyrenees.
The Pyrenees are several parallel ranges stretching from west to east for 450 kilometers. This is one of the most inaccessible mountainous countries Europe. Although on average they are not very high (a little over 2500 meters), they have only a few conveniently located passes. All 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 Aerbe - Oloron - Saintes Marie and Ripoll - Prades, through a system of tunnels. The widest and high part mountains - central. Here is their main peak - Aneto Peak, reaching 3405 meters.
From the northeast, the system of the Iberian mountains adjoins the Meseta, maximum height(peak Mon Cayo) - 2313 meters.
Between the eastern Pyrenees and the Iberian mountains stretch the low Catalan Mountains, the southern slopes of which break off in ledges to the Mediterranean Sea. The Catalan Mountains (average heights 900-1200 meters, peak - Mount Caro, 1447 meters) follow for 400 kilometers almost parallel to the coast mediterranean sea and actually separate the Aragonese plateau from it. The areas of coastal plains developed in Murcia, Valencia and Catalonia north of Cape Palos to the border with France are highly fertile.
All southeast Iberian Peninsula occupied by the Cordillera Betica, which is a system of massifs and ridges. Its crystalline axis is the mountains of the Sierra Nevada. In height, they are second only to the Alps in Europe. Their peak, Mount Mulasen, reaching 3478 meters, is the highest point in peninsular Spain. However, the highest Mountain peak Spain is located on the island of Tenerife (Canary Islands) - this is the Teide volcano, whose height reaches 3718 meters.
Most of Spain is located at an altitude of about 700 meters above sea level. It is the second highest country in Europe after Switzerland.
The only large lowland - Andalusian - is located in the south of the country. In the northeast of Spain in the valley of the river. The Ebro stretches the Aragonese plain. Smaller lowlands stretch along the Mediterranean Sea. One of the main rivers of Spain flows through the Andalusian lowland (and the only navigable in downstream) - Guadalquivir. The rest of the rivers, including the largest ones: Tajo and Duero, the lower reaches of which are located on the territory of neighboring Portugal, the Ebro, Guadiana, are distinguished by sharp seasonal level fluctuations and rapids.
Large areas of the country suffer from lack of water. Related to this is the problem of erosion - millions of tons of topsoil are blown out every year.
The capital of Spain - Madrid - is located in the geographical center of the country and is the "highest" capital in Europe.
There are more than two thousand beaches on the coast of Spain: Costa Brava, Costa Dorada, Costa del Assar, Costa de Almeria, Costa Blanca, Mar Menor, Costa del Sol, Costa de la Luz, Rias -Bajas, Rias Altas, Costa Cantabrica, Canaries and Balearic Islands.
Spain is one of the warmest countries in Western Europe. Average quantity sunny days is 260-285. The average annual temperature on the Mediterranean coast is 20 degrees Celsius. In winter, the temperature drops 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 south 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 attributed entirely to the Mediterranean climatic region. These differences are manifested both in temperature and in annual amounts and precipitation patterns. In the far northwest, the climate is mild and humid with slight temperature fluctuations throughout the year and big amount precipitation. Constant winds from the Atlantic bring a lot of moisture, mainly in winter, when foggy and cloudy weather prevails with drizzling rain, almost without frost and snow. The average temperature of the coldest month is the same as in the northwest of France. Summer is hot and humid average temperature rarely above 16 degrees Celsius. Annual rainfall exceeds 1070 mm, and in some places reaches 2000 mm. Completely different conditions in the interior of the country - on the plateau of Old and New Castile and the Aragonese plain. In these areas, the influence of the plateau-mountain-hollow relief, considerable height, and local continental air is felt. They are characterized by relatively low precipitation (no more than 500 mm per year) and sharp temperature fluctuations by season. In Old Castile and the Plain of Aragon there are rather cold winters, with frosts and strong, harsh winds; summers are hot and rather dry, although the maximum precipitation falls on this season of the year. In New Castile, the climate is slightly milder, with more warm winter but also with low rainfall. Agriculture in all these areas needs artificial irrigation.
