Spain is located in the southwest of Europe. The country has amazing nature, breathtaking views and unusual people. Each region of Spain is very different from the other and also has its own traditions. On top of that, the country has a huge variety of dishes that fit every taste.
One of the main attractions of Spain is its rich nature. About 8,000 plant species can be found here. Deer, wild boars and roe deer can often be seen in the northern forests of Spain. The southern part of the country is inhabited by foxes, lynxes and wolves. Ducks, flamingos, storks and geese can be found near the water bodies.
The population is over 45 million people. Most of the residents belong to one ethnic group or another. The main ones are Catalans, Basques and Galicians. Catholicism is the main religion in the country. The locals are different in terms of behavior that many foreigners find strange. For example, being late up to half an hour is considered okay.
Spanish cuisine deserves special attention. The streets are full of large restaurants and small cafés. Food portions are usually large and you can order one dish for two people. Spanish wines are famous among both locals and tourists. The most popular dishes are gazpacho, paella, jamon and many others.
This destination is equally suitable for active and relaxed rest. Everyone will find something to their liking. Many tourists prefer to lie on the beaches, combining it with going to a restaurant. Others, however, prefer hiking, visiting forests and waterfalls.
Испания расположена на юго-западе Европы. Страна обладает удивительной природой, захватывающими видами и необычными жителями. Каждый регион Испании очень сильно отличается от другого и также имеет свои традиции. Вдобавок ко всему в стране огромное разнообразие блюд на любой вкус.
Одной из главных достопримечательностей Испании считается ее богатая природа. Здесь можно найти около 8 000 видов растений. В северных лесах Испании часто можно увидеть оленей, кабанов и косуль. В южной части страны обитают лисы, рыси и волки. Около водоемов можно встретить уток, фламинго, аистов и гусей.
Население более 45 млн. человек. Большинство жителей принадлежать к той или иной этнической группе. Основные из них — каталонцы, баски и галисийцы. Католицизм является основной религией в стране. Местные жители отличаются особенностями поведения, которые многие иностранцы считают странными. Например, опоздание до получаса считается нормальным явлением.
Отдельного внимания заслуживает испанская кухня. На улицах огромное количество крупных ресторанов и мелких кафе. Порции еды, как правило, большие и можно заказывать одно блюдо на двоих. Испанские вина известны как среди местных жителей, так и туристов. Наиболее популярными блюдами являются гаспачо, паэлья, хамон и множество других.
Данное направление одинаково подходит для активного и расслабленного отдыха. Каждый найдет себе занятие по душе. Многие туристы предпочитают отдыхать на пляжах, совмещая это с походами в ресторан. Однако другие предпочитают походы в горы, посещая леса и водопады.
Ответ:
Spain
Spain is one of the largest countries in Western Europe. It borders Portugal, Morocco, France, Andorra and Gibraltar. Spanish people, or Spaniards, speak mostly Spanish.
This country is famous for its warm and sunny weather during the whole year, for the beautiful sandy beaches of the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, and for the popular resorts with palm trees and yachts by the sea. Madrid, the capital, Barcelona and Ibiza – are the most popular tourist destinations in Spain.
It is a country of rich history and culture, where you can find some incredible monuments of architecture, sculptures, palaces, castles and museums. There are 47 World Heritage sites in Spain. Everyone who visits Spain should try their national dishes: flavourful rice cooked with seafood, called paella; chilled vegetable soup Gazpacho and spicy and sweet sausage Chorizo.
Spaniards are very friendly and emotional. They love celebrations, festivals and carnivals. Almost every week a holiday or festival is held in different parts of the country. Spain is also known for its crazy and funny festivals. For example, La Tomatina, the tomato fight festival, in which people throw tomatoes at each other. Or the Pamplona Running of the Bulls, in which the bravest people run in front of a group of angry bulls.
Spanish love of football has no limits. The streets become empty when their favourite team is playing. Real Madrid, Barcelona and Atletico are the best Spanish football clubs with a huge army of fans all over the country.
As we see, with such nice weather, rich culture and lots of festivals, Spain is the country that everybody should visit.
Объяснение:
Испания
Испания — одна из крупнейших стран Западной Европы. Она граничит с Португалией, Марокко, Францией, Андоррой и Гибралтаром. Испанцы говорят в основном по-испански.
