Features of the relief of Spain - the general nature of the surface. Geography of Spain

Climate
Spain is divided into three climate zones:

1. The north of the country (from Galicia to Catalonia) is influenced by the Atlantic Ocean. This area is characterized by mild, wet winters and moderately warm summers.

2. Southeast coast(Andalusia and Extremadura) - the climate is Mediterranean type, with exceptionally mild, short winters and dry, hot summers. Quite typical for this area low level precipitation falling mainly in autumn and winter.

3. Central Plateau - here the climate is sharply continental, with significant differences between day and night temperatures (In the center of Spain in summer, the temperature during the day rises to +30 degrees, and at night drops to +15 degrees). Summer is hot and dry, winter is dry and cold.

In high mountainous areas In Spain, there are often frosts in the winter months and heavy snow falls. In the Pyrenees (Andorra), the Sierra Nevada (Andalusia) and the Sierra de Guadar Rama (near Madrid) they operate all year round ski resorts. In winter, snow often falls in Aragon and Northern Castile.

The islands of the Canary archipelago, located in the Atlantic, northwest of Africa, have a warm and mild climate. The average annual temperature is plus 20 degrees Celsius, the water is warm all year round. It rarely gets really hot here, but the sun shines quite intensely. Tourists are advised to use products that protect the skin from solar ultraviolet radiation.

Relief.
Spain is one of the highest mountainous countries in Europe. Lowlands, lying at an altitude of up to 200 m above sea level, occupy only 11% of the country's area. More than a third of Spain's territory is located at altitudes exceeding 1000 m. The most famous mountains The Pyrenees are the most powerful and extensive mountain system in the country. The total length of the Pyrenees is 450 kilometers. In addition, in the north of the country there are the Cantabrian Mountains. The Picos de Europa mountain range is located in central Spain.

No less famous are the Cordillera mountains, the Catalan mountains, and the Sierra Nevada mountains. The relief pearl of the country is the unique and peculiar Aragonese plateau with unique flora and fauna. As for the valleys and lowlands, there are very, very few of them in Spain - only about ten percent of the total territory of the country. The largest and, perhaps, the only fairly large lowland is the Andalusian lowland.

Rivers and lakes of Spain.
The rivers of most of Spain have the advantage of rain-fed water and sharp seasonal fluctuations in flow, with a maximum in winter and spring and a minimum in summer, when large rivers become very shallow and many small ones dry up. Only in the north and northwest are the rivers full throughout the year. In the Pyrenees and Andalusian mountains, rain fed rivers are supplemented by snow.

Largest rivers in Spain- Tajo, Duero, Ebro, Segura, Guadalquivir, Guadiana. The lakes are small and located mainly in the mountains.

Introduction

Spain (Spanish) Spain), officially - the Kingdom of Spain (Spanish and Galician. Reino de España, cat. Regne d "Espanya, Basque. Espainiako Erresuma, Ox. Reialme d "Espanha, Astur. Reinu d "España) - a state in southwestern Europe. Occupying most of the Iberian Peninsula, the country's name comes from the Phoenician expression “i-spanim” - “coast of rabbits”.

Borders with:

Portugal in the west of the Iberian Peninsula;

British possession of Gibraltar in the south of the Iberian Peninsula;

Morocco in northern Africa (enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla);

France and Andorra in the north.

Spain is washed by the Atlantic Ocean in the north and west, and also Mediterranean Sea in the south and east.

1. Physiographic characteristics

1.1. Relief

The relief of Spain is very diverse. The center of the country is located 300 kilometers from the sea. The dominant role in the relief is played by systems of mountain ranges and high-mountain plateaus.

Plateaus and mountains make up about 90 percent of its territory. Almost half of the country's surface is occupied by a vast high plateau, the largest in Europe - with an average height of 660 meters Meseta. It is distinguished by alternating plateaus, folded-block ridges and mountain basins. The Cordillera Central divides the Meseta into two parts: northern and southern.

In the north, Meseta is bordered by the powerful Cantabrian Mountains, which stretch along the coast of the Bay of Biscay for 600 kilometers, isolating the interior from the influence of the sea. In their central part there is the Picos de Europa massif (from Spanish - Peaks of Europe) with heights of up to 2648 m. These alpine-type mountains are composed mainly of deposits of the Carboniferous period - limestones, quartzites, sandstones. The Cantabrian Mountains are an orographic and tectonic continuation of the most powerful mountain system Spain - Pyrenees.

