Spain

Template:Hide Template:Automatic status infobox Spain is a country in southwestern Europe whose territory occupies most of the Iberian Peninsula.

It borders France and the principality of Andorra to the northeast, Portugal to the west, and is bordered to the north, northwest, and southwest by the Atlantic Ocean and to the east and southeast by the Mediterranean Sea. The British territory of Gibraltar, from which the strait of the same name that separates the peninsula from Africa takes its name, is located at the southern tip of Spain. Spanish territories include the Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean, the Canary Islands in the Atlantic, the cities of Ceuta and Melilla in Morocco, the islands of Peñón de Vélez de la Gomera and Peñón de Alhucemas, and the Chafarinas archipelago off the African coast. The country's surface area, including its islands, is Template:Area km². Spain has a coastline of 4,964 km; the capital is Madrid.

Territory

Most of Spain's territory (about 85%) is occupied by the Meseta, a vast plateau of Hercynian origin with an average altitude of about 600 meters. This ancient plateau is divided into two distinct sections—the Northern Meseta and the Southern Meseta—by the Sistema Central. The highest mountains of the Central System are the Sierra de Guadarrama, the Sierra de Gredos (2,592 m), and the Toledo Mountains.

The Meseta is bordered to the north by the Cantabrian Mountains, culminating in the Picos de Europa (2,648 m), to the east by the mountains of the Iberian System, to the south by the Sierra Morena, and, beyond the Guadalquivir River plain, by the Baetic System, whose highest mountains are those of the Sierra Nevada, which includes the summit of Mulhacén (3,477 m), the highest peak of the Iberian Peninsula. To the west, the Meseta slopes down toward the Atlantic coast, largely Portuguese, while to the east, the Pyrenees mountain range, stretching for approximately 435 km, marks the entire border with France and Andorra, culminating at the Pico de Aneto (3,404 m). The highest peak in Spain is Pico de Teide (3,715 m) on the island of Tenerife.

Between the hills bordering the Meseta and the sea lie narrow coastal plains; the only extensive plain in the country, of alluvial origin, is that formed by the Guadalquivir River in the southwestern part of the country. In many places, the Spanish coast is interrupted by hills that slope down to the sea, forming rocky promontories. On the northwest coast, in the Bay of Biscay and in the Galician territory bordering the Cantabrian Sea, the coastline is steep and characterized by deep inlets (rías). The Mediterranean coast, approximately 1,660 km long, features stretches that are sometimes low, sometimes steep and jagged on the Costa Brava; the Costa del Sol has regular coastlines without inlets.

Hydrography

The predominantly mountainous Iberian peninsula feeds a complex hydrographic network characterized by rivers of modest flow, given the country's rather arid climate, but deeply cut into the surface of the plateau. Four rivers flow into the Atlantic: the Douro (whose basin is the largest in the country), the Tagus, the Guadiana, and the Guadalquivir. The Ebro River, the only navigable river, crosses the northeastern regions and flows into the Mediterranean through a pronounced delta.

Climate

Spain has notable climatic differences, due to several factors: average altitude, the layout of the mountains, and the shape of the Iberian Peninsula, all of which influence the oceanic influence, which is particularly strong in the northwestern part of the country. The Atlantic area is characterized by a humid climate (1,000 to 2,500 mm of annual rainfall), due to westerly winds that bring the moisture accumulated on the ocean surface to the coasts.

The oceanic influence ensures temperate seasons, with average winter temperatures between 5 and 10°C and summer temperatures between 18 and 20°C. A Mediterranean climate characterizes the eastern part of the country, with mild winters and hot, dry summers; Severe aridity is found in the central-southern region, Andalusia, which includes the Guadalquivir basin, the confluence of continental and African winds. The southern Mediterranean coast has a subtropical climate: Malaga, in the far south, has an average winter temperature of 13.9°C.