Эта страна славится теплой и солнечной погодой в течение всего года, прекрасными песчаными пляжами Средиземного моря и Атлантического океана, а также популярными курортами с пальмами и яхтами у моря. Мадрид, столица, Барселона и Ибица — самые популярные туристические направления Испании.
Это страна с богатой историей и культурой, где вы можете найти невероятные памятники архитектуры, скульптуры, дворцы, замки и музеи. В Испании 47 объектов всемирного наследия. Каждый, кто посещает Испанию, должен попробовать их национальные блюда: ароматный рис, приготовленный с морепродуктами, называемый паэлья; охлажденный овощной суп гаспачо и острую-сладкую колбаса чоризо.
Испанцы очень дружелюбны и эмоциональны. Они любят праздники, фестивали и карнавалы. Почти каждую неделю в разных частях страны проходит какой-то праздник или фестиваль. Испания также известна своими сумасшедшими и веселыми фестивалями. Например, «Ла Томатина» — фестиваль борьбы помидорами, на котором люди бросают друг в друга помидоры. Или «Памплонский забег быков», в котором самые смелые люди бегут перед группой разъяренных быков.
Испанская любовь к футболу не имеет границ. Улицы становятся пустыми, когда играет их любимая команда. Реал Мадрид, Барселона и Атлетико — лучшие испанские футбольные клубы с огромной армией болельщиков по всей стране.
Как мы видим, с такой хорошей погодой, богатой культурой и большим количеством фестивалей, Испания – это страна, которую должен посетить каждый.
Объяснение:
Audio File:
National anthem of Spain
- Head Of Government:
- Prime Minister: Pedro Sánchez
- Capital:
- Madrid
- Population:
- (2022 est.) 47,323,000
- Currency Exchange Rate:
- 1 USD equals 0.938 euro
- Head Of State:
- King: Felipe VI
Summary
Read a brief summary of this topic
Spain, country located in extreme southwestern Europe. It occupies about 85 percent of the Iberian Peninsula, which it shares with its smaller neighbour Portugal.
Spain is a storied country of stone castles, snowcapped mountains, vast monuments, and sophisticated cities, all of which have made it a favoured travel destination. The country is geographically and culturally diverse. Its heartland is the Meseta, a broad central plateau half a mile above sea level. Much of the region is traditionally given over to cattle ranching and grain production; it was in this rural setting that Miguel de Cervantes’s Don Quixote tilted at the tall windmills that still dot the landscape in several places. In the country’s northeast are the broad valley of the Ebro River, the mountainous region of Catalonia, and the hilly coastal plain of Valencia. To the northwest is the Cantabrian Mountains, a rugged range in which heavily forested, rain-swept valleys are interspersed with tall peaks. To the south is the citrus-orchard-rich and irrigated lands of the valley of the Guadalquivir River, celebrated in the renowned lyrics of Spanish poets Federico García Lorca and Antonio Machado; over this valley rises the snowcapped Sierra Nevada. The southern portion of the country is desert, an extension of the Sahara made familiar to Americans through the “spaghetti western” films of the 1960s and early ’70s. Lined with palm trees, rosemary bushes, and other tropical vegetation, the southeastern Mediterranean coast and the Balearic Islands enjoy a gentle climate, drawing millions of visitors and retirees, especially from northern Europe.
Spain’s countryside is quaint, speckled with castles, aqueducts, and ancient ruins, but its cities are resoundingly modern. The Andalusian capital of Sevilla (Seville) is famed for its musical culture and traditional folkways; the Catalonian capital of Barcelona for its secular architecture and maritime industry; and the national capital of Madrid for its winding streets, its museums and bookstores, and its around-the-clock lifestyle. Madrid is Spain’s largest city and is also its financial and cultural centre, as it has been for hundreds of years.
The many and varied cultures that have gone into the making of Spain—those of the Castilians, Catalonians, Lusitanians, Galicians, Basques, Romans, Arabs, Jews, and Roma (Gypsies), among other peoples—are renowned for their varied cuisines, customs, and prolific contributions to the world’s artistic heritage. The country’s Roman conquerors left their language, roads, and monuments, while many of the Roman Empire’s greatest rulers were Spanish, among them Trajan, Hadrian, and Marcus Aurelius. The Moors, who ruled over portions of Spain for nearly 800 years, left a legacy of fine architecture, lyric poetry, and science; the Roma contributed the haunting music called the cante jondo (a form of flamenco), which, wrote García Lorca, “comes from remote races and crosses the graveyard of the years and the fronds of parched winds. It comes from the first sob and the first kiss.” Even the Vandals, Huns, and Visigoths who swept across Spain following the fall of Rome are remembered in words and monuments, which prompted García Lorca to remark, “In Spain, the dead are more alive than the dead of any other country in the world.”