The Pyrenees are several parallel ridges stretching from west to east for 450 kilometers. This is one of the most inaccessible mountainous countries in Europe. Although their average height is not very high (just 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-Sainte-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.

The Iberian Mountains system adjoins the Meseta from the northeast, maximum height(Mont Cayo peak) - 2313 meters.

Between the eastern Pyrenees and the Iberian Mountains stretch the low Catalan Mountains, the southern slopes of which drop off into the Mediterranean Sea. The Catalan Mountains (average heights 900-1200 meters, peak - Mount Caro, 1447 meters) run for 400 kilometers almost parallel to the Mediterranean coast 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 French border are highly fertile.

The entire southeast of the Iberian Peninsula is occupied by the Cordillera Betica, which is a system of massifs and ridges. Its crystalline axis is the Sierra Nevada mountains. In height they are second only to the Alps in Europe. Their peak, Mount Mulacén, reaching 3,478 meters, is the highest point in peninsular Spain. However, the highest mountain peak in Spain is located on the island of Tenerife (Canary Islands) - the Teide volcano, whose height reaches 3718 meters.

Most of Spain's territory 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 - the Andalusian - is located in the south of the country. In the northeast of Spain in the river valley. The Ebro is the Aragonese plain. Smaller lowlands stretch along the Mediterranean Sea. One of the main rivers of Spain (and the only navigable one in the lower reaches) flows through the Andalusian lowland - the Guadalquivir. The remaining rivers, including the largest: Tagus and Duero, the lower reaches of which are located in neighboring Portugal, Ebro, Guadiana, are distinguished by sharp seasonal fluctuations in level and rapids.

Large areas of the country suffer from water shortages. Related to this is the problem of erosion - millions of tons of topsoil are blown away 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 Cantabric, Canary and Balearic Islands.

1.2. Climate

Spain is one of the warmest countries in Western Europe. The average number of sunny days is 260-285. The average annual temperature on the Mediterranean coast is 20 degrees Celsius. In winter, temperatures usually drop below zero only in the central and northern regions of the country. In summer, temperatures rise 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 entirely attributed to the Mediterranean climatic region. These differences are manifested both in temperature and in annual amounts and precipitation patterns. On extreme 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 northwestern France. Summer is hot and humid, average temperature rarely above 16 degrees Celsius. Annual precipitation exceeds 1070 mm, and in some places reaches 2000 mm. Completely different conditions in internal parts countries - on the plateau of Old and New Castile and the Aragonese plain. These areas are influenced by the plateau-basin topography, significant altitude and local continental air. They are characterized by relatively low precipitation (no more than 500 mm per year) and sharp temperature fluctuations between seasons. In Old Castile and the Aragonese plain there are quite cold winters with frosts and strong, sharp winds; Summers are hot and fairly dry, although maximum precipitation occurs during this season of the year. Nueva Castile has a slightly milder climate, with warmer winters but also low rainfall. Agriculture in all these areas requires artificial irrigation.

1.3. Minerals

The subsoil of Spain is replete with minerals. Particularly significant are the reserves of metal ores, the deposits of which are associated with the outcrops of the folded base of the Meseta or with volcanic rocks of mountain structures. Along the northwestern edge of the Meseta, within the Gallic massif, there are tin, tungsten and uranium ores in Caledonian and Proterozoic granite intrusions. A strip of lead-zinc-silver deposits stretches along the southern outskirts of Meseta. There is also a large deposit of mercury of 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 well-known deposits in the Bilbao region on the northern slope of the Biscay Mountains and in Almeria on the southern slope of the Beta Cordillera. In the north, in the Carboniferous sediments 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 slope of the mountains and in some other areas. The Cenozoic sediments of intermountain and intramountain depressions contain strata of salts and brown coal. Significant reserves of potassium 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 are quite depleted, like many deposits in other European regions, which makes Spain dependent on the export of minerals, mainly from North Africa.

2. Economy

Today's Spain- a highly developed country. In terms of total industrial production in 1995, the country ranked tenth in the world and fifth in Western Europe. GNP per capita is $14,000 (1999). Major advances have been achieved in recent decades. After World War II, Spain was isolated. The US did not provide economic assistance to the country (under the Marshall Plan) and Spain began to develop a closed, self-sufficient economy. This entailed a high degree of state intervention in market relations and an increase in the share of state ownership.

