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Spain

Introduction

Spain

Background: Spain's powerful world empire of the 16th and 17th centuries
ultimately yielded command of the seas to England. Subsequent failure
to embrace the mercantile and industrial revolutions caused the country
to fall behind Britain, France, and Germany in economic and political
power. Spain remained neutral in World Wars I and II, but suffered
through a devastating civil war (1936-39). In the second half of the 20th
century, Spain has played a catch-up role in the western international
community. Continuing concerns are Basque Fatherland and Liberty (ETA)
terrorism and further reductions in unemployment.

Geography Spain

Location: Southwestern Europe, bordering the Bay of Biscay, Mediterranean
Sea, North Atlantic Ocean, and Pyrenees Mountains, southwest of France

Geographic coordinates: 40 00 N, 4 00 W

Map references: Europe

Area: total: 504,782 sq km water: 5,240 sq km note: there are 19
autonomous communities including Balearic Islands and Canary Islands,
and three small Spanish possessions off the coast of Morocco - Islas
Chafarinas, Penon de Alhucemas, and Penon de Velez de la Gomera land:
499,542 sq km

Area - comparative: slightly more than twice the size of Oregon

Land boundaries: total: 1,917.8 km border countries: Andorra 63.7 km,
France 623 km, Gibraltar 1.2 km, Portugal 1,214 km, Morocco (Ceuta)
6.3 km, Morocco (Melilla) 9.6 km

Coastline: 4,964 km

Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 NM exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
(applies only to the Atlantic Ocean) territorial sea: 12 NM

Climate: temperate; clear, hot summers in interior, more moderate and
cloudy along coast; cloudy, cold winters in interior, partly cloudy and
cool along coast

Terrain: large, flat to dissected plateau surrounded by rugged hills;
Pyrenees in north

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point:
Pico de Teide (Tenerife) on Canary Islands 3,718 m

Natural resources: coal, lignite, iron ore, uranium, mercury, pyrites,
fluorspar, gypsum, zinc, lead, tungsten, copper, kaolin, potash,
hydropower, arable land

Land use: arable land: 29% permanent crops: 9% other: 62% (1998 est.)

Irrigated land: 36,400 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards: periodic droughts

Environment - current issues: pollution of the Mediterranean Sea from
raw sewage and effluents from the offshore prod