Spain short information about the country. Spain

SPAIN - GENERAL

Territory- 504 750 sq. Km. Spain is the second largest country in Western Europe after France.

Population- 39.2 million people. Ethnic composition: Spaniards, Catalans, Galicians, Basques.

Languages:Spanish (official language - 74% of the population), Catalan (autonomous community of Catalonia - 17%), Galician (autonomous community of Galicia - 7%), Basque (Basque Country - 2%).

Religion- 99% Catholic.

Capital- Madrid.

Largest cities - Madrid (3 million), Barcelona (1.7 million), Seville (714 thousand).

Administrative division - 17 autonomous communities. There are also 2 territorial enclaves on the coast of Morocco (Ceuta and Melilla) and three groups of islands off the coast of Morocco under Spanish control.

Form of government- a constitutional monarchy.

Head of state - King Juan Carlos.

Currency- Euro.

Banks serve customers on weekdays from 08.15 - to 14.00, on Saturday until 13.00, Sunday is a day off. Currency can also be exchanged at exchange offices, hotels and travel agencies.

Visa regime - Schengen visa.

Time- Moscow minus two hours.

Geography of Spain

Spain is located in southwestern Europe and occupies about 85% of the territory of the Iberian Peninsula. Also, Spain owns the Balearic and Pitius Islands in the Mediterranean Sea, the Canary Islands in the Atlantic Ocean. The cities of Ceuta and Melilla (in Morocco) and the islands of Velez de la Gomera, Alusenas and Chafaranas are under Spanish rule. Territory: 504,750 sq. Km. Of these: land - 499,400 sq. Km, water - 5,350 sq. Km. Spain borders with France - 623 km, Portugal - 1.214 km, Andorra - 65 km, the English colony of Gibraltar - 1.2 km, Morocco: (Ceuta) - 6.3 km, (Melilla) - 9.6 km. The total length of the border: on the ground - 1,919.1 km, the coastline - 4,964 km. The central part of the territory of Spain is the Meseta plateau with the Center mountains chain. Cordillera. In the north and north-east - the Pyrenees, Cantabrian, Iberian and Catalan mountains, in the south - the Andalusian mountains (Mulasen, 3478 m - the highest point of continental Spain) and the Sierra Morena mountains. Large rivers - Tahoe, Duero, Ebro, Guadalquivir, Guadiana. The country in the southeast is washed by the Mediterranean Sea, in the west - by the waters of the Atlantic Ocean. Spain is located at the crossroads of important sea and air routes linking Europe with the African and American continents. Also Spain has a strategic position along the Strait of Gibraltar.

Population of Spain

Spain is considered a single nation, formed on the basis of various historical regions and ethnic groups, the main of which are Catalans (15.6%), Andalusians (15.6%), Castilians (11.1%), Valencians (9.7%) , Galicians (7.4%) and Basques (5.6%).

Most of the population of Spain (99%) is Catholic. The Catholic Church is very influential in the country.

The total population of the country is 39.6 million; population density - 78.5 people per 1 sq. km; annual population growth - 0.2%; illiteracy rate - 4.6%; life expectancy is 78 years.

Four languages ​​are spoken in Spain: Spanish, Basque, Catalan and Galician. The state and most spoken language in the country is Spanish.

Climate of Spain

Spain has a Mediterranean climate. Average temperatures in January are from 4-5 ° С on the Meset plateau to 12 ° С in the south, in July, respectively, from 23 to 29 ° С. Precipitation is 300-500 mm, in the mountains of St. 1000 mm per year (mainly in winter).

The Canary archipelago is also Spain, and you can swim on the island of Tenerife all year round. At the same time, the average air temperature is + 22-24 ° C, and even in August there is no sweltering heat.

Spanish cuisine

Spanish national cuisine is considered one of the best in the world in terms of quality and variety of products. Its peculiarity is the unification of numerous regional cuisines, each of which was influenced by the climatic conditions and the way of life of the people of the area. National cuisine can be divided into Catalan, Valencian, Basque, etc. Madrid stands apart. Madrid-style grilled meats, cod and "rennet" (stewed entrails cut into pieces) are equally loved here, as are the traditional "cosido madrilenho" (pea soups with croutons). But the most popular is Madrid "calos" - spiced tripe with blood sausage and pepper sauce. You should definitely try at least the classic dishes. Famous Spanish omelet "tortiya", spicy smoked sausage "chorizo", ham "serrano", sheep cheese "manchego", gourmet special smoked ham "jamon". And, of course, cold gazpacho soup.