In the early 1960s, a stabilization plan was adopted, later known as the "Spanish miracle". In 1960-1974. economic performance grew at an average annual rate of 6.6%, which was higher than any other country in the world (except Japan). The discovery played a major role Spain as a world resort center.

In 1959-1974. more than 3 million Spaniards left the country in search of work in order to send the money they earned to their homeland. The energy crisis of 1973 hit Spain, due to its dependence on other countries very much, unemployment rose to 21% in 1975. But in the 1980s. Economic growth began again in Spain. Although growth figures were lower than those of the 1960s, they were still the highest in Western Europe. But now the growth in production was accompanied by inflation and high unemployment (up to 22% of the working population).

In the 1990s. the country has become one of the leaders of the EU (although it is still a recipient, that is, it receives subsidies to support agriculture and some areas from pan-European funds).

Companies from the USA, France, Germany, Great Britain and Switzerland occupy strong positions in the country's economy. They own more than 50 percent of mechanical engineering and metallurgy enterprises. About 40% of the share capital falls on the share of the 8 largest Spanish financial, industrial and banking groups (Marchey, Fierro, Urquijo, Garrigues, Ruiz-Mateos, etc.).

In 2004, Spanish exports amounted to over 135 billion euros, imports - about 190 billion euros. Main partners in foreign trade- EU countries, USA, Latin America.

Major ports: Bilbao, Barcelona; oil - Algeciras, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Tarragona, coal - Gijon. Spain is one of the largest centers of international tourism (62 million hours in 1997, 95% of tourists are from EU countries; the main tourist centers are Madrid and Barcelona), as well as resorts - Costa Brava, Costa Dorada, Costa Blanca, Costa del Sol. In 2004, 53.6 million foreign tourists visited Spain (2nd place in the world). Industry revenues in 2004 were about 35 billion euros. More than 65% of tourists are from EU countries. 1.3 million people are employed in this area.

Distinctive industry- procurement and export of cork bark.

The Spanish banking system is one of the most stable in Europe. Among its distinctive features are the following: a high degree of concentration of banking capital along with a small number of credit institutions (395), a significant level of foreign exchange reserves (13.9 billion euros), an extensive network of branches of private banks and state savings banks. The dominant role is played by national banks with 100% Spanish capital. The leader in the value of market assets is the financial group Banco Santander Central Hispano, which was formed in 1999 as a result of the merger of two large banks.

GDP - 798.67 billion € (2004). Its growth was 2.6%.

2.1. Mining industry

The oldest industry is mining. Spain, rich in minerals, is one of the world leaders in the production of mercury (about 1.5 thousand tons per year; the main center is Almaden) and pyrites (about 3 million tons per year; mainly in the Huelva region); in Europe it is distinguished by the mining of polymetallic and uranium ores and silver. Iron (1.4 million tons in 1996; provinces of Vizcaya, Santander, Lugo, Oviedo, Granada, Murcia), lead-zinc, tungsten copper, titanium ores, quartz, gold, potassium salts, etc. are mined. Oil and gas are imported. Annual oil production is about 30 million tons, and covers less than 10 percent of needs. Spain ranks ninth in the world and first among EU countries in the extraction of metal-containing raw materials. In terms of energy resources, it ranks 40th in the world.

2.2. Mechanical engineering

Among the branches of mechanical engineering, shipbuilding stands out (old centers are located in the north of the country: Bilbao, Gijon, Santander; new ones are in the northwest: El Ferrol, Vigo, in the east: Cartagena, Valencia, Barcelona, ​​and in the south: Seville, Cadiz) automotive industry (production of automobiles, including the Seat of the Volkswagen concern 2.2 million in 1996; centers: Barcelona, ​​Madrid, Valladolid, Vitoria, Pamlona, ​​Vigo) and the electrical industry. The production of equipment for the chemical, light, food and building materials industries has also been developed.

Spain - beautiful and amazingly diverse European country who takes care of her own natural resources. Where is this state located? What mineral resources is Spain rich in?

Natural conditions and the resources of this country are extremely diverse. This allowed Spain to effectively develop its industrial complex, as well as take its rightful place among the states providing tourism services on the world market.