In 1492, the year the last of the Moorish rulers were expelled from Spain, ships under the command of Christopher Columbus reached America. For 300 years afterward, Spanish explorers and conquerors traveled the world, claiming huge territories for the Spanish crown, a succession of Castilian, Aragonese, Habsburg, and Bourbon rulers. For generations Spain was arguably the richest country in the world, and certainly the most far-flung. With the steady erosion of its continental and overseas empire throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, however, Spain was all but forgotten in world affairs, save for the three years that the ideologically charged Spanish Civil War (1936–39) put the country at the centre of the world’s stage, only to become ever more insular and withdrawn during the four decades of rule by dictator Francisco Franco. Following Franco’s death in 1975, a Bourbon king, Juan Carlos, returned to the throne and established a constitutional monarchy. The country has been ruled since then by a succession of elected governments, some socialist, some conservative, but all devoted to democracy.
Land
Spain is bordered to the west by Portugal; to the northeast it borders France, from which it is separated by the tiny principality of Andorra and by the great wall of the Pyrenees Mountains. Spain’s only other land border is in the far south with Gibraltar, an enclave that belonged to Spain until 1713, when it was ceded to Great Britain in the Treaty of Utrecht at the end of the War of the Spanish Succession. Elsewhere the country is bounded by water: by the Mediterranean Sea to the east and southeast, by the Atlantic Ocean to the northwest and southwest, and by the Bay of Biscay (an inlet of the Atlantic Ocean) to the north. The Canary (Canarias) Islands, in the Atlantic Ocean off the northwestern African mainland, and the Balearic (Baleares) Islands, in the Mediterranean, also are parts of Spain, as are Ceuta and Melilla, two small enclaves in North Africa (northern Morocco) that Spain has ruled for centuries.
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Relief
Spain accounts for five-sixths of the Iberian Peninsula, the roughly quadrilateral southwestern tip of Europe that separates the Mediterranean Sea from the Atlantic Ocean. Most of Spain comprises a large plateau (the Meseta Central) divided by a mountain range, the Central Sierra (Sistema Central), which trends west-southwest to east-northeast. Several mountains border the plateau: the Cantabrian Mountains (Cordillera Cantábrica) to the north, the Iberian Cordillera (Sistema Ibérico) to the northeast and east, the Sierra Morena to the south, and the lower mountains of the Portuguese frontier and Spanish Galicia to the northwest. The Pyrenees run across the neck of the peninsula and form Spain’s border with France. There are two major depressions, that of the Ebro River in the northeast and that of the Guadalquivir River in the southwest. In the southeast the Baetic Cordillera (Sistema Penibético) runs broadly parallel to the coast to merge with the mountains of the Iberian Cordillera. Along the Mediterranean seaboard there are coastal plains, some with lagoons (e.g., Albufera, south of Valencia). Offshore in the Mediterranean, the Balearic Islands are an unsubmerged portion of the Baetic Cordillera. The Canary Islands in the Atlantic are of volcanic origin and contain the highest peak on Spanish territory, Teide Peak, which rises to 12,198 feet (3,718 metres) on the island of Tenerife.