Work time

Institutions: 9.00-13.00 and 16.00-20.00 (Monday - Friday).

Shops: 9: 00-13: 00 and 16: 00-20: 00 (Monday - Saturday). Large department stores: El Corte Ingles 10:00 - 21:00 (Monday Saturday, no break). Supermarkets: "Continente, Pryca, Alcampo, Mercadonna 9:00 (10:00) - 20:00 (21:00) Monday - Saturday, no interruption. In tourist centers during the holidays, some shops are open on Sunday.

Museums: 9.00-13.00 and 16.00-19.00 (as a rule). Some museums are closed on Sunday and Monday.

Telephone
Anywhere in Spain there are telephone booths from which you can call anywhere in the world. Telephone sets accept coins of 5, 10, 25, 100 and 500 pesetas. It is more convenient to call Russia from any telephone booth installed on the street or in a bar or restaurant - it is much cheaper than calling from a hotel.

Required phones:

national police - 091

local police - 092

Red Cross - 22-22-22

urgent medical assistance - 061

fire service - 080

exact time service - 093

referral service - 098

Tips
Tipping in Spain is an ancient tradition, practiced in bars and restaurants, taxis, cinemas, hotels. Please note that service charges may be invoiced. Typically, the tip is 5-10% in restaurants and taxis.

Useful tips for Spain

Going to Spain do not count on English. Learn Spanish words, or at least write them down on a piece of paper. A well-chosen 30-word list will make your life immeasurably easier.
If you do not live in Moscow, a tour with a departure from your city will cost one and a half times more than a tour with a departure from Moscow. Perhaps it makes sense to fly from Moscow.

If you are faced with a choice when to go to the coast - in June or September, keep in mind that the sea is noticeably cooler in June.

Buy and take with you a pocket-sized (so you can carry it with you) Spanish-Russian / Russian-Spanish dictionary. As practice shows, standard phrasebooks are practically useless, the ideal option is knowledge of a couple of dozen basic phrases plus a dictionary in case you need to urgently translate a word.

Charter flights tend to be very late. Do not be surprised or worried, just be mentally prepared for the confusion at the airport and the fact that you will have to spend a couple of extra hours in it.
The sand on the beaches is different depending on the beach - from coarse and sharp, as, for example, in Lloret de Mar, to very fine.

Popular for its affordable prices, Lloret de Mar is poorly suited for families as it is flooded with young people from all over Europe. If it suits you, Lloret is what you need, but if you prefer more peaceful and cozy places, it is better to choose something else.

The Costa Brava is characterized by a "steep bottom", when after making four or five steps into the sea you dive headlong. This is not particularly important for adults, but with young children who like to play in shallow water, it is still better to go to another coast.

Talk about the insidious Spanish sun is completely true. Don't neglect protective creams.

In order not to get sandy towels on the beach, it is best not to spend money on sun loungers every day, but to buy a pair of mats (it will cost about a little euro apiece). You can buy them right there, in nearby shops. It also doesn't hurt to buy a folding sun umbrella. It is more expensive, around 10 euros, but worth it.

If you are traveling on your own, keep in mind that it can be extremely difficult to rent an inexpensive 1 * -2 * hotel within the boundaries of large cities during the season. In the nearest suburbs, this is more likely.
You can significantly save on city public transport if you buy tickets for 10 trips.
Water parks usually open in late May - early June and close by October.
In Tenerife, you can look into the Teide volcano crater only with a special separately obtained permit, which travel agencies forget to warn about.

The exchange commission (if any) of a currency, in addition to interest, always has a certain mandatory minimum - for example, 2 euros, so it is more profitable to change a large amount once than small ones several times.
If you need to buy beach accessories (swimwear, towels, slippers), remember that their prices in Spain are 3 to 7 times lower than in Moscow. For example, swimwear costs 15-20 euros. Luxury beach towels - 5-10 euros. But film in Spain is more expensive - from 4 euros.

Hot tea and coffee in hotels is usually offered only for breakfast. If you are accustomed to having tea in the evenings, a small camp boiler will come in handy.