Kingdom of Spain: general information about the country

España (country name in Spanish) - independent state, located on the Iberian Peninsula, the third largest in Europe. Administratively, the country is divided into 17 autonomous regions and includes 50 provinces. In addition, a number of so-called sovereign territories (plazas de soberania) are subordinate to Spain. They are located in North Africa and the waters of the Mediterranean Sea.

The year of foundation is considered to be 1515. Today it is a parliamentary (constitutional) monarchy.

Spain, whose natural conditions and resources are quite diverse, has been in the top twenty countries in the world in terms of overall growth rates for many years. economic development. In addition, the country is the largest producer of agricultural products in Europe. Plant growing, livestock farming, viticulture, and fisheries are successfully developing here.

Natural conditions and resources of Spain (briefly)

In what climatic conditions does the population of this country live? How are Spain's natural resources different? We will briefly try to answer these questions in this section.

Spain is one of the most mountainous countries in Europe. About 35% of its territory is located at an altitude of over 1000 meters above sea level. True, you won’t find too high peaks here. Highest point mainland Spain- Mount Mulasen (3480 m).

In general, the topography of the state can be described as follows: the central elevated and hilly part is surrounded on almost all sides by chains of mountains that separate it from the sea. The lowlands in Spain occupy small areas. They mainly stretch along the largest river valleys and the Mediterranean coast.

The climatic natural resources of Spain are unique. The country can be considered the warmest and sunniest in Europe. The average number of sunny days here ranges from 260-280. In winter, the air temperature rarely drops below zero, and in the summer the thermometer can rise to +40 degrees Celsius. The largest rivers in Spain are the Tagus, Duero, Ebro and Guadalquivir.

Natural resources Spain (mineral minerals in particular) are distributed extremely unevenly across its territory. This feature is associated with the rather acute problem of unequal economic development of the country's regions. So, Northern part Spain is more industrially developed, while the south, on the contrary, is considered backward. The highest unemployment rate for the country is observed here.

Detailed characteristics of the natural resources and conditions of Spain

The natural resources of Spain, like any other country on the planet, should be described according to the following plan:

• relief;
• climate;
• inland waters;
• soil cover;
• Flora and fauna;
• minerals and their geography;
• economic use of natural conditions and resources.

Relief and landscape diversity

Spain is often called the most mountainous country in Europe. About 90% of its territory is occupied by mountains and plateaus. Almost half of the surface of Spain is the Meseta plateau (the largest in Europe). Its eastern part is leveled and covered with a thick ball of sedimentary rocks. But the western part of the Meseta is strongly dissected by faults and river valleys.

In the north, the Meseta is bounded by the Cantabrian Mountains, which, in turn, are a continuation of the Pyrenees. This powerful mountain system consists of several parallel ridges stretching up to 450 kilometers. It is very difficult to overcome the Pyrenees: all the passes here are located at an altitude of more than 1500 meters. That is why all railways connecting Spain with other countries of Western Europe bypass this mountain system from the east or west. In the central regions of the Pyrenees you can find landforms of glacial origin: carts, cirques and troughs.

From the northeast, Meseta is bordered by the Iberian Mountains. This is where many of Spain's major rivers originate. This is one of the least populated regions of the country.

In the southern part of Spain, along the Mediterranean coast, stretch the Andalusian mountains. Within their borders is the Sierra Nevada massif with highest point country - Mulhasen Peak. In Europe, only the Alps can compare in height with the Sierra Nevada.

Plains and lowlands occupy only 10% of the total. All of them are composed of alluvial materials, and therefore their soils are extremely fertile. The largest lowland is located in the southwest of the country (Andalusian).

Relief often helped protect Spain's natural resources and wealth. Powerful mountain ranges often played the role of reliable and insurmountable borders, protecting the country from hostile conquerors.

Climatic features

The climate in Spain varies from northwest to southeast. Average annual temperatures here vary widely from 14 to 20 degrees. In terms of the number of sunny days per year, Spain shares first place in Europe with Greece.

The climate of the central part of the country is characterized by increased continentality. Summers here are hotter and winters are colder. “Three months of cold and nine months of hell” is one of the popular sayings among the inhabitants of the Meseta plateau.

Significant contrasts are also observed in the distribution of atmospheric precipitation. Climatologists conventionally divide Spain into “dry” and “wet”. The border between these two regions runs along the Cantabrian Mountains. Thus, within “wet” Spain, which includes Galicia, Asturias and part of the Pyrenees, an average of about 900-1000 mm of precipitation falls per year. The rest of the country ("dry" Spain) receives no more than 500 mm of precipitation per year.