Minerals
The bowels of Spain abound in minerals. Especially significant are the reserves of metal ores, the deposits of which are associated with outcrops of the folded base of the Meseta or with volcanic rocks of mountain structures. Along the northwestern outskirts of the 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 deposit of mercury, which has global 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 largest coal basin in the country. In addition, there are small deposits of coal on the southern slopes of the mountains and in some other areas. The Cenozoic deposits of intermountain and intramountain depressions contain strata of salts and brown coal. Significant reserves of potash salts are located within the Ebro plain. It is worth noting, however, that most of the mineral deposits in the country are very modest in size and rather heavily depleted, like many deposits in other European regions, which makes Spain dependent on the export of minerals, mainly from North Africa.
Spain located in southwestern Europe, occupies 85.8% of the Iberian Peninsula; capital - Madrid. total area Spain 499.4 thousand sq. km, land area - 504.78 thousand sq. km. Spain is the fourth largest country in Europe (after Russia, Ukraine and France), has land borders With Portugal(in the West, length - 1214 km), s France (in the north, length - 623 km), s Gibraltar (on South, length - 1.2 km).
In the West the country is washed Atlantic Ocean, in the north - Bay of Biscay, in the east - mediterranean sea, on South - Strait of Gibraltar and is located at a distance of 14 km from Morocco (northwest coast of Africa). Length coastline Spain is 4964 km., total area states - 504.788 sq. km.
Current water temperature in Spain:
Also go Iberplan travel agency buses Monday through Saturday. Departure from Plaza Catalunya ( Playa de Catalunya before hard rock Cafe) from Barcelona at 10:00, 15:30 and 18:00. From La Roca Village: at 14:00, 17:00, 22:00. It is advisable to book places in advance.
Can be reached and by train- from the station Sants in Barcelona to the station Granrollers Center, the nearest railway station to La Roca Village. from the station Granrollers 20 minutes by bus or by taxi.
Demography
49.4% population - men, A 50.6% - women;
Average life expectancy for men is 76.32 years old, women- 83.2 , which is in line with the general indicators for Western Europe.
During recent years main driver of population growth- the flow of immigrants from African countries, Latin America And of Eastern Europe(for comparison, in 2004 the population of Spain was 40.28 million people). Spain is characterized by one of the most intensive inflows of immigrants in Europe. In terms of birth rate, the state is in 119th place in the world.
Age structure:
0-14 years old: 14.4% (male 3,000,686/female 2,821,325)
15 to 64 years old: 67.8% (male 13,751,963/female 13,653,426)
65 years and older: 17.7% (male 2,993,496/female 4,176,946)
Average age:
total: 39.9 years
male: 38.6 years
female: 41.3 years
Population Growth Rate: 0.13%
Birth rate: 10.06 newborns/per 1000 people
Mortality rate: 9.72 deaths/1000 people
Migration level: 0.99 migratory/per 1000 people
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.07 male/female
up to 15 years: 1.06 male/female
from 15 to 64 years old: 1.01 male/female
65 years and older: 0.72 male/female
total population: 0.96 male/female
Child mortality rate:
total: 4.37 deaths/1000 live births
male: 4.76 deaths/1000 births
female: 3.95 deaths/1000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 79.65 years
male: 76.32 years
female: 83.2 years
General birth rate: 1.28 newborns/women
Industry
It is possible to identify several industrial centers Spain. In Barcelona And Valencia focused automotive, textile, chemical industry, is also carried out most design projects. INBilbao And Gijon developed steel industry, are shipyards. Information and computer center Spain is Madrid.
vegetable and animal world
As a consequence of the geographical position, Spain's flora and fauna of the Kingdom is very diverse. Vegetable world Spain has more than 8 thousand species, some of which are found only here. Greatest Variety flora meets on the North Atlantic slopes of the Cantabrian mountains and the Galician massif, this area is often called "green" Spain.
Banks and money
Spanish banknotes / Currency converter
Since January 4, 1999, Spain has put into circulation Euro, since 2002, the former national currency, the peseta, has been withdrawn from circulation.
Access to banking services is possible in all cities of Spain. The most powerful banking groups are Banco de Bilbao and Vizcaya(BBV) And Central Hispano. The Spanish banking system is bureaucratized and, despite a large number of branches and offices, some operations are slow. Banks work from Monday to Saturday from 9.00 to 16.30. Among the financial institutions in Spain are the following:
-Banco de España- Central Bank of Spain.
- Banco Sabadell- a universal bank with more than 400 both in Spain and abroad.