EmbassySpain in Moscow

Moscow, st. Bolshaya Nikolskaya, 50/8. Tel .: +7 (495)2022161, 2022180 / Fax +7 2919171

And galis. Reino de España, cat. Regne d "Espanya, Basque. Espainiako Erresuma, Ox. Reialme d" Espanha) is a state in southwestern Europe with its capital in Madrid. Spain occupies most of the Iberian Peninsula. According to one version, the name of the country comes from the Phoenician expression "i-shpanim" - "coast of rabbits". It occupies 4/5 of the territory of the Iberian Peninsula, the Canary Islands and the Balearic Islands with a total area of ​​504,782 km² (together with small sovereign territories on the African coast, the cities of Ceuta and Melilla), being the fourth largest country in Europe after Russia, Ukraine and France. The average height of the surface of Spain is 650 meters above sea level. The country is one of the most mountainous countries in Europe.

Physical and geographical characteristics

Relief

The relief of Spain is very diverse. The center of the country is located at a distance of 300 kilometers from the sea. In the relief, the dominant role is played by systems of mountain ranges and high-altitude plateaus.

Highlands and mountains make up about 90 percent of its territory. Almost half of the country's surface is occupied by the vast, highest in Europe - with an average height of 660 meters - the Meset plateau. It is distinguished by the alternation of plateaus, folded-block ridges and mountain basins. The central Cordillera divides Meseta into two parts: north and south.

The Pyrenees are several parallel ridges stretching from west to east for 450 kilometers. This is one of the most remote mountainous countries in Europe. Although on average they are not very high (just over 2500 meters), they have only a few conveniently located passes. All the 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 of Aerbe - Oloron- Sainte-Marie and Ripoll - Prades, through the tunnel system. The widest and highest part of the mountains is the central one. Here is their main peak - Aneto peak, reaching 3405 meters.

From the northeast, the system of the Iberian Mountains adjoins Meset, the maximum height (peak of Mon Cayo) is 2313 meters.

Between the eastern Pyrenees and the Iberian mountains, there are the low Catalan mountains, the southern slopes of which drop off like ledges to the Mediterranean Sea. The Catalan mountains (average heights of 900-1200 meters, the peak is Mount Caro, 1447 meters) follow for 400 kilometers almost parallel to the Mediterranean coast and actually separate the Aragonese plateau from it. The coastal plains developed in Murcia, Valencia and Catalonia north of Cape Palos to the border with France 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. They are second only to the Alps in height in Europe. Their peak, Mount Mulasen, reaching 3478 meters, is the highest point of peninsular Spain. However, the highest mountain peak in Spain is located on the island of Tenerife (Canary Islands) - this is the Teide volcano, whose height reaches 3718 meters.

Most of the territory of Spain is located at an altitude of about 700 meters above sea level. It is the second tallest country in Europe after Switzerland.

The only large lowland - Andalusian - is located in the south of the country. In the north-east of Spain in the valley of the river. Ebro stretches 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), the Guadalquivir, flows through the Andalusian lowland. The rest of the rivers, including the largest ones: Tajo and Duero, whose lower reaches are located on the territory of neighboring Portugal, Ebro, Guadiana, are distinguished by sharp seasonal fluctuations in level and rapids.

Large areas of the country suffer from a lack of water. Related to this is the problem of erosion - millions of tons of the topsoil are blown out annually.

Climate

Spain is one of the warmest states 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 drop below zero, usually only in the central and northern regions of the country. In summer, the temperature rises to 40 degrees and above (from the central part to the southern 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 regime.

On extreme northwest the climate is mild and humid with slight fluctuations in temperature throughout the year and a lot of rainfall. Constant winds from the Atlantic bring a lot of moisture, mainly in winter, when foggy and cloudy weather prevails with drizzling rains, almost without frost and snow. The average temperature of the coldest month is the same as in the northwest of France. Summers are hot and humid, the average temperature is rarely below 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 affected by the influence of the plateau-basin relief, significant altitude and local continental air. They are characterized by a relatively low amount of precipitation (no more than 500 mm per year) and sharp temperature fluctuations over the seasons. Old Castile and the Aragonese plain have fairly cold winters with frost and strong, harsh winds; summers are hot and rather dry, although the maximum precipitation occurs during this season of the year. New Castile has a slightly milder climate, with warmer winters but also low rainfall. Agriculture in all these areas requires artificial irrigation.