The entire Meseta has a continental climate with very low rainfall (200-500 mm annually) and strong temperature variations; temperatures can range from 40°C in summer in the capital area to -25°C in winter in the Ebro and Guadalquivir valleys. Summers in the Meseta are so arid that they cause rivers to temporarily dry up.

Flora and fauna

Only a small portion of Spain's surface is forested; forests grow primarily on the mountain slopes exposed to the humid regions, particularly in the northwest. The humidity of the west coast favors the growth of broadleaf trees (oak and beech) and, at higher altitudes, especially in the Pyrenees, pine and fir trees. Mediterranean scrub, with cork oaks, mastic trees, holm oaks, and other evergreen species, blankets the slopes of the mountains overlooking the eastern and southern coasts, where veritable irrigated oases ('huertas') are found, as well as various woody plants that thrive in dry environments, such as olive trees, one of the country's main crops, grapevines, almond trees, fig trees, and carob trees.

The interior of the country is steppe or semi-desert, with poplar oases and riparian vegetation. Shrubs and grasses are the natural formations of the Meseta. Esparto grass, used to produce paper and various types of fiber, grows abundantly here.

Animal species present in the country include the wolf, lynx, wildcat, fox, wild goat, deer, and hare; the lakes and mountain streams are home to many fish species, including tench, trout, and barbel. Numerous birds also live in Spain, including the sparrow hawk, eagle, crane, flamingo, and bustard.

Environmental issues and protection

There are numerous environmental threats and issues related to environmental conservation. Deforestation, soil erosion, and river pollution, including due to increased use of nitrogen fertilizers, as well as illegal cultivation of protected lands, desertification in poorly managed agricultural areas, and soil salinization in irrigated areas, are some of the problems facing the country. Tourism, a major source of income for the nation, also has serious environmental impacts. Protected areas are threatened by poorly planned urban development, and inefficient wastewater and water treatment plants cause serious pollution, especially during the summer months on the Mediterranean coast.

In 1998, a serious spill of toxic substances from a gold mine reservoir occurred in the south of the country. Despite attempts to divert the spill from Doñana National Park (a World Heritage Site and an important protected wetland) to the Guadalquivir River and then into the Atlantic Ocean, the environmental damage was extensive. It is estimated that the polluted waters from the spill threatened the survival of millions of birds and wildlife and caused severe economic losses to local agriculture. Another serious pollution incident, this time marine, occurred with the sinking of the oil tanker "Prestige" off the coast of Galicia in November 2002: 300 km of coastline were flooded by the oil slick, causing serious environmental and economic damage.

Spain is a party to the Ramsar Convention on the Protection of Wetlands and the World Heritage Convention. Biosphere reserves have also been established under UNESCO's Man and the Biosphere (MBA) programme. Spain has ratified the Antarctic Environmental Protocol, the Antarctic Treaty, and the 1983 Tropical Timber Treaty, as well as numerous international environmental agreements concerning air pollution, biodiversity, climate change, endangered species, environmental modification, toxic and harmful waste, marine waste dumping, marine life, the ban on nuclear testing, protection of the ozone layer, pollution from ships, and whale conservation.

The country has established numerous protected areas for wild birds under the relevant European Directive and several marine sites protected under the Mediterranean Action Plan. Protected areas, including nine national parks and several smaller sites with special conservation regimes, account for Template:Percentage of protected areas of the country. Among the main national parks are Tablas de Daimiel National Park, Doñana National Park, and Aigües Tortes National Park.

Population

Spain's population is Template:Population, with an average density of Template:Population Density people per km², relatively low compared to European averages. The urban population is Template:Percentage of urban population, while the population growth rate is virtually zero (Template:Growth rate). The least populated areas are inland, while the highest population density is found along the coasts. In the capital city area, the population density is 616 people per km². Madrid and its suburbs are home to almost a tenth of Spain's population.