- Bilbao Bizkaia Kutxa(BBK listen)) is the largest in the Basque Country and the fourth largest savings bank in Spain
- Banco Santander- a bank with branches in 31 countries abroad, including the USA
- Kutxa- savings bank.
- Caixa d "Estalvis i Pensions de Barcelona- a financial group consisting of a savings bank and several other financial institutions
- Caja San Fernando is a savings bank operating in Western Andalusia.
- Caixa de Catalunya- Catalan Savings Bank
- Open Bank- open bank.
- Ibercaja- Spanish Savings Bank
Easy to get around in Madrid metro- cheap and quite comfortable. This type of transport operates from 6 am to 1:30 am, the train interval is 6-8 minutes, during peak hours - 2-3 minutes, after midnight - 15 minutes.
There are many shuttle buses , the minus of movement on which are frequent traffic jams. Buses run from 6 am to 12 am. The cost of a ticket that allows you to use public transport during the day - 3.5 euros.
Taxi can be ordered by phone from any hotel or bar, or directly at the parking lot. Higher rates apply at night and on holidays. Identification signs of a taxi - the presence of a light board " Taxi". Inscription " Libre” (as an alternative - a green light) indicates that the taxi is free. Payment is made in accordance with the indicators of the counter.
Car rental allowed, depending on the brand of the vehicle, to persons from 19 or from 21 years old, subject to a driving experience of more than a year. To rent a car, you must present your driving license and passport, the cost of the rental is 20-60 euros per day (excluding the cost of gasoline). The rental price includes insurance. In the event of an accident, contact the rental company and call the police on tel. 091 Some rental locations require a deposit, which, if the car is returned in proper condition at the end of the rental period, is returned. you must leave a deposit, which will be returned after the end of the rental period.
In Spain there are common European traffic rules.
There are 3 types of roads available for driving:
- national(on the maps they are marked in red and the letter N)
- municipal(black or green color and letter C)
- freeways(blue color and letter A).
On national and municipal roads travel is free, the maximum speed limit is 90 km/h, the passage on the motorway is paid (for this purpose, turnstiles have been prudently installed on the motorways). The total length of roads is 666,292 km.
Toll roads in Spain significantly reduce travel time and at the same time are no more expensive than free roads due to lower fuel consumption.
Basically all the roads are free and in very good condition. Only freeways (autopislas, marked with an "A" on a blue background) are paid.
You can move around the country with the help of aviation, maritime (main ports- Algeciras, Alicante, Almeria, Barcelona, Vigo, Cadiz, Cartagena, La Coruña, Malaga, Santander, Tarragona, Valencia, Gijón) or railway transport , characterized by a wide variety of routes and frequent schedules. In case of movement along railways(total length - 14,974 km, of which 6,404 km are electrified) it should be borne in mind that there are the following types of trains:
-Ave(Ave) - high speed trains luxury, which connect so far only Madrid and Seville. The fare varies between 12,000 pesetas (1st class) and 9,000 pesetas (2nd class).
- Talgo(Talgo) - fast trains.
- Expresso(EXPRESSO) is a passenger train that stops only in big cities.
- Tranvia, Automotor
(Tranvia) - a local train, usually follows with all stops.
- Special tourist sightseeing trains.
Train tickets can be bought for a maximum of 60, minimum - 5 days before the departure of the train.
You can also use intercity bus lines.
Minerals
Main minerals Spain are mercury, uranium, tin, lead, zinc, iron, pyrite. Also in the country there are deposits of coal, iron ore, tungsten, copper
Tips for maids should be left on the bed, not on the table or bedside table, only then they will be guaranteed to be taken.
Most restaurants and bars are open every day, especially for major cities.
The nature Spaniards are serious, open, gallant, humane, have a great sense of humor and the ability to work in a team, although they are not particularly hardworking. Inhabitants northern countries may consider a conversation between two Spaniards a quarrel, a squabble, but this is the manner of speaking adopted in Spain. Gotta train yourself speak louder and more expressively. Spaniards are noisy, but open and friendly. The Spaniards' tendency to be late is the butt of many jokes. Since the Spaniards like to talk a lot, the rules of meetings are often not respected. At siesta time
To purchase the vast majority of medicines in Spanish pharmacies no prescription required. In the country well developed both public and private health sectors. EU citizens they have a right for free medical service in Spain. Everyone entering the country recommended have an insurance policy with you.