Spain has some of the oldest as well as some of the youngest rocks of Europe. The entire western half of Iberia, with the exception of the extreme south, is composed of ancient (Hercynian) rocks; geologists refer to this Hercynian block as the Meseta Central. It constitutes a relatively stable platform around which younger sediments accumulated, especially on the Mediterranean side. In due course these sediments were pushed by major earth movements into mountain ranges. The term meseta is also used by geographers and local toponymy to designate the dominating relief unit of central Iberia. As a result, the Meseta Central defined by relief is subdivided by geology into a crystalline west (granites and gneisses) and a sedimentary east (mainly clays and limestones). The northern Meseta Central, which has an average elevation of 2,300 feet (700 metres), corresponds to the tablelands, or plateau, of Castile and León, although it is in fact a basin surrounded by mountains and drained by the Douro (Duero) River. The southern Meseta Central (the Meseta of Castile–La Mancha) is some 330 feet (100 metres) lower. Its relief is more diverse, however, owing to heavy faulting and warping caused by volcanic activity around the Calatrava Plain and to two complex river systems (the Guadiana and the Tagus) separated by mountains. Its southern plains rise gradually to the Sierra Morena. The southeastern side of this range drops almost vertically by more than 3,300 feet (1,000 metres) to the Guadalquivir depression. Dividing the northern and southern Mesetas are the Central Sierras, one of the outstanding features of the Iberian massif. Their highest points—Peñalara Peak at 7,972 feet (2,430 metres) and Almanzor Peak at 8,497 feet (2,590 metres)—rise well above the plains of the central plateau. In contrast, the granitic Galician mountains, at the northwestern end of the Hercynian block, have an average elevation of only 1,640 feet (500 metres), decreasing toward the deeply indented (ria) coast of the Atlantic seaboard.
Part of Alpine Europe, the Pyrenees form a massive mountain range that stretches from the Mediterranean Sea to the Bay of Biscay, a distance of some 270 miles (430 km). The range comprises a series of parallel zones: the central axis, a line of intermediate depressions, and the pre-Pyrenees. The highest peaks, formed from a core of ancient crystalline rocks, are found in the central Pyrenees—notably Aneto Peak at 11,168 feet (3,404 metres)—but those of the west, including Anie Peak at 8,213 feet (2,503 metres), are not much lower. The mountains fall steeply on the northern side but descend in terraces to the Ebro River trough in the south. The outer zones of the Pyrenees are composed of sedimentary rocks. Relief on the nearly horizontal sedimentary strata of the Ebro depression is mostly plain or plateau, except at the eastern end where the Ebro River penetrates the mountains to reach the Mediterranean Sea.
A series of sierras trending northwest-southeast forms the Iberian Cordillera, which separates the Ebro depression from the Meseta and reaches its highest elevation with Moncayo Peak at 7,588 feet (2,313 metres). In the southeast the Iberian Cordillera links with the Baetic Cordillera, also a result of Alpine earth movements. Although more extensive—more than 500 miles (800 km) long and up to 150 miles (240 km) wide—and with peninsular Spain’s highest summit, Mulhacén Peak, at 11,421 feet (3,481 metres), the Baetic ranges are more fragmented and less of a barrier than the Pyrenees. On their northern and northwestern sides they flank the low-lying and fairly flat Guadalquivir basin, the average elevation of which is only 426 feet (130 metres) on mainly clay strata. Unlike the Ebro basin, the Guadalquivir depression is wide open to the sea on the southwest, and its delta has extensive marshland (Las Marismas).
Drainage
Although some maintain that “aridity rivals civil war as the chief curse of [historic] Spain,” the Iberian Peninsula has a dense network of streams, three of which rank among Europe’s longest: the Tagus at 626 miles (1,007 km), the Ebro at 565 miles (909 km), and the Douro at 556 miles (895 km). The Guadiana and the Guadalquivir are 508 miles (818 km) and 408 miles (657 km) long, respectively. The Tagus, like the Douro and the Guadiana, reaches the Atlantic Ocean in Portugal. In fact, all the major rivers of Spain except the Ebro drain into the Atlantic Ocean. The hydrographic network on the Mediterranean side of the watershed is poorly developed in comparison with the Atlantic systems, partly because it falls into the climatically driest parts of Spain. However, nearly all Iberian rivers have low annual volume, irregular regimes, and deep valleys and even canyons. Flooding is always a potential hazard. The short, swift streams of Galicia and Cantabria, draining to the northwestern and northern coasts, respectively, have only a slight or, at most, modest summer minimum. The predominant fluvial regime in Spain is thus characterized by a long or very long summer period of low water. This is the regime of all the major arteries that drain the Meseta as well as those of the Mediterranean seaboard, such as the Júcar and the Segura: for example, from August to September the Guadiana River usually has less than one-tenth of its average annual flow. Only the Ebro River has a relatively constant and substantial flow—19,081 cubic feet (540 cubic metres) per second at Tortosa—coming from snowmelt as well as rainfall in the high Pyrenees. In comparison, the flow of the Douro is only 5,050 cubic feet (143 cubic metres) per second. The flow of many Iberian streams has been reduced artificially by water extraction for purposes such as irrigation. Subterranean flow is well-developed in limestone districts.
