We explain everything about Spain, how is its geography, culture and traditions. Also, what are its characteristics, economy and more.

Spain or Kingdom of Spain is a country located in southern Western Europe and North Africa , which is made up of autonomous communities and is a member of the European Union .

The capital of Spain is the city of Madrid and it is a country governed by a parliamentary monarchy under a democratic form of government. Its customs, history and geography make Spain one of the most visited countries in the world and one of the main world economies .

Spain has a territorial extension of 505,370 km² and is the 4th largest country on the European continent (behind Russia, Ukraine and France ). Within Europe , Spain occupies the Iberian Peninsula, better known as mainland Spain, and the Balearic Islands. In Africa, the territory of Spain extends through the cities of Ceuta and Melilla and the Canary Islands, Chafarinas, Alhucemas, the island of Alboran and the rock of Vélez de la Gomera.

Relief of Spain

Much of the Spanish territory is at an altitude of 650 meters above sea level and is made up of the Great Central Plateau. Spain is made up of several mountain ranges , such as the Pyrenees, and is one of the most mountainous countries in Europe that also has some depressions that surround the Great Plateau.

Its borders are bordered by the Mediterranean Sea (to the south), the Cantabrian Sea (to the north) and the Atlantic Ocean (to the southeast and northeast) making it a country known for its beaches, cliffs, coves, coasts and archipelagos. Among the archipelagos, the Balearic Islands (in the Mediterranean Sea) and the Canary Islands (in the Atlantic Ocean) stand out.

Climate of Spain

Due to the diversity of reliefs that make it up and its geographical location, Spain is a country with various types of climate . Broadly speaking, it is characterized by a temperate climate and in almost all areas there are cold months and hot months. The different climates in Spain are usually classified as: oceanic , Mediterranean , mountain and subtropical.

• The oceanic climate: It stretches across the north of the country, an area where rainfall tends to abound throughout the year. This type of climate has high humidity and temperate temperatures with a low temperature range between winter and summer.
• The Mediterranean climate: It extends along the Mediterranean coast and almost the entire peninsula. It is characterized by its dry summers and its hot and humid and cold winters. This climate is found in different geographical areas where temperatures and rainfall levels vary.
• The mountain climate: It extends through the mountain ranges of Spain, such as the Cantabrian Mountains and the Pyrenees, and is characterized by low temperatures and abundant rainfall (which usually occurs in the form of snow). This type of climate can be observed from 1000 meters above sea level.
• The subtropical climate: It extends to the Canary Islands, which are located in the Atlantic Ocean, close to Africa and the Tropic of Cancer. It is characterized by its high temperatures throughout the year.

Fauna of Spain

Since Spain is a country with a wide diversity of climates and reliefs, its fauna and flora is one of the most varied on the continent .

The fauna of Spain changes according to the geographical area . In the Iberian Peninsula you can find mammals such as the red fox, the Iberian lynx, the wild cat, the deer, the Iberian goat, the Iberian hare, the bat, the Iberian wolf, the mink and rodents such as squirrels.

In addition, there are amphibians such as the Iberian newt, the Iberian midwife toad and the frog ; reptiles such as the Mediterranean tortoise , the chameleon, the lizard and various species of lizards and snakes. Among the most outstanding birds of the peninsula are the Iberian imperial eagle , the black vulture, the blackbird, the sparrow and the magpie.

Fish such as lampreys, sturgeons, shad, eels , vermilion, barbels, calandins, tusks, silversides and seabass inhabit the salt and fresh water courses of Spain . In addition, on its coasts there are a large number of marine animals such as dolphins, whales , jellyfish and sperm whales.

For its part, in the Canary Islands many of the endemic species became extinct and many species that now inhabit there were introduced. Some autochthonous animals of these islands are birds, such as the Tenerife blue finch, the Canary Island mosquito net, and the Canary stonebird.

Flora of Spain

The flora of Spain varies according to the geographical area, because in each region there are variations in relief, temperature and rainfall. This country has the greatest diversity of flora species in Europe .

Broadly speaking, in the north of Spain , meadows and pastures abound , and deciduous vegetation predominates. On the other hand, in the southern zone, evergreen, aromatic plants and bushes abound.

Among the most representative tree species in Spain, the following stand out: the holm oak (which is considered the national tree) , the Mediterranean cork oak, various species of pines, the Mediterranean oak, the eucalyptus, the juniper, the beech, the fir, among many others.

Other plant species that can be found in Spanish territory are: the carnation (which is the national plant of Spain) , the Spanish bluebells, pomegranates, heather, broom, mosses and lichens and aromatic herbs such as thyme.

Main geographical areas of Spain

Spain is a State that is made up of seventeen autonomous communities and the cities of Ceuta and Melilla in Africa. These communities , in turn, are divided into provinces that have municipalities.

The Spanish autonomous communities are:

• Galicia: It is a Spanish community located in the northwest of the country and is made up of four provinces: Lugo, La Coruña, Orense and Pontevedra. Its capital is Santiago de Compostela.
• Principality of Asturias: It is a Spanish community that holds the title of principality for historical reasons and is located in the north of the country. It is made up of a single p