Spanish Geography
Learn more about the population, landscapes, climates, and wildlife of Spain.
Spain is a nation of the Iberian Peninsula, dividing the Mediterranean Sea and Atlantic Ocean. It borders Portugal along the Atlantic coast, France to the north, and Morocco via the Strait of Gibraltar. Overall, Spain covers 192,657 square miles or 498,980 square kilometers. In the past, its colonial holdings covered much of North, Central, and South America, as well as the Philippines, Mariana and Caroline Islands. Modern Spanish territories include islands like Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza, and the Canary Islands. Today, about 80 percent of the Spanish population can be found in urban centers. Major cities include its capital Madrid (approx. population 6.497 million), Barcelona (5.494 million) and Valencia (830,000). The nation’s total population is about 48,958,159.
The geography of Spain varies significantly by region. The peninsula is dominated by the Meseta Plateau, a dry, hilly, and rocky expanse. The Pyrenees Mountains stretch along its border with France. To the west, the Cantabrian Mountains line the coast of the Bay of Biscay. Other major mountain ranges like the Sierra Morena and Sierra Nevada run laterally across the southern coast.
Spain’s climate tends to be hot and dry. The Mediterranean coast sees wetter, warmer winters than the interior plateau. To the north, the climate grows more temperate. Common tree species of Spain include cork, almond, alder, ash, oak, citrus, fig, carob, and juniper. Among its plentiful wildlife are brown bears, lynxes, wolves, deer, wild goats, and migratory birds such as flamingos, storks, and herons.
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References
Gies, David T. The Cambridge Companion to Modern Spanish Culture. Cambrdge University Press. 1999.
Payne, Stanley G. Spanish Catholicism: An Historical Overview. University of Wisconsin Press. 1984.
Phillips, William and Carla Rahn Phillips. A Concise History of Spain. Cambridge University Press. 2016.
“The World Factbook: Spain.” Central Intelligence Agency, Central Intelligence Agency, 12 July 2018, www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/sp.html.
“Trees of Andalucia.” Andalucia.com, Andalucia.com, www.andalucia.com/environment/trees/home.htm.
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