Soils
There are five major soil types in Spain. Two are widely distributed but of limited extent: alluvial soils, found in the major valleys and coastal plains, and poorly developed, or truncated, mountain soils. Brown forest soils are restricted to humid Galicia and Cantabria. Acidic southern brown earths (leading to restricted crop choice) are prevalent on the crystalline rocks of the western Meseta, and gray, brown, or chestnut soils have developed on the calcareous and alkaline strata of the eastern Meseta and of eastern Spain in general. Saline soils are found in the Ebro basin and coastal lowlands. Calcretes (subsoil zonal crusts [toscas], usually of hardened calcium carbonate) are particularly well-developed in the arid regions of the east: La Mancha, Almería, Murcia, Alicante (Alacant), and Valencia, as well as the Ebro and Lleida (Lérida) basins.
Soil erosion resulting from the vegetation degradation suffered by Spain for at least the past 3,000 years has created extensive badlands, reduced soil cover, downstream alluviation, and, more recently, silting of dams and irrigation works. Particularly affected are the high areas of the central plateau and southern and eastern parts of Spain. Although the origins of some of the spectacular badlands of southeastern Spain, such as Guadix, may lie in climatic conditions from earlier in Quaternary time (beginning 2.6 million years ago), one of the major problems of modern Spain is the threat of desertification—i.e., the impoverishment of arid, semiarid, and even some humid ecosystems caused by the joint impact of human activities and drought. Nearly half of Spain is moderately or severely affected, especially in the arid east (Almería, Murcia), as well as in much of subarid Spain (the Ebro basin). The government has adopted policies of afforestation, but some authorities believe that natural vegetation regrowth would yield more speedy and more permanent benefits.
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Ответ:
Spain
Spain is one of the largest countries in Western Europe. It borders Portugal, Morocco, France, Andorra and Gibraltar. Spanish people, or Spaniards, speak mostly Spanish.
This country is famous for its warm and sunny weather during the whole year, for the beautiful sandy beaches of the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, and for the popular resorts with palm trees and yachts by the sea. Madrid, the capital, Barcelona and Ibiza – are the most popular tourist destinations in Spain.
It is a country of rich history and culture, where you can find some incredible monuments of architecture, sculptures, palaces, castles and museums. There are 47 World Heritage sites in Spain. Everyone who visits Spain should try their national dishes: flavourful rice cooked with seafood, called paella; chilled vegetable soup Gazpacho and spicy and sweet sausage Chorizo.
Spaniards are very friendly and emotional. They love celebrations, festivals and carnivals. Almost every week a holiday or festival is held in different parts of the country. Spain is also known for its crazy and funny festivals. For example, La Tomatina, the tomato fight festival, in which people throw tomatoes at each other. Or the Pamplona Running of the Bulls, in which the bravest people run in front of a group of angry bulls.
Spanish love of football has no limits. The streets become empty when their favourite team is playing. Real Madrid, Barcelona and Atletico are the best Spanish football clubs with a huge army of fans all over the country.
As we see, with such nice weather, rich culture and lots of festivals, Spain is the country that everybody should visit.
Объяснение:
Испания
Испания — одна из крупнейших стран Западной Европы. Она граничит с Португалией, Марокко, Францией, Андоррой и Гибралтаром. Испанцы говорят в основном по-испански.
Эта страна славится теплой и солнечной погодой в течение всего года, прекрасными песчаными пляжами Средиземного моря и Атлантического океана, а также популярными курортами с пальмами и яхтами у моря. Мадрид, столица, Барселона и Ибица — самые популярные туристические направления Испании.
Это страна с богатой историей и культурой, где вы можете найти невероятные памятники архитектуры, скульптуры, дворцы, замки и музеи. В Испании 47 объектов всемирного наследия. Каждый, кто посещает Испанию, должен попробовать их национальные блюда: ароматный рис, приготовленный с морепродуктами, называемый паэлья; охлажденный овощной суп гаспачо и острую-сладкую колбаса чоризо.
