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Climate
The climate varies tremendously in Spain, due to its large size. Visitors can generally
expect a Mediterranean climate, characterized by hot, dry summers and mild, rainy
winters.
The vast central plateau, or Meseta, has a continental climate with hot, dry summers
and cold winters. Rain generally falls in spring and autumn. The mountains surrounding
the plateau have a higher rainfall and often experience heavy snowfalls in winter.
http://www.spainturismo.com/spain/climate.htm
Spain - Vegetation
The vegetation of Spain exhibits a variety in keeping Flora, with the differences of climate just
described. Thenumber of endemic species is exceptionally large, the number of monotypic
genera in the Peninsula greater than in any other part of the Mediterranean domain. The
endemic species are naturally most numerous in the mountains, and above all in the loftiest
ranges, the Pyrenees and the Sierra Nevada ; but it is a peculiarity of the Spanish tableland, as
compared with the plains and tablelands of central Europe, that it also possesses a
considerable number of endemic plants and plants of extremely restricted range. This fact,
however, is also in harmony with the physical conditions above described, being explained by
the local varieties, not only of climate, but also of soil. Altogether no other country in Europe of
equal extent has so great a wealth of species as Spain. According to the Prodromus Florx
Hispánica! of Willkomm and Lange (completed in 1880), the number of species of vascular
plants then ascertained to exist in the country was 5096.
Spain may be divided botanically into four provinces, corresponding to the four climatic zones.
In the tableland province (including the greater part of the Ebro valley) the flora is composed
chiefly of species characteristic of the Mediterranean region, generally of species confined to
the Peninsula. A peculiar character is imparted to the vegetation of this province by the growth
over large tracts of evergreen shrubs and large herbaceous plants belonging to the Oistineee
and Labiatse. Areas covered by plants of the former group are known to the Spaniards as
jarales, and are particularly extensive in the Mancha Alta and on the slopes of the Sierra
Morena, where the ladanum bush {Cistus ladaniferus) is specially abundant; those covered by
plants of the latter group are known as tomillares (from tomillo, thyme), and occur chiefly in the
south, south-west, and east of the tableland of New Castile. In the central parts of the same
tableland huge thistles (such as the Onopordum nervosum), centaureas, artemisias, and other
Gompositse, are scattered in great profusion. From the level parts of these tablelands trees are
almost entirely absent. On the lofty parameras of Soria and other parts of Old Castile the
vegetation has an almost alpine character.
http://www.1902encyclopedia.com/S/SPA/spain-05.html
Continental Spain is divided into five general topographic regions: (1) The northern
coastal belt is a mountainous region with fertile valleys and large areas under pasture
and covered with forests. (2) The central plateau, or Meseta, with an average altitude of
about 670 m (2,200 ft), comprises most of Castilla y León, Castilla–La Mancha, and the
city of Madrid. (3) Andalucía, with Sevilla its largest city, covers the whole of southern
and southwestern Spain and, except for the flat fertile plain of the Guadalquivir River, is
a mountainous region with deep fertile valleys. (4) The Levante is on the Mediterranean
coastal belt, with Valencia its chief city. (5) Catalonia (Cataluña) and the Ebro Valley
comprise the northeastern region.
Spain has six principal mountain ranges—the Pyrenees, the Cordillera Cantábrica, the
Montes de Toledo, the Sierra Morena, the Serranías Penibéticas, and the Sistema Ibérico.
The principal peaks are Pico de Aneto (3,404 m/11,168 ft) in the Pyrenees and Mulhacén
(3,478 m/11,411 ft) in the Penibéticas. The main rivers are the Tagus (Tajo), Duero,
Guadiana, and Guadalquivir, which flow to the Atlantic, and the Ebro, which flows to
the Mediterranean. The Duero and the Guadalquivir form broad valleys and alluvial
plains and at their mouths deposit saline soils, creating deltas and salt marshes. The
coastline has few natural harbors except the estuaries (rías) in the northwest, formed by
glaciers, and those in the Levante and the south, created by sandbars during the
Quaternary period.
The Canary Islands are a group of 13 volcanic islands, of which 6 are barren. They have a
ruggedly mountainous terrain interspersed with some fertile valleys. Spain's highest
mountain, Pico de Teide (3,718 m/12,198 ft), is on Tenerife. The Balearic Islands are a
picturesque group with sharply indented coastlines; they combine steep mountains with
rolling, fertile ranges.
http://www.nationsencyclopedia.com/Europe/Spain-TOPOGRAPHY.html
total population: 80.05 years
male: 76.74 years
female: 83.57 years (2009 est.)
$1.6 Trillion US dollars at current prices – 2008
literacy is defined as the percentage of people aged 15 or over who can read and write.
Their estimate as at the year 2003 is that 97.9% of the total population of Spain are literate, 98.7%
of males and 97.2% of females.
Today the economy of Spain is the fifth largest in Europe, accounting for around 9% of EU output. Per capita
income, at 78% of the EU average is among the lowest in the EU, although it is well ahead of Ireland, Portugal and
Greece. Spain's main trading partners are France, Germany and Italy for exports and Germany, France and Italy for
imports.
Major Industries
textiles and apparel (including footwear)
food and beverages
metals and metal manufactures
chemicals
shipbuilding
automobiles
machine tools
tourism
clay and refractory products
pharmaceuticals
medical equipment