The peculiarities of Spain’s natural resources (primarily climatic) create considerable difficulties for the development of agriculture, as well as the water supply of many settlements countries. Scientists assess about 60% of the state's lands as arid.

Inland waters and soil cover

The country has a fairly extensive river network. However, most of them are characterized by low water content and unstable water regime. Many of them become shallow or dry out completely in the summer. In addition, the hydrological natural resources of Spain are distributed extremely unevenly throughout the country, which leads to significant imbalances in the water supply of its various regions.

In Spain it is also very diverse, thanks to the complex terrain, variegated geological structure and significant climatic contrasts. Thus, in the north of the country, podzolic brown soils and peatlands predominate, in the west - acidic soils of the Mediterranean type, and in the east and in Balearic Islands- soils of arid type (burozems and sierozems). The most fertile soils are concentrated in lowlands and valleys large rivers. It is in these areas that the country's crop production is most actively developing.

Flora and fauna

The flora and fauna of the state are characterized by a richness of species. In floristic terms, Spain is considered the richest country in Europe. Forests occupy about 30% of its territory. However, in the past there were significantly more of them.

Evergreen oak forests grow in the northwestern regions of the country. In mountainous areas, the most common species of oak are deciduous, as well as beech, ash, chestnut and birch. Within the interior plateaus of Spain, tracts of dry evergreen forests and shrubs have been preserved. Semi-desert landscapes can be found on the Aragonese plateau and New Castile.

In the fauna of Spain, traces of both European and African fauna are clearly visible. Here live the brown bear, wolf, fox, forest cat, deer and other species of mammals typical of the central and Western Europe. In Spain you can also find the imperial eagle, genet or Egyptian mongoose. All these animal species are found on the other side of the Strait of Gibraltar.

The Spanish (or Iberian) lynx deserves special attention - one of the rarest species of mammals on Earth. It numbers no more than one hundred individuals today. This animal is found exclusively in mountainous and inaccessible areas of southern Spain. The Iberian lynx differs from the ordinary lynx in its smaller size and brighter color.

Mineral resources of Spain: general assessment

The country is not among the world leaders in terms of mineral resources. Spain is forced to import many minerals (including energy resources). Nevertheless, the mining industry is quite developed here, especially in the east and southwest of the country.

The five most important mineral resources in Spain can be outlined as follows:

• Iron ore.
• Coal.
• Copper.
• Lead.
• Mercury.

However, the reserves of most deposits are quite modest. Therefore, in general, Spain can be called a country dependent on the import of mineral resources.

Ore minerals

The subsoil of the country is, first of all, rich in metallic minerals. Thus, the richest deposits of zinc, lead, mercury, manganese and the total reserves of iron ore in Spain are about 2.5 billion tons. In the north of the country there are significant deposits of tungsten and tin.

In terms of proven reserves of uranium ores, Spain is in second place in Europe, and in terms of mercury reserves - in first place in the world. Rich deposits of cinnabar are located in the province of Ciudad Real and on the banks of the Baldeazaga River.

In addition, the subsoil of Spain is extremely rich in pyrites. In particular, they are mined on the southern slopes of the Sierra Morena. Spain also has reserves of silver, gold, molybdenum and titanium.

Fuel and energy minerals and other raw materials

The territory of Spain, alas, is not so rich in energy resources. Minor coal deposits are developed in the north of the country (in the provinces of Oviedo and Leon), in the Basque Country and Asturias. Spanish coal is generally of low quality.

Oil is produced in relatively small volumes in Catalonia and Burgos, natural gas in Aragon and Cadiz. Explored gas reserves in Spain amount to no more than two billion cubic meters.

The country has quite large reserves of potassium salts, refractory clays, kaolins, and in many (Galicia, Asturias, Valencia, Guadalajara and others) raw materials for the construction industry are actively mined. These are dolomites, limestones, marble and chalk of fairly high quality.

Natural resources of Spain and their use

The active use of natural resources on an industrial scale in Spain began only in the second half of the twentieth century. Before this, the country remained an underdeveloped agrarian state. Rational use and adequate assessment of Spain's natural conditions and resources made it possible to transform it into an industrial-agrarian country, which in terms of its level of industrial development is not inferior to many European countries.