The Spanish population is highly ethnically mixed due to invasions, migrations, and dominations. Celts, Iberians, Phoenicians, Greeks, Carthaginians, Romans, and Visigoths have succeeded one another over the centuries, leaving traces of their presence in various regions. Of great significance throughout the southern part of the country was the Arab occupation, which, repelled in the 12th century with the Reconquista, left an indelible mark on art, culture, and even territorial organization.

Despite the processes of national homogenization initiated by the unified state in the 15th century, which established the predominance of the Castilian element, some ethnic groups have maintained their ethno-linguistic peculiarities to this day: this is especially the case of the Basques, who live in northeastern Spain, but also of the Galicians and Catalans, who boast a cultural, historical, and linguistic specificity compared to the dominant Castilian group. The ethnic composition of the Spanish population is as follows: Spaniards (74%), Catalans (16%), Galicians (8%), and Basques (2%).

Language and religion

The official language of the country is Spanish, more specifically Castilian, which is also the official language of 21 Latin American countries. Languages ​​officially recognized only by their respective autonomous communities are Basque (Euskara), spoken in the Basque Provinces; Catalan, spoken in the northeast, and Galician (or "Galician," similar to Portuguese), widespread in the northwest. Catholicism, the state religion until 1978, is practiced by 97% of Spaniards. There are small communities of Protestants, Judaism, and Islam in the country.

Education and Culture

The Spanish education system includes secular public institutions and private schools, generally Catholic. Public education is compulsory and free for children aged six to sixteen. Students can then take one- or two-year vocational training courses or the two-year "bachillerato" (university degree) to enter university. The university system comprises three cycles of study. The first, leading to the "diplomatura," lasts three years. The second cycle, lasting two or three years, leads to the "diplomatura," It awards the "licenciatura." To obtain a doctorate, a third two-year cycle is required. The adult literacy rate is Template:Literacy rate.

Among the country's major universities are the University of Salamanca (founded in 1218), which served as a model for Latin American academies established from the 16th century onward, and the Complutense University of Madrid, founded in Alcalá de Henares at the end of the 15th century and moved to Madrid in 1836. Other historic institutions include the universities of Barcelona (1450), Valencia (1500), Seville (1502), and Granada (1531). The Royal Spanish Academy was founded in 1713, and the Royal Historical Academy in 1738.

Libraries, museums, and art galleries testify to the country's rich cultural traditions. The country's largest book collection is the National Library of Madrid (1712), which contains over four million volumes, as well as rare manuscripts, maps, prints, and the magnificent room dedicated to the great Spanish writer Miguel de Cervantes. The capital is also home to the Royal Palace Library (1760) and the University of Madrid Library (1341). Also important are the El Escorial Library and the Chapter Library of Toledo Cathedral, which houses precious ancient texts (from the 8th to the 11th centuries).

One of the world's largest art collections is housed at the Prado Museum in Madrid, which features works by major Spanish and European painters, while the Reina Sofia Art Center, also in Madrid, specializes in 19th- and 20th-century Spanish painting. Also of great interest is the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum, an art gallery and cultural center in the capital.

Catholicism is a defining element of Spanish culture. The arts, literature, the country's history, and the very lives of its inhabitants have been marked, over the centuries, by a profound religiosity. Among the oldest folkloric traditions are the fiestas and ferias, which combine sacred and profane elements, solemn processions, dances, music, and songs involving the entire citizenry. The ferias of Valencia and Seville, Corpus Christi in Toledo, and Holy Week in Valladolid are some of the most celebrated Spanish celebrations. One of the country's symbols is bullfighting, an ancient rite governed by a complex ritual.

For further information on Spanish culture, see Spanish Art; Spanish Literature; Catalan Literature; Spanish Dance; Spanish Cinema.

Administrative divisions and major cities

Spain comprises fifty provinces grouped into seventeen autonomous communities: Andalusia, Aragon, Balearic Islands, Canary Islands, Cantabria, Castilla-La Mancha, Castilla-León, Catalonia, Extremadura, Galicia, La Rioja, Madrid, Murcia, Navarre, Principality of Asturias, Basque Country, and Valencia.