The soil

In the north-west of Spain, on the coastal plains and the windward slopes of the mountains, brown forest soil is developed. The interior regions of the country - Old and New Castile, the Iberian mountains and the Aragonese plateau - are characterized by brown soil; in the driest, treeless areas, there is a thin calcareous gray-brown soil with areas of solonchaks in relief depressions. In the arid landscapes of Murcia, gray soils are developed. They are not gypsum-bearing and not saline; when irrigated, they give high yields of fruit and other crops. The heavy clay soil of barros stands out on flat ancient alluvial plains, which is especially favorable for rice cultivation.

Flora and fauna

The variety of climatic conditions - from humid in the north to arid in the south - determines the heterogeneity of flora and vegetation in Spain. In the north, there are features of similarity with Central Europe, and in the south - with Africa. Traces of forest vegetation in Murcia, La Mancha and Granada indicate that in the past a significant part of the territory of Spain was forested, but now forests and light forests occupy only 30% of the country's area, with only 5% being full-fledged closed stands.

Evergreen oak forests grow in the northwest of the country. Mountain forests have more deciduous oak species, along with beech, ash, birch and chestnut, which is typical of Central Europe. In the interior regions of Spain, small tracts of dry evergreen forests with a predominance of oak, interspersed with pine forests and shrubs, have been preserved in places. In the driest areas of New Castile, the Aragonese plateau and Murcia, there are fragments of semi-deserts (usually on salt marshes).

In areas of southern Spain with more rainfall, especially along the coast, there are typical Mediterranean dwarf shrub-herb communities such as garrigue and tomillara. Garriga is characterized by the participation of local species of gorse and cornflowers, while tomillara is characterized by the presence of aromatic labiates (shrub species of thyme, rosemary, etc.), as well as cistus. A special variety of garriga are scattered thickets of the dwarf fan palm, very characteristic of Andalusia, as well as a community with a predominance of tall grass alpha, or esparto, a hardy xerophyte that gives strong fiber.

In the fauna of Spain, Central European and African ties are evident. Among the European species, two varieties of brown bear deserve mention (large Asturian and smaller, black, found in the Pyrenees), lynx, wolf, fox, forest cat. There are deer, hares, squirrels and moles. The burial eagle is found in Spain and North Africa, and the blue magpie found in the Iberian Peninsula is also found in East Asia. On both sides of the Strait of Gibraltar, there are genetas, Egyptian mongooses and one species of chameleons.

Minerals

Minerals of Spain: The mineral resources of Spain abound in minerals. Especially significant are the reserves of metal ores, the deposits of which are associated with the outcrops of the folded base of Meseta or with the volcanic rocks of mountain structures. On the northwestern outskirts of Meseta, within the Gallic massif, in the Caledonian and Proterozoic granite intrusions, there are tin, tungsten and uranium ores. A strip of lead-zinc-silver deposits stretches along the southern outskirts of Meseta. There is also a large mercury deposit of world 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 the well-known deposits of the Bilbao region on the northern slope of the Biscay Mountains and in Almeria on the southern slope of the Cordillera Beta. In the north, in the Carboniferous deposits that fill the foothill depression of the Asturian Mountains, there is the country's largest coal basin. In addition, there are small deposits of coal on the southern slope of the mountains and in some other areas. In the Cenozoic sediments of intermontane and intramontane depressions, strata of salts and brown coal occur. Significant reserves of potash salts are located within the Ebro Plain.

It is worth noting, however, that most of the mineral deposits in the country are of very modest size and are quite exhausted, like many deposits in other European regions, which makes Spain dependent on imports of minerals, mainly from North Africa.

Economy

Airports in Spain are subordinate to the public organization Spanish Airports and Air Navigation (Aeropuertos Españoles y Navegación Aérea (Aena)), which in turn is subordinate to the Ministry of Development (Ministerio de Fomento de España). According to the 2006 Act on the Autonomy of Catalonia, three Catalan airports have been transferred to the Generalité de Catalunya, which is managed jointly with the public organization Aerocat. Madrid Airport (Barajas) with a passenger traffic of 50.8 million in 2008 is one of the busiest airports in the world. Barcelona Airport (El Prat) handled 30 million passengers in 2008. Less busy airports are in Gran Canaria, Malaga, Valencia, Seville, Mallorca, Alicante and Bilbao.

The Spanish airlines are: Air Europa, Air Nostrum, Air Pullmantur, Binter Canarias, Iberia LAE, Iberworld, Islas Airways, Spanair, Vueling Airlines.

Spain aims to have a million electric vehicles by 2014 as part of the government's plan to save energy and improve the environment.