Today in Spain the mining, textile, food industries, shipbuilding, as well as alternative energy are quite developed. The country's agriculture is dominated by crop production. Wheat, rice, corn, barley, olives, dates, pomegranates and other crops are grown here. Goats and sheep are successfully raised in arid regions, and cattle are raised in the north. Fishing is developing in coastal areas. Spain is one of the top ten countries in the world for catching and processing fish.

Spain and tourism

Spain is by far the largest center international tourism. More than one million residents of the country are employed in this sector of the national economy. At least 50 million foreign tourists visit Spain every year.

Most Popular resort areas in Spain: Costa Brava, Costa Blanca, and the Canary Islands. Main tourist centers countries - Barcelona, ​​Madrid, Bilbao and Valencia. The latter city is becoming increasingly popular among tourists and travelers. This is facilitated by numerous attractions, historical and architectural monuments, museums, and recreational natural resources of Valencia.

Spain is also a major festival center in Europe. Tourists from all over the world eagerly come to the famous Seville Fair, the colorful Carnival in Cadiz or Tomatina in Buñol.

Conclusion

The territory of the Kingdom of Spain is extremely rich in natural resources: mineral, fuel, climatic and biological. The country has a mild, warm climate and has wide access to the World Ocean.

The economic assessment of the natural conditions and resources of Spain is quite high. On their basis, the mining, electric power, agriculture and tourism industries are successfully developing.

Relief of Spain. Spain is one of the most mountainous countries in Europe; there are very few lowlands in the country. Most of the surface is occupied by the Central Plateau with an average height of 700-900 m above sea level. In the north rise the Pyrenees, in the south the Andalusian mountains.

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Spain

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“Barcelona” can be called a Spanish unfinished construction project Cathedral Barcelona on Plaza Nova. The light movements of the dancers are clumsily tried to be imitated by delighted tourists, of whom there are especially many in Plaza Nova in the summer. Music: Seguidilla (Bizet, "Carmen"). Spain, Barcelona. On the square in front of the cathedral on weekends, Barcelona residents dance the sardana, the national dance of Catalonia.

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“Spain is a country” - The urban population predominates over the rural one. Currency: Euro Capital: Madrid. . Spain is rich in mineral resources. The main food crops are wheat and barley. Spain is one of the five countries most popular among tourists. In the north rise the Pyrenees, in the south the Andalusian mountains.

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Spain ranks most(85%) of the Iberian Peninsula. From its northeastern neighbor - France - it is fenced off by the Pyrenees, in addition, it has land borders with Portugal, Andorra, the English colony of Gibraltar and Morocco. In the east and south it is washed by the Mediterranean Sea, in the north and west - by the Atlantic Ocean (Bay of Biscay). Spain includes the Canary Islands Atlantic Ocean, Balearic and Pitius Islands in the Mediterranean Sea. The cities of Ceuta and Melilla in Morocco are under Spanish control.

Spain is second in area (505.9 thousand km2) and mountainous ( average height above sea level - 600 m) European country, population - 39.7 million people.

Spain, after Switzerland, is considered the highest mountainous country in Europe. Plateaus and mountains make up about 90% of its territory. Almost half of the country's surface is occupied by the largest high plateau in Europe, the Meseta (in Spanish - “table”), its average height is 660 m. The Meseta is a huge monotonous dry flat expanse with very hot summers and cold winters. Locals They say about their land like this: “We have three months of cold and nine months of hell.”

The most powerful mountain system in Spain - the Pyrenees - consists of several parallel ridges stretching from west to east for 450 km and separating the Iberian Peninsula from the rest of Europe. This is one of the most inaccessible mountainous countries in Europe, but also one of the most picturesque. The Pyrenees are especially diverse and beautiful in the central part, where glacial landforms occur, alpine lakes and snowfields. Main peak Pyrenees - Aneto peak (3404 m).

The Spanish Pyrenees is a major international tourism area with excellent conditions for mountaineering, skiing, cycling, alpine skiing.

The entire southeast of the Iberian Peninsula is occupied by the Cordillera Betica, which is a system mountain ranges and ridges. Highest mountain range- Sierra Nevada is second only to the Alps in height in Europe. Here is located highest peak Iberian Peninsula - Mount Mulacin (3478 m).