Испанцы очень дружелюбны и эмоциональны. Они любят праздники, фестивали и карнавалы. Почти каждую неделю в разных частях страны проходит какой-то праздник или фестиваль. Испания также известна своими сумасшедшими и веселыми фестивалями. Например, «Ла Томатина» — фестиваль борьбы помидорами, на котором люди бросают друг в друга помидоры. Или «Памплонский забег быков», в котором самые смелые люди бегут перед группой разъяренных быков.
Испанская любовь к футболу не имеет границ. Улицы становятся пустыми, когда играет их любимая команда. Реал Мадрид, Барселона и Атлетико — лучшие испанские футбольные клубы с огромной армией болельщиков по всей стране.
Как мы видим, с такой хорошей погодой, богатой культурой и большим количеством фестивалей, Испания – это страна, которую должен посетить каждый.
Spain is one of the most popular tourists’ destinations in Europe. Tourists from many countries often choose Spain for its summer vacations. Most popular Spain is with tourists from Britain, Italy, France, the countries of central Europe and Scandinavia. Spain is the fourth most popular (most visited) country in the world after France, USA and China (2010). In 2010, Spain was visited by more than 50 million people.
The most popular among foreign tourists are holidays on the resorts of Spain. Best places for summer vacation are located on Mediterranean coast and Balearic Islands. Famous Canary Islands are part of Spain and one of the best places in the world.
General information about Spain
Spain (España), the Kingdom of Spain is a state in south-west Europe. It occupies a large part of the Iberian Peninsula. Spain covers an area 504 645 km2, being the fourth largest country in Europe after Russia, Ukraine and France. Spain borders Portugal to the west, the British territory of Gibraltar and Morocco to the south, France and Andorra to the north. Spain is bounded by the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, as well as the Mediterranean Sea to the south and east. The largest cities of Spain are Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Seville, Zaragoza and Malaga. The population of Spain is about 46 million people.
Spain is one of the most mountainous countries in Europe. Plateaus and mountains cover about 90 percent of the country. A large part of Spain is located at an altitude of 700 meters above sea level. This is the second highest country in Europe after Switzerland. The only large plain of Spain (Andalusia Lowland) is located in the south part of country. Spain capital city Madrid is the “highest” capital of Europe.
The international airport of Madrid (Barajas) is one of the busiest airports in the world. Barcelona El Prat Airport also serves a large number of aircraft. Major airports are also situated in Gran Canaria, Malaga, Valencia, Seville, Mallorca, Alicante and Bilbao.
Spain is one of the warmest countries in Europe. There are about 260-285 days of sunshine a year on average in Spain. The average annual temperature on the Mediterranean coast is 20 degrees. In winter the temperature drops below zero degrees only in the central and northern parts of the country. Summer in Spain can be very hot; the temperature rises to 40 degrees and above. On the northern coast the temperature is usually not as high — about 25 degrees.
Spain has a rich history. The first people settled here about 35 thousand years ago. A lot of people from different nationalities, cultures and religions had impact to development of this country. Monuments of history of different cultures and nations have survived in Spain. It will be interesting to see the historical sights of Spain for history lovers.
The most famous museum in Spain is Prado Museum. It is located in Madrid. The museum has a large number of pictures. It is impossible to place all the exhibits in one building and look for one day. Many other Spain museums are worldwide known: Picasso Museum and the National Art Museum of Catalonia located in Barcelona. The National Museum of Sculpture is in Valladolid. El Greco Museum is in Toledo. The Guggenheim Museum is in Bilbao. The Museum of Abstract Art is in Cuenca.
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Spain beaches and resorts
Holidays by the sea, on Spain resort coasts are popular with residents of many counties. This kind of tourism is the most lucrative for the Spanish economy at present. The mild climate throughout the year and the vast sandy beaches of the Mediterranean Sea, Atlantic Ocean, Canary and Balearic Islands attract tourists from many European countries. Most countries in Europe not have such warm sea and comfortable climate. Tourists from northern and central Europe countries tend to spend their vacations in warmer places, including the Spain. Spain has long been a favorite holidaymaker for British residents, and it remains their number one holiday destination. Summer resorts are popular among the Spain residents themselves too.