Light industry

Food industry

In the food industry, winemaking stands out (in the production of grape wines, Spain is second only to France and Italy in Europe), the production of vegetable oil (1.7 million tons in 1996; Spain is the world leader in the production of olive oil (about 0.5 million tons per year). ), fruit and vegetable and canned fish. Spain is among the top ten world manufacturers of cars, ships, forging equipment and gas compressors, machine tools, oil products and chemical products. Half of industrial production is concentrated in the north-east (Catalonia), north of the country (Asturias, Cantabria, Basque Country) and in Greater Madrid.

Agriculture

The leading branch of agriculture is crop production (gives over 1/2 of the cost of production). They grow wheat (about 20% of the cultivated area), barley, corn (in the central and southern regions of the country), rice (on the irrigated lands of the Mediterranean coast; its yield in Spain is one of the highest in the world), potatoes and sugar beets, legumes, tomatoes, onions, peppers, eggplants and other vegetables (vegetables occupy 60% of the cultivated area), olives - (leading in the cultivation of olives in the world) - (Andalusia, Castile la Mancha, Extremadura), citrus fruits and tobacco. Viticulture - on the Mediterranean coast and in the areas of Castile-la-Mancha, Extremadura. In the very south of the country, almonds (the leading export in Western Europe), dates and sugar cane (in Europe grow only in Spain), figs, pomegranates, and cotton are grown.

Fishing

Spain is among the top ten countries in the world for catching fish and seafood (1.1 million tons in 1996) and their processing, is a major exporter of fresh fish and canned fish.

Most of the fishing takes place off the coast of the Basque Country and Galicia. Most of all caught sardines, hake, mackerel, anchovies and cod. Every year, 20-25% of the total catch is processed for canned food.

Banking sector

Spanish banks need a € 59.3 billion recapitalization, according to stress tests posted on the Spanish central bank's website. The financial crisis in Spain led to an explosion of separatism. The economic crisis in Spain is gradually turning into a political one. On the one hand, the regions with their extremely weak banks need the help of the country's government. On the other hand, some territories, in particular Catalonia, believe that without the guiding and guiding hand of Madrid, they would feel much better.

The crisis was not limited to the financial sector. Property prices fell, which in turn increased unemployment. Spanish construction company Martinsa-Fadesa has filed for bankruptcy after failing to refinance a € 5.1 billion debt. In the second quarter, property prices in Spain fell by 20%. In the Castile-La Mancha region, approximately 69% of all buildings built in the past three years are still pending. Deutsche Bank expects a 35% fall in property prices in Spain by 2011. Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Zapatero has accused the European Central Bank of exacerbating the situation due to raising interest rates.

Population

Population dynamics:

• year - 6.5 million people;
• city ​​- 4.5 million people;
• city ​​- 6 million people;
• city ​​- 11.3 million people;
• year - 6.2 million people;
• year - 11.55 million people;
• year - 18.6 million people;
• city ​​- 24.1 million people;
• city ​​- 29.9 million people;
• city ​​- 36.3 million people;
• year - 45.97 million people

The population of Spain is 46.16 million (October 2011).

According to a 2008 genetic study by the University of Leeds, 20% of the modern population of Spain has Jewish roots, and 11% have Arab and Berber roots.

History

On the southwestern coast of Iberia, a culture emerged in the Bronze Age, from which at the end of the 2nd millennium the Tartesse civilization was formed, which traded metal with the Phoenicians. After the depletion of the mines, Tartess falls into decay.

Along the east coast of Spain in the III millennium BC. NS. Iberian tribes appeared; some hypotheses link their ancestral home with North Africa. From these tribes comes the ancient name of the peninsula - Iberian. In the middle of the II millennium BC. NS. Iberians began to settle in fortified villages in what is now Castile. The Iberians were mainly engaged in agriculture, cattle breeding and hunting, they were able to make tools of labor from copper and bronze. The Iberians used the Paleo-Spanish script previously created by the Tartessians. The Iberian language was not related to Tartessian.

There is Roman evidence that Ligurs previously lived in Spain, but nothing is known about their existence in the historical period.

In the Late Bronze Age, the culture of the fields of burial urns penetrates into Iberia (the remnants of which in the historical period were probably the Lusitanians), and at the beginning of the 1st millennium BC. NS. most of Iberia is colonized by Celtic tribes. Part of the Celts who lived in the neighborhood with the Iberians, having fallen under their influence, created the Celtiberian culture; the Celts, who lived in the western part, maintained a relatively conservative lifestyle, were unwritten. Celts of Iberia became famous as warriors. It was they who invented the double-edged sword, which later became the standard weapon of the Roman army and was used against their own inventors.

