Geography Spain

1 geography

1.1 islands
1.2 mountains , rivers
1.3 climate
1.4 fauna , flora

geography


topographic map of spain

at 505,992 km (195,365 sq mi), spain world s fifty-second largest country , europe s fourth largest country. 47,000 km (18,000 sq mi) smaller france , 81,000 km (31,000 sq mi) larger state of california. mount teide (tenerife) highest mountain peak in spain , third largest volcano in world base. spain transcontinental country.

spain lies between latitudes 26° , 44° n, , longitudes 19° w , 5° e.

on west, spain bordered portugal; on south, bordered gibraltar (a british overseas territory) , morocco, through exclaves in north africa (ceuta , melilla, , peninsula of vélez de la gomera). on northeast, along pyrenees mountain range, bordered france , principality of andorra. along pyrenees in girona, small exclave town called llívia surrounded france.

extending 1,214 km (754 mi), portugal–spain border longest uninterrupted border within european union.

islands

spain includes balearic islands in mediterranean sea, canary islands in atlantic ocean , number of uninhabited islands on mediterranean side of strait of gibraltar, known plazas de soberanía ( places of sovereignty , or territories under spanish sovereignty), such chafarinas islands , alhucemas. peninsula of vélez de la gomera regarded plaza de soberanía. isle of alborán, located in mediterranean between spain , north africa, administered spain, municipality of almería, andalusia. little pheasant island in river bidasoa spanish-french condominium.

largest inhabited islands of spain:

mt teide, tenerife, canary islands



mountains , rivers

ordesa y monte perdido national park, world heritage site in pyrenees

mainland spain mountainous country, dominated high plateaus , mountain chains. after pyrenees, main mountain ranges cordillera cantábrica (cantabrian range), sistema ibérico (iberian system), sistema central (central system), montes de toledo, sierra morena , sistema bético (baetic system) highest peak, 3,478-metre-high (11,411-foot) mulhacén, located in sierra nevada, highest elevation in iberian peninsula. highest point in spain teide, 3,718-metre (12,198 ft) active volcano in canary islands. meseta central (often translated inner plateau ) vast plateau in heart of peninsular spain.

there several major rivers in spain such tagus (tajo), ebro, guadiana, douro (duero), guadalquivir, júcar, segura, turia , minho (miño). alluvial plains found along coast, largest of of guadalquivir in andalusia.

climate


somiedo natural park, cantabrian mountains, asturias.



the mediterranean coast in cartagena, region of murcia



tablas de daimiel national park.

three main climatic zones can separated, according geographical situation , orographic conditions:

the mediterranean climate, characterised warm/hot , dry summers, dominant in peninsula. has 2 varieties: csa , csb according köppen climate classification.

the csa zone associated areas hot summers. predominant in mediterranean , southern atlantic coast , inland throughout andalusia, extremadura , much, if not most, of centre of country. csa zone covers climatic zones both relatively warm , cold winters considered extremely different each other @ local level, reason köppen classification eschewed within spain. local climatic maps divide mediterranean zone (which covers of country) between warm-winter , cold-winter zones, rather according summer temperatures.
the csb zone has warm rather hot summers, , extends additional cool-winter areas not typically associated mediterranean climate, such of central , northern-central of spain (e.g. western castile–león, northeastern castilla-la mancha , northern madrid) , rainier areas (notably galicia). note areas relatively high rainfall such galicia not considered mediterranean under local classifications, classed oceanic.


the semi-arid climate (bsk, bsh), predominant in southeastern quarter of country, widespread in other areas of spain. covers of region of murcia, southern valencia , eastern andalusia, true hot desert climates exist. further north, predominant in upper , mid reaches of ebro valley, crosses southern navarre, central aragon , western catalonia. found in madrid, extremadura, castilla-la mancha, , locations of western andalusia. dry season extends beyond summer , average temperature depends on altitude , latitude.
the oceanic climate (cfb), located in northern quarter of country, in atlantic region (basque country, cantabria, asturias, , partly galicia , castile–león). additionally found in northern navarre, in highlands areas along iberian system , in pyrenean valleys, humid subtropical variant (cfa) occurs. winter , summer temperatures influenced ocean, , have no seasonal drought.

apart these main types, other sub-types can found, alpine , continental climates (dfc, dfb / dsc, dsb) in pyrenees parts of cantabrian range, central system, sierra nevada , iberian system, , typical desert climate (bwk, bwh) in zone of almería, murcia , eastern canary islands. low-lying areas of canary islands average above 18.0 °c (64.4 °f) during coldest month, having tropical climate.

fauna , flora

iberian wolf

the fauna presents wide diversity due in large part geographical position of iberian peninsula between atlantic , mediterranean , between africa , eurasia, , great diversity of habitats , biotopes, result of considerable variety of climates , differentiated regions.

the vegetation of spain varied due several factors including diversity of relief, climate , latitude. spain includes different phytogeographic regions, each own floristic characteristics resulting largely interaction of climate, topography, soil type , fire, biotic factors.