There are more than two thousand beaches on the coast in Spain. The most famous and popular places in Spain are: Costa Brava, Costa Dorada, Costa del Assar, Costa de Almeria, Costa Blanca, Mar Menor, Costa del Sol, Costa de la Luz, Rias -Bahasa, Rias Altas, Costa Cantabrica, Canary and Balearic Islands.
Most popular places for summer vacation in the Spain
Traditionally, for many people, the best place for holiday is warm sea coast.
Costa Brava, Costa Dorada and the Costa del Maresme resort areas are located in the autonomous region of Catalonia. Here are located popular cities and resorts. Barcelona is most popular tourists’ destination in Catalonia. Salou village is popular seaside resort. It is located about 10 km from Tarragona city, on the “Costa Dorada” (Gold Coast). These places are popular with tourists from France and the Spanish themselves.
“Costa del Azahar”, “Costa de Valencia”, “Costa Blanca” resort coasts are located in Valencia, on the Mediterranean coast of Spain. Resorts are popular with tourists from the UK and Germany. One of the most popular cities in the coast is Benidorm. Most popular beaches of region are “Playa de Levante” and “Playa de Poniente”. Here is situated a “Terra Mitica” amusement park.
“Costa Calida” (Warm Coast) is situated in the region of Murcia. One of the most famous places here is “Mar Menor” (Small Sea). It is a is salty lagoon, separated from the Mediterranean sea by “La Manga”, a sandbar 22 kilometers length and with a variable width from 100 to 1200 meters. There are large sandy beaches and special microclimate. Here held some interesting festivals in the year. Murcia is a city (and the Region) in south-eastern Spain.
“Costa de Almeria”, “Costa Tropical”, “Costa, Costa del Sol” and “Costa de la Luz” resort coasts are located in the Spain region Andalusia (Mediterranean coast). There are recreational facilities and destinations for medical tourism. Located here Malaga city is also one of the largest ports in Spain.
Spain also includes two island territories: the Canary Islands in the Atlantic Ocean and the Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean Sea. These islands are also a popular holiday destinations.
Attractions and interesting Events
Spain suggests not only rest on the beaches on the sea resorts. There are many historical attractions and cultural, sporting and business events. The best-known Spain cities are Madrid and Barcelona. Both cities offer plenty of interesting sights and events. But this is only a small part of interesting places for tourists in this country. Thirteen Spanish cities included in the list UNESCO World Heritage sites list: Alcala de Henares, Ávila, Cáceres, Córdoba, Cuenca, Ibiza, Salamanca, San Cristobal de la Laguna, Santiago de Compostela, Segovia, Toledo and Tarragona. A total amount is 42 such significant objects in Spain. By the number of UNESCO World Heritage Site Spain is the second in the world after Italy (45 historically significant sites).
Basic information about Spain and its geography
There’s a lot to know about Spain, so get started with these facts about Spain’s population, people, language and culture.
Essential Facts About Spain
Where Is Spain? Spain can be found on the Iberian peninsula in Europe, a piece of land it shares with Portugal and Gibraltar. It also has a border to the north-east with France and Andorra.
How Big Is Spain? Spain measures 505,992 square kilometers, making it the 51st biggest country in the world and the third biggest in Europe (after France and Ukraine). It is slightly smaller than Thailand and a little bigger than Sweden. Spain has a larger area than California but less than Texas. You could fit Spain into the United States 18 times!
Country Code: +34
Timezone: Spain’s timezone is Central European Time (GMT+1), which many believe to be the wrong time zone for the country. Neighboring Portugal is in GMT, as is the United Kingdom, which is geographically in line with Spain. This means that the sun rises later in Spain than in most other countries in Europe, and sets later, which probably partially accounts for Spain’s vibrant late-night culture. Spain changed its timezone before World War II in order to align itself with Nazi Germany.
Capital: Madrid.
Population: Spain has nearly 45 million people, making it the 30th most populated country in the world and the fourth most populated country in the EU (after Germany, France, and Italy). It has the lowest population density in Western Europe (excluding Scandinavia).
Religion: The majority of Spaniards are Catholic, though Spain is a secular state. For over 300 years, most of Spain was Muslim. Parts of Spain were under Muslim rule until 1492 when the last Moorish king fell (in Granada).
Biggest Cities (by population):
- Madrid
- Barcelona
- Valencia
- Seville
- Zaragoza
Currency: The currency in Spain is the Euro and it’s the only currency accepted in the country. The currency until 2002 was the peseta, which in turn had replaced the escudo in 1869.