XX century

XXI Century

In March 2004, in Madrid, on the outskirts of the Atocha train station, 13 explosions thundered, as a result of which 191 people were killed and 2050 were injured. This attack was organized by an underground Islamist organization that followed the ideology of Al-Qaeda. The explosions took place three days before the parliamentary elections and were terrorists' response to the participation of the Spanish military in the military operation in Iraq. Most Spaniards blamed the attacks on the government of Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar, who sent Spanish troops to support the United States and Britain. Aznar's government adopted this decision unilaterally, without coordinating it with the parliament (Kortes) and despite the massive protests of civil society, which took part in thousands of demonstrations against the participation of the Spanish army in the war. In addition, mass polls conducted by a state agency indicated that about 80% of the country's population was against Spain's entry into the war. The People's Party led by Aznar lost the elections on March 14, 2004.

At the beginning of 2004, the new socialist government of Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero made a sharp turn in Spanish foreign policy: from supporting the US course to solidarity with most of the EU countries. After winning the elections on March 14, 2004, the socialist government withdrew Spanish troops from Iraq, thus fulfilling an important point in the electoral program of the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSWP). The subsequent parliamentary elections in 2008 were again won by the PSOE. New parliamentary elections in Spain took place on November 20, 2011.

In 2005, same-sex marriage was legalized in Spain. Thus, Spain became the third state in the world, after Holland and Belgium, to recognize the legal equality of marriage unions regardless of the sex of the spouses. Nowadays, same-sex marriage is recognized in many countries, as well as in some states in the United States.

One of the problems of modern Spain is the problem of immigration. Basically, residents of the Maghreb countries and Latin America come to Spain. At the beginning of the new century, according to rough estimates, there were 2.5 million Hispanics in the EU, 800 thousand of whom were in Spain. However, after the terrorist attacks in 2004, the attitude of the Spaniards towards immigrants has changed significantly.

Political structure

Administrative division

50 provinces included in 17 autonomous regions. Also in Spain there are 2 so-called autonomous cities (ciudades autónomas) in Africa - Ceuta, Melilla and the sovereign territories of Spain.

Andalusia (Spanish. Andalucía) Aragon (Spanish. Aragón) Asturias (Spanish. Principado de Asturias) Balearic Islands (Spanish. Islas baleares, cat. Illes balears) Basque Country (Spanish. País Vasco, basque. Euskadi) Valencia (Spanish. Comunidad valenciana) Galicia (Spanish. Galicia, galis. Galiza) Canary Islands (Spanish. Islas Canarias) Cantabria (Spanish. Cantabria) Castile - La Mancha (Spanish. Castilla-La Mancha) Castile and Leon (Spanish. Castilla y León) Catalonia (Spanish. Cataluña, cat. Catalunya) Madrid (as an autonomous region) (Spanish. Madrid) Murcia (Spanish. Región de Murcia) Navarra (Spanish. Navarra, basque. Nafarroa) Rioja (Spanish. La Rioja) Extremadura (Spanish. Extremadura)

Cities

The largest cities in Spain are:

Culture

Spain is rightfully considered an open-air museum. The vastness of this country carefully preserves cultural and historical monuments that are world famous.

The most famous museum in Spain, the Prado Museum, is located in Madrid. Its extensive exposition cannot be viewed in one day. The museum was founded by Isabella of Braganza, wife of King Ferdinand VII. The Prado has its own branch located in Cason del Buen Retiro and stores unique collections of Spanish painting and sculpture of the 19th century, as well as works of English and French painters. In the museum itself, large expositions of Spanish, Italian, Dutch, Flemish and German art are presented. The Prado owes its name to the Prado de San Jerónimo alley, where it is located, which dates back to the Enlightenment. The Prado Museum currently holds 6,000 paintings, over 400 sculptures, and numerous treasures including royal and religious collections. During several centuries of its existence, the Prado was patronized by many kings.