Hierarchically subordinate to the capital Madrid, , but with highly significant regional functions and at times a dynamism and governance capacity that rivals it, stand out among them all, Barcelona, Spain's second largest city, a major port and commercial center, and the capital of Catalonia. Other important cities are Valencia, a major railway and industrial center; Seville, the capital of Andalusia, a port, commercial, and tourist center; Zaragoza, the capital of Aragon, a city of great economic importance; and Bilbao, the capital of Biscay, an industrial and financial center of national importance.

Economy

Spain is a traditionally agricultural country, which is embarked on the path of industrial development in the 1950s. Since the second half of the 1970s, the country has experienced extraordinary growth, radically transforming its economic and social landscape. Today, while retaining its strong agricultural base, it is an industrial nation on a European scale. The industry is based on a significant basic sector, which includes iron and steel, metallurgical and petrochemical plants with notable production capacity, as well as on a manufacturing industry which has added to the textile branch (of ancient origin in Catalonia) a series of other specialisations (such as the mechanical and automotive industries), albeit as an offshoot of large European groups. Today, tourism is added to this, one of the national economy's major resources.

The gross domestic product amounts to Template:GDP million US dollars, equivalent to a GDP of Template:GDP per capita dollars per capita. According to Eurostat data, the country's unemployment rate is Template:Unemployment rate, the highest in the European Union.

Agriculture and livestock

For many years the main sector of the Spanish economy, agriculture today contributes only a minimal portion (Template:Percentage of primary GDP) to the composition of the gross domestic product, employing Template:Percentage of primary labor force of the workforce. Most of the country's land is cultivated for Template:Land use. The main crops grown are cereals (wheat, barley, corn, rye, oats), rice, vegetables, tobacco, sugar beets, sugar cane, cotton, peanuts, sunflowers, hops, soybeans, rapeseed, olives, grapevines, and fruit trees. The Mediterranean provinces have efficient irrigation systems, which have made the arid coastal belt one of the most productive areas of the country. Thanks to public intervention, which has allowed water to be drawn from the Guadiana River, Extremadura also has a well-developed irrigation system. Still important to the national economy today is the raising of poultry, sheep, cattle, horses, and pigs.

Forestry and Fisheries

Forests cover Template:Percentage of Forests of the country's territory. The country's main forest resource is the cork oak, which fuels an industry second only to that of Portugal. Fishing plays an important role in the Spanish economy, providing significant quantities of tuna, octopus, cuttlefish, hake, sardines, anchovies, mackerel, crustaceans, and mollusks.

Energy and Mineral Resources

The energy sector is based on a highly diversified system, including hydroelectric, nuclear, and fossil fuel power plants. 20% of Spain's energy comes from nuclear power plants; in an effort to reduce the use of nuclear and fossil fuels, in recent years the Spanish government has initiated research into Alternative Energy Sources. To date, approximately 50% of Spain's electricity comes from renewable resources.

Spain's subsoil is rich in minerals. Among the main mineral resources are coal, lignite, iron, pyrite, sulfur, lead, zinc, mercury, fluorspar, tungsten, antimony, gold, silver, magnesite, salt and potassium salts, uranium, petroleum, and natural gas. The main coal mines are located in Asturias and León, while the largest iron deposits are in the same area, around Santander and Bilbao, and in the areas of Granada, Murcia, and Almería. Large mercury reserves are found in Almadén, in southwest Spain; Andalusia is rich in lead.

Industry

The industrial sector contributes Template:Percentage of secondary GDP of the GDP, employing Template:Percentage of secondary workforce of the workforce. The main steel plants are located in the Bilbao area, in Asturias, near Santander, in the Levante region, and in Catalonia. The mechanical industry is centered in the areas of Barcelona, ​​Toledo, and Seville. The largest shipyards are in El Ferrol, Cartagena, Cadiz, Barcelona, ​​and Bilbao. The textile industry (cotton) is thriving, especially in Catalonia, where major chemical plants are also located. Other key drivers of Spanish industry include the mechanical engineering sector, the production of synthetic fibers, the processing of petroleum, rubber and plastics, the production of beer, sugar, tobacco, and, finally, cement, glass, paper, and hides. Spain is also one of the world's largest producers of wine and olive oil.