Valleys, basins and lowlands occupy only 11% of Spain's territory. The largest plain is the Andalusian plain, through which the Guadalquivir River flows. In the northeast of the country, in the valley of the Ebro River, lies the Aragonese Plain. Lowlands stretch in a narrow strip along the Mediterranean coast.

Statistical indicators of Spain
(as of 2012)

Approximately 60% of Spain is arid, making water one of the most important issues in the country. Spain's hydro resources are distributed extremely unevenly: in the northern and northwestern regions there is an abundance of water, while in the Mediterranean and central regions there is a huge shortage of water.

Minerals of Spain

The subsoil of Spain is rich in ore and has large reserves of various ores. Mineral fuel reserves are relatively small. The main mineral deposits are located in the mountain systems surrounding the Meseta and in the peripheral regions of the country. The Cantabrian Mountains contain major deposits of coal, iron ore and zinc. The Sierra Morena contains the largest reserves of pyrites and base metals. Significant reserves of iron ore and polymetals are also found in Andalusian mountains. Deposits of tin, tungsten, and uranium are located in the Galician mountains. At the junction of the Pyrenees and Catalan mountains with the Aragonese lowland, deposits of lignite and potassium salt are concentrated.

Spain has large (up to 2 billion tons) reserves of high-quality iron ore with a metal content of up to 50%. The main deposits are located in the north of the country. Up to 20% of all iron ore reserves are in Asturias and Galicia. Large deposits of iron ore are found in the Andalusian mountains, north of Almeria.

Spain ranks first in Europe in terms of reserves of copper pyrites. The main deposits of Tarsis, Rio Tinto and Sarsa are located in the province of Huelva (Andalusia), in the Sierra Morena mountains between the Guadiana and Guadalquivir rivers. They were developed many centuries before our era. Andalusia also has significant reserves of non-ferrous metals, and in the province of Jaén there are deposits of lead-zinc ores (Linares, La Carolina). Zinc deposits are being developed in Santander on the Biscay coast (Reosin region). Tungsten ores are mined in Galicia. Manganese and tin are also found there. Uranium deposits were discovered near the Portuguese border.

The main Almaden mercury deposit is located in the province of Ciudad Real (New Castile), at the junction of the Meseta and Sierra Morena. The ore mined in Almaden contains up to 6-9% mercury. In Andalusia and Galicia there are deposits of platinum, gold and silver. Up to half of all coal reserves are in Asturias, the country's main coal basin. In the northwest, in Leon, there are deposits of anthracite. The largest reserves of brown coal are located in the east of the country - the Utrillas region near Teruel. Shales are mined in Puertollano (Ciudad Real). In Catalonia (Suria region) there are large reserves of potassium salts. Phosphorites are mined in Extremadura and sulfur in Albacete, asphalt in the upper reaches of the Ebro Valley. In the period from 1952 to 1955. In the upper reaches of the Ebro, signs of oil were discovered at considerable depths. It is believed that oil is also available in other areas located on the slopes of the Pyrenees mountains and in the Andalusian lowland. A methane deposit has been discovered in the province of Seville.

Climate of Spain

Due to the extent of Spain from north to south and its extensive mountain system, the climate varies quite noticeably in different parts of the country. The vertical zonation is also clearly visible.

The northern regions are in rather unique conditions - there is a strong influence of wet sea masses from the Atlantic, therefore in Galicia, Asturias, Cantabria and the Basque Country there are mild (from +8°C to +14°C) and fairly wet winters, and summers are moderately warm ( from +21°С to 26°С). However, from the north this region is fenced off by a powerful wall of the Pyrenees Mountains (height up to 3404 m), so in mountainous areas the temperature in winter can drop to -7°C, and in summer it usually does not warm up above +22°C. At the same time, these same mountains seem to block highly heated air masses coming from the south, from Africa, which in summer often leads to an increase in daytime temperatures to +32°C. Narrow strip of coast north of the mountains in their own way weather conditions already belongs to a temperate maritime climate. Precipitation falls up to 1200 mm per year, mainly in the autumn-winter period. In high mountain areas, frosts and heavy snowfalls are common in winter.