It is believed that the very first collection of the Prado Museum was formed during the reign of Charles I, known as the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V. His heir, King Philip II, became famous not only for his bad character and despotism, but also for his love of art. It is to him that the museum owes priceless acquisitions of paintings by Flemish masters. Philip was distinguished by a gloomy worldview, it is not surprising that the ruler was an admirer of Bosch, an artist known for his bizarre pessimistic fantasy. Initially, Philip acquired Bosch's paintings for El Escorial, the hereditary castle of the Spanish kings. It was only in the 19th century that the paintings were transferred to the Prado Museum. Now here you can see such masterpieces of the Dutch master as "The Garden of Delights" and "The Hay Carrier". Currently, in the museum you can enjoy not only painting and sculptures, but also theatrical performances designed to "revive" famous canvases. The first such performance was dedicated to the paintings of Velazquez and was a huge success with the public.

There are many more unique museums and galleries in Spain: the Picasso Museum and the National Art Museum of Catalonia, located in Barcelona, ​​the National Sculpture Museum in Valladolid, the El Greco Museum in Toledo, the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, the Museum of Spanish Abstract Art in Cuenca.

Spanish cuisine

Sport

The main sport in Spain has been football since the beginning of the 20th century. Basketball, tennis, cycling, handball, motorsport and, more recently, Formula 1 are also important thanks to the presence of Spanish champions in all of these disciplines. Today Spain is a leading sports power in the world, and the development of sports in the country was particularly pushed by the Summer Olympic Games in Barcelona. In 2008 Spain won the European Football Championship and in 2010 it won the World Football Championship. In 2012, Spain won the European Football Championship 4-0 over Italy.
In general, in the 2000s, the Spanish national teams won the world and European championships in almost all game sports: football, basketball, water polo, field hockey, roller hockey, handball, volleyball and the Davis Cup in tennis.

It is also worth noting that Real Madrid Football Club is officially recognized as the best club in the world of the 20th century.

Military establishment

In the new doctrine 1/2004, the main enemy of Spain (both external and internal) is terrorism. It is noted that from now on, Spanish troops will be able to take part in international peacekeeping actions directly approved by the UN or, as it was in Kosovo, enjoying the obvious support of the world community. In addition, participation in hostilities will require permission from the Spanish Parliament.

The new military doctrine increases the role of the JEMAD Defense General Staff, which is headed by General Felix Sans. At the end of October 2004, he made a statement about the need to "balance" unequal relations between Spain and the United States, which emerged after 1953, when Spain and the United States signed a military agreement on defense cooperation, according to which the United States received the right to use several large military bases in Spain.

In 2001, Spain abolished military service and completely switched to a professional army.

There are no laws in Spain prohibiting openly gay and lesbian people from serving in the military. On March 4, 2009, Spanish Defense Minister Carme Chacon (the first woman in this post) issued a decree repealing a previously existing law that prohibited transgender people from serving in the military.

Spanish foreign policy

The preamble of the Spanish Constitution proclaims the readiness "to cooperate in strengthening peaceful relations and cooperation with all countries of the world." Currently, Spain's foreign policy is mainly based on three areas: Europe (especially the EU), the Ibero-American direction, the Mediterranean countries.

Today Spain has diplomatic relations with all UN countries. More recently, Spain has relations with Bhutan (since October 2010), South Sudan (since its independence from Sudan in July 2011) and the Caribati state (since September 2011).

On April 12, 1994, the Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation between the Russian Federation and the Kingdom of Spain was signed. Currently, bilateral relations between the Russian Federation and the Kingdom of Spain have an extensive legal framework: the basis of interaction in various fields is formed by more than 50 treaties, agreements, protocols and other documents.

Morocco

In the foreign policy of Spain, Morocco occupies one of the key places for which the Moroccan kingdom is the most important African partner, if only due to its territorial proximity. The main directions of Spanish policy in Morocco are: issues related to the enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla, the unresolved problem with Western Sahara, problems of illegal migration, issues of stopping drug smuggling, etc.

Relations between Spain and the Maghreb countries began to develop most actively after the Socialist Party came to power in Spain in 1982.

Under the government of the People's Party, headed by Prime Minister H.M. Aznar, who were in power from 1996 to 2004, relations could not be called good and were rather characterized by instability, in particular, the conflict around the island of Perehil (Leila) occupies a prominent place in 2002.

The socialists, who came back to power in April 2004, led by Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, had a firm intention to improve relations with their neighbors, primarily with Morocco. After the meeting between Mohamed VI and Juan Carlos in 2005, relations between the two monarchs have improved markedly. The conflict in Western Sahara, which arose a long time ago, has always had an adverse effect on relations between the two countries. After thwarted by a quadripartite conference