The tertiary sector, which employs Template:Tertiary workforce percentage of the working population and provides Template:Tertiary GDP percentage of GDP, is dominated by tourism, which has, among other things, boosted the development of transportation, but has also caused serious environmental degradation due to the excessive expansion of hotel infrastructure, especially on the Mediterranean coasts.

Trade and Finance

The main stock exchanges are those of Madrid, Barcelona, ​​and Bilbao. Imports exceed exports, which primarily include vehicles and machinery, mining and chemical products, processed metals, textiles, leather, fish, and fruit and vegetables. In 2003, the total value of exports was US$158,213 million, compared to imports of US$210,860 million.

Major trading partners include France, Germany, Italy, Great Britain, Portugal, the Netherlands, and the United States. Before the introduction of the euro on January 1, 2002, the Spanish monetary unit was the peseta, issued by the Banco de España.

Transportation and Communications

Spain's road network consists of Template:Roads. The railway network (which consists of Template:Railways) is operated by private and state-owned companies. A high-speed rail line from Madrid to Seville has been in operation since 1992, and it will gradually be extended to the rest of the country. The national airline is Iberia, which operates domestic and international flights. The merchant fleet includes approximately 500 ships with a total gross registered tonnage of 18.5 million tons. Major ports include Vigo, Malaga, Huelva, Algeciras, Cadiz, Cartagena, and La Coruña.

The flagship airline, Iberia, is one of Europe's oldest and has its hub at Madrid–Barajas Airport. In 2010, it merged with British Airways.

State Structure

Spain returned to democracy in the second half of the 1970s, after four decades of Francisco Franco's dictatorship. Under the 1978 Constitution, Spain is a hereditary constitutional monarchy.

Executive Power

The sovereign is the head of state and the armed forces. Executive power is vested in the head of government, elected by the National Assembly upon nomination by the sovereign. The President is assisted by a Council of Ministers appointed by him and a Council of State.

Legislative Power

Legislative power is vested in the National Assembly (or General Courts, "Cortes Generales"), which has two chambers. The current Senate (Senado) is composed of 259 members who serve four-year terms, 208 of whom are elected directly and the remaining 51 by proportional representation from the regional legislatures. The Congress of Deputies (Congreso de los diputados) comprises a minimum of 300 and a maximum of 400 members who serve four-year terms; the number is set from time to time by electoral law: in the current legislature, there are 350 deputies. All citizens aged 18 and over have the right to vote.

Judicial Power

The judicial system includes a Constitutional Court (Tribunal constitucional), a Supreme Court (Tribunal supremo), and 17 High Courts, equal to the number of regions. The death penalty was abolished in 1978 for ordinary crimes; since 1995, it has not even been included in the military codes.

Peripheral Institutions

Spain comprises seventeen autonomous communities (comunidades autonomas) with broad powers, which are in turn divided into fifty provinces.

Defense

Since 2022, military service has been voluntary for both men and women who have reached the age of 18; the army has a total of 86,000 members. In the event of war or national emergency, the Ministry of Defense can call up an additional 80,000 Civil Guard troops.

Political Forces

The country's major political parties are the Spanish People's Party (PP; conservatives), the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE), and the United Left (Izquierda Unida), a coalition of several left-wing parties, including the Spanish Communist Party (PC). Among the strong regional parties represented in the national Parliament are the Basque Nationalist Party (EAJ/PNV) and the Catalan Convergence and Union (Convergència i Unió).

History

For reasons of space and content accessibility, this page has been split and the "History" section can be found under History of Spain.

References

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