The central regions of Spain are located in the area of ​​high plateaus and mountain ranges of the Meseta, so the climate here is close to sharply continental - day and night temperatures can differ by 10-15 degrees even in summer. Winter here is dry and cold for such a southern region (from -4°C to +8°C), summer is hot (up to +30°C during the day) and dry. In Madrid, in summer the average temperature is around +25°C (at night it can drop to +16°C, and during the day the thermometer can exceed +38°C), in winter - about +5°C. Precipitation falls no more than 500 mm per year, mainly in spring and autumn. In the mountainous regions of Aragon and northern Castile, snow often falls in winter. In the Pyrenees, Sierra Nevada and Sierra de Guadarrama, many peaks are covered with snow all year round.

The eastern coast of the country is located in the subtropical Mediterranean climate zone. It has dry, hot summers and mild winters. In summer, temperatures can reach +36-38°C with an average level of about +27°C; in winter, the thermometer does not drop below +12°C, although it usually stays around +14-18°C ( Mediterranean coast The country is quite extensive, so it is always somewhat warmer in the south than in the north). There is little precipitation (500-600 mm per year), mainly in autumn and winter. In summer the water warms up to +23-27°C, so the beach season here lasts from May-June to October.

The Balearic Islands have a subtropical Mediterranean climate. However, due to their position, the islands receive slightly more rainfall than the country's nearby continental coast. And summer temperatures here are somewhat lower - +26-28°C with daytime maximums around +30-32°C. Beach season in the Balearics begins in March, when the water temperature rises to +18°C, and ends in October.

On the islands of the Canary archipelago, the climate is close to the tropical trade wind. The proximity of the cold ocean current noticeably softens the summer heat inherent in this entire region, but it also evens out the general temperature background - in summer on any of the islands of the archipelago, the average temperature ranges from +18°C to +21°C with maximums from +36°C to +38°C, in winter the thermometer does not drop below +12°C with maximums up to +24°C. However, the hot Harmattan wind blowing from the African coast can sharply increase the air temperature at any time of the year, but the summer trade winds almost completely neutralize its influence during this period. The water temperature is even more constant - +20-23°C all year round.

There is little precipitation - from 250 to 400 mm per year, with Fuerteventura, Lanzarote and the southern regions of Gran Canaria and Tenerife being quite dry (no more than 200 mm per year), and the northwestern regions (especially the mountainous ones) are much wetter. Local rains are very heavy, but short-lived. They are often accompanied by powerful thunderstorms.

Flora and fauna of Spain

Not counting the flora Canary Islands, there are about 8,000 plant species growing in Spain, many of which are endemic, that is, growing only here. Only a small part of the once vast forests remains, mainly in the north of the country. In humid Spain, the forests are mostly broad-leaved (beech, elm, oak, chestnut, ash, linden, poplar), higher in the mountains evergreen species appear (varieties of oak, pine, spruce), and even higher the forests turn into alpine meadows.

The richest vegetation is on the North Atlantic slopes of the Cantabrian Mountains and the Galician massif - these areas are called “green” Spain. On the plain of the Ebro River at the foot of the mountains, evergreen shrubs and grasses grow, and semi-desert vegetation with a predominance of wormwood and salt marshes is also found. In "dry" Spain, Mediterranean vegetation predominates, evergreen shrubs - maquis, gariga and subshrubs - tomillars. Macquis includes myrtle, juniper, wild pistachio, cistus and low trees.

The fauna of Spain is very rich and diverse. In the north, the fauna is Central European: many deer, roe deer, and wild boars. In the mountainous regions, red deer and the Pyrenean ibex are preserved. Sport hunting of deer is permitted. Brown bears are sometimes found in the Cantabrian and León mountains. Of the predators, quite a few wolves, foxes, and, at the mouth of the Guadalqui Vir, Spanish lynxes have survived.

Spain is considered the richest country in Europe in terms of the number of bird species found here. In summer in Spain you can see up to 25 species of birds of prey: hawks, eagles, griffins, falcons (the largest colony of black hawks is at the Torrejon reservoir on the Tagus River). Many rare species They only spend the winter here, and it is best to observe them in early spring or late autumn. There are a lot of colonies of waterfowl: geese, ducks, herons, flamingos, white storks. Spain is also home to many species of reptiles: lizards, snakes, chameleons, and in the semi-deserts in the southeast of the country there are tarantulas and scorpions. A lot of fish are found in the estuaries and in the Atlantic, mainly sardines, with smaller amounts of herring, cod, anchovies and various types of shellfish. The Mediterranean Sea is home to tuna, salmon, anchovies, crayfish and lobsters.