Economic and geographical position
Spain is a country located in the southwest of Europe. The entire territory of the country is located on the Iberian Peninsula (occupies about 85% of its common territory), Pitius and Balearic Islands (Mediterranean Sea), Canary Islands (Atlantic Ocean), Chafarinas Islands, enclaves on the coast of Africa, the cities of Melilla and Ceuta (North African coast).
The total area of the territory is 504.782 thousand square meters. km. Madrid is the capital of Spain.
Continental Spain borders on:
- Portugal (in the west),
- France and Andorra (in the north),
- Morocco, Melilla and the colony of Gibraltar.
In the northwest and southwest, the country is washed by the Atlantic Ocean, from the north - by the Bay of Biscay, in the east and southeast - by the waters of the Mediterranean Sea.
The geographical position of the Iberian Peninsula relative to Europe and the African continent provide great strategic importance.
The state is located at the intersection of important air and sea routes linking Europe with America and Africa.
The proximity of the oil and gas bearing regions of the Middle East and North Africa, as well as the Mediterranean position, play an important role. This favors the development of large seaside industrial complexes.
Modern Spain belongs to the highly developed countries.
Spain is the world's leading manufacturer and exporter of vehicles, boats and other Vehicle, equipment for gas compressors and nuclear power plants, machine tools, forging equipment, chemical products, petroleum products, ferrous and non-ferrous metallurgy products, cement and other building materials, agricultural products (olives, fruits, vegetables).
Remark 1
More than 70% of foreign trade turnover falls on Germany, France, Italy. These countries are Spain's leading importers of consumer goods and major suppliers of machinery and science-intensive products.
natural conditions
Spain is characterized by exceptional natural diversity. The landscapes of the northern and southern, inland and coastal areas are very different from each other.
There are many in the Iberian Peninsula mountain ranges covered with coniferous and broad-leaved forests, dry steppes are located on the plateaus. The plains account for only 10% of the territory, the rest is occupied by plateaus, hills and mountains.
The largest mountain ranges include: the Catalan Mountains, the Pyrenees, the Cantabrian Mountains, the Iberian Mountains, the Toledo Mountains, the Central Cordillera, the Cordillera Betica, the Sierra Morena, the Sierra Nevada from the very high point Spain - Mount Mulasen (3478 m).
Lowlands are located on the periphery of the country. The most important in economic terms are the Andalusian lowland (cultivation of agricultural crops), the Murcia and Valencia lowlands (territories of citrus cultivation).
The climate of Spain is characterized by climatic contrasts. The main part of the country is located in the zone of influence of the subtropical mediterranean climate. In the northern regions, heavy rainfall is observed all year round. Some southern regions lack precipitation (300-800 mm per year).
Natural resources
Minerals. In the Sierra Morena mountains, the world's richest deposits of ores of lead and zinc, copper pyrite, and manganese have been developed. Almaden is the largest mercury deposit. The ore belt with deposits of tin and tungsten is located in Galicia. The country has deposits of iron ore and coal (Basque Country, Leon, Asturias), reserves of gold, silver, bauxite, molybdenum, titanium, uranium, kaolin, rock salt and refractory clays. Construction raw materials are represented by gypsum, basalt and marble. There are small deposits of oil (Catalonia, Burgos) and gas (Basque Country, Cadiz, Aragon).
Water resources. Placed unevenly: in the east and southeast there is a lack of water, in the northwest - its excess. The main rivers of the country are Tajo, Duero, Guadiana, Ebro, Guadalquivir, Minho. There are large reserves of groundwater.
agricultural resources. The country has 25.6 million hectares of agricultural land. Grain production, horticulture, vine growing, poultry farming and animal husbandry are developed. The country is one of the world's leading producers of olives and olive oil, grape wines. In Andalusia, the Levant, the Balearic Islands, citrus fruits are produced, in Extremadura and Valencia - almonds and pomegranates, in the areas of the city of Elche - dates, in northern Spain- apple and pear trees, in Extremadura - vegetables and fruits, in Alicante, Murcia - tomatoes, in Valencia - onions, in the Canary Islands - avocados and mangoes.