Official Language: Spanish, often referred to as Castellano in Spain, or Castillian Spanish, is the official language of Spain. Many of Spain’s autonomous communities have other official languages.
Government: Spain is a monarchy; the present king since 2014 is Felipe VI. He was preceded by his father Juan Carlos I, who inherited the position from General Franco, the dictator who ruled Spain from 1939 until 1975.
Spain’s Autonomous Regions
Spain is divided into 19 autonomous regions: 15 mainland regions, two collections of islands and two city enclaves in North Africa. The biggest region is Castilla y Leon, followed by Andalusia. At 94,000 square kilometers, it is roughly the size of Hungary. The smallest mainland region is La Rioja.
The full list is as follows (each region’s capital is listed in brackets):
- Madrid (Madrid)
- Catalonia (Barcelona)
- Valencia (Valencia)
- Andalusia (Seville)
- Murcia (Murcia)
- Castilla-La Mancha (Toledo)
- Castilla y Leon (Valladolid)
- Extremadura (Merida)
- Navarra (Pamplona)
- Galicia (Santiago de Compostela)
- Asturias (Oviedo)
- Cantabria (Santander)
- Basque Country (Vitoria)
- La Rioja (Logroño)
- Aragon (Zaragoza)
- Balearic Islands (Palma de Mallorca)
- Canary Islands (Las Palmas de Gran Canaria/Santa Cruz de Tenerife)
Famous Things About Spain
Famous Buildings & Monuments: Spain is the home to La Sagrada Familia, the Alhambra, and the Prado and Reina Sofia museums in Madrid.
Famous Spaniards: Spain is the birthplace of artists Salvador, Dali Francisco Goya, Diego Velazquez, and Pablo Picasso, opera singers Placido Domingo and Jose Carreras, architect Antoni Gaudi, Formula 1 World Champion Fernando Alonso, pop singers Julio Iglesias and Enrique Iglesias, actors Antonio Banderas and Penelope Cruz, flamenco-pop act The Gypsy Kings, film director Pedro Almodovar, rally driver Carlos Sainz, poet and playwright Federico Garcia Lorca, author Miguel de Cervantes, historical leader El Cid, golfers Sergio Garcia and Seve Ballesteros, cyclist Miguel Indurain and tennis players Rafa Nadal, Carlos Moya, David Ferrer, Juan Carlos Ferrero and Arantxa Sánchez Vicario.
What Else Is Spain Famous For? Spain invented paella and sangria (though the Spanish don’t drink Sangria as much as people believe) and is home to the Camino de Santiago. Christopher Columbus, though probably not Spanish (no-one’s quite sure), was funded by the Spanish monarchy.
Despite the beret being associated with France, the Basques in north-east Spain invented the beret. The Spanish also eat a lot of snails. Only the French eat frogs’ legs, though!
Spanish Geography
Spain is one of the most mountainous countries in Europe. Three-quarters of the country is over 500m above sea level, and a quarter of it is over a kilometer above sea level. The most famous mountain ranges in Spain are the Pyrenees and the Sierra Nevada. The Sierra Nevada can be visited as a day trip from Granada.
Spain has one of the most diverse ecosystems in Europe. The region of Almeria in the south-east resembles a desert in places, while the north-west in winter can expect rain 20 days out of every month.
Spain has over 8,000km of beaches. Beaches on the south and east coast are great for sunbathing, but some of the most beautiful are on the north coast. The north is also good for surfing.
Spain has Atlantic and Mediterranean coastlines. The border between the Med and the Atlantic can be found in Tarifa.
Spain has more land covered by vineyards than any other country in the world. However, due to the arid soil, the actual grape yield is lower than in other countries.
Disputed Territories: Spain claims sovereignty over Gibraltar, a British enclave on the Iberian peninsula.
At the same time, Morocco claims sovereignty over the Spanish enclaves of Ceuta, Melilla in North Africa and the islands of Vélez, Alhucemas, Chafarinas, and Perejil. The Spanish attempt to reconcile the difference between Gibraltar and these territories in a generally confused manner.
Portugal claims sovereignty over Olivenza, a town on the border between Spain and Portugal.
Spain relinquished control of the Spanish Sahara (now known as Western Sahara) in 1975.