Bioresources. Spain occupies a leading position in the catch and processing of fish. The main fishing ports are in Galicia - Riveira, Vigo, La Coruña. Pasaches - major port on the shores of the Bay of Biscay. Developed fishing in the Canary Islands. The main centers of fish processing are La Coruña, Vigo, El Ferrol.
Recreational resources. The development of tourism is favored by the sunny climate, magnificent nature mountain ranges, pebbly and sandy beaches, numerous sources mineral waters.
Flora and fauna
Remark 2
About 8 thousand different plant species grow in Spain. There are significant differences in the nature of the vegetation different districts countries.
The most typical are broad-leaved forests and rich meadows. There are few forests in the northern regions, and vegetation of the Mediterranean type predominates (evergreen shrubs - gariga, maquis; semi-shrubs - tomillarami). There are many forests along the river valleys and on the slopes of the mountains; beech and cork oak predominate among tree species.
Grow on the Mediterranean coast different kinds palms, pines, agaves, prickly pear. From cultivated plants- plantations of tangerine, olive, lemon, peach, apricot and fig trees, grapes.
In areas with dry soil, juniper, prickly gorse, thyme, rosemary, lavender, and sage grow.
In the fauna of the country, Central European and African connections can be traced. The most common representatives of the animal world: brown bear, deer, roe deer, fallow deer, chamois, lynx, wild boar, fox, wolf, forest cat, mountain goat, hares, moles and squirrels. Near Strait of Gibraltar there are Egyptian mongooses, genets, chameleons.
IN mountainous areas preserved red deer and mountain (Pyrenean) goat, chamois. In the mountains of the province of Toledo and the semi-steppe regions of Extremadura, fallow deer are common.
In Spain, there are endemic forms of avifauna: Sultan's chicken, blue magpie, flamingos. Typical representatives are blue magpie and red keklik, black hawks, waterfowl (geese, ducks, flamingos, herons, storks).
Kingdom of Spain (as Spain is called in official sources) is in fourth place in the list of the most extensive countries European continent, occupying more than 500,000 sq. km. territory. It owns about 80% of the Iberian Peninsula. Spain also includes the Canary and Balearic Islands and two cities located in northern Africa: Ceuta and Melilla.
The northern and western parts of the country go to the waters Atlantic Ocean. The remaining two sides of Spain are in contact with the Mediterranean Sea. The kingdom borders four countries: France, Andorra, Portugal and Morocco.
More than half of the territory of Spain is located at 700 meters above sea level. The country has a rather diverse relief, combining mountain ranges, lowlands and plateaus. The kingdom is a kind of bridge through which the European and African continents are connected. It is here that several, sometimes completely different cultures intersect.
Population
The total number of inhabitants inhabiting Spain reaches 50 million people. About 76% of them live in large and small cities. Compared to other countries on the European continent, Spain has a relatively low medium density: on one square kilometer about 80 people meet here. In addition to the Spaniards who inhabit the Kingdom, the native inhabitants include Catalans and Basques. Immigrants are also abundant in the country, numbering 3.5 million people.
The population is distributed quite unevenly. Most of the inhabitants prefer to settle along the coast. As you move deeper into Spanish territory, the number of people systematically decreases with the exception of large cities and industrial regions. The main religion professed by the majority of the population is Catholicism.
Political structure
The current Spanish constitution was adopted in 1978. According to this document, a constitutional monarchy was established in the country. The state has three branches of power, divided among themselves: legislative, executive and judicial. The Spanish capital is Madrid, where the members of parliament, the king and the main authorities sit. The state is unitary. It is divided into 17 autonomous regions, each of which, in turn, consists of provinces numbering 50 units. There are two autonomous cities located in Africa: Melilla and Ceuta. Spain is one of the countries that make up the European Union.
Regional division
Spain is a popular tourist country, divided into several zones with their own climate, culture and geographical features.
In the northern part of the Iberian Peninsula is located "Green Spain". It is inhabited by the Basques, inhabitants of the provinces of Cantabria, Asturias and Galicia. This region, whose climate is predominantly maritime, is considered the coldest.
Most often, tourists come to Valencia, Catalonia and Andalusia. These regions have a pleasant climate for recreation and life. They present developed infrastructure intended for tourism activities. In particular, many old cities founded before our era have been preserved here, cultural monuments and much more. Local kitchen considered one of the best in all of Spain.
Those tourists who prefer sea vacation, visit the Canary and Balearic Islands.
Languages
Most of the population of Spain speaks Castilian or Spanish. It is he who is enshrined in the constitution as an official one. In addition to it, there are other languages in the country: Catalan, Basque, Valencian, Balearic and Galician.
Time Zones
Most of the country lives in a time zone that is 2 hours ahead of the Greenwich meridian in summer and 1 hour behind in winter. Population only canary islands lives in a different time. The difference with the rest of the country is minus 1 hour.
Spain - big state southwestern part of Europe, occupying most of the Iberian Peninsula, the Canary, Pitius, Balearic Islands. Territory area - 504,750 sq.m., land area - 499,400 sq.m.
Geographic characteristics
The Kingdom of Spain is located in the southern part of Europe, occupying about five-sixths of the territory of the Iberian Peninsula. The situation is isolated, due to the presence of the Pyrenees. Except Portugal on the western side.
The territory is bordered by countries such as France, Andorra and Gibraltar in the northwest and south. Approximately 30% of the country is the massif of the Meseta plateau with the ridges of the Central Cordillera in the central part. The rest of the territory is occupied by the Pyrenees, which make the center of Spain inaccessible from the mainland.
Nature
Mountains
The main part of the country is occupied by the Meseta plateau with the Central Cordillera. 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 different beautiful beaches and bays...
Rivers and lakes
On the territory flow numerous rivers and there are lakes with predominantly rain origin. This affects the water level summer time at low humidity, rivers and lakes become very shallow, winter time the water level rises greatly.
The following rivers flow through the country: Tagus with a length of 910 km, Duero - 780 km, Guadiana, whose length is 820 km, Guadalquivir with a length of 560 km. The lakes of the country are located mainly in mountainous areas, they are not subject to seasonal fluctuations as much as water resources plains...
The seas and oceans surrounding Spain
The special geographical position of Spain makes it attractive for tourists. This is due to the presence of more than 4 thousand km of coastline with luxurious beaches, picturesque rocks, quiet, cozy bays. The country in the south and east is washed warm waters the Mediterranean Sea, in the north - the waters of the Bay of Biscay, and in the southwest - 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 extensive forests have been preserved only in the north of the country, which is associated with active economic activity. The diversity of the plant world is determined by the climate, mainly broad-leaved forests (ash, chestnut, elm, beech, oak), in the mountains there are evergreen coniferous and oak forests, above are vast alpine meadows.
Spain is characterized by deciduous forests, including pedunculate and sessile oaks, ash, and hazel. Beech and fir are common in the mountains. The Mediterranean regions are rich in plantings of laurel and holm 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, blackthorn, thickets of wild roses.
richest in vegetable world are the North Atlantic slopes of the country, the flat parts of the Ebro River. The "dry" part of the country is distinguished by the Mediterranean types of vegetation - thickets of juniper, myrtle, rockrose.
The animal world 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 meet a brown bear, foxes, wolves, lynxes. The territory of the country is considered the richest in Europe in terms of the diversity of birds. In summer, about 25 species of birds of prey live in the territory, late autumn And in early spring on the territory you can observe rare species of birds, colonies of flamingos, geese.
In Spain, reptiles are found in abundance - snakes, lizards, chameleons. Scorpions and tarantulas can be found in the southeast and semi-desert. In inland waters, the surrounding seas are found salmon, lobsters, as well as tuna, lobsters, crayfish ...
The 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. Average annual temperature fluctuates within +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 the flat areas - 300-500 mm per year ...
Resources
Spain is rich in Natural resources due to its geographic location. In the Sierra Morena mountains there are the largest deposits of zinc, lead ores, manganese, copper pyrite. Iron ore is concentrated in the Basque Country, Leon, Asturias, Almeria, Teruel, Granada, the estimated volume of such ores is approximately 2.5 million tons. Galicia and Northern part countries 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 located in the valley of the river. Baldeasage, province of Ciudad Real. The pyrites are concentrated in southern regions mountains of the Sierra Morena. The reserves of coal, lingit, anthracite are concentrated in the northern regions, Galicia, Aragon, Asturias. But coking coal is extremely scarce, its overall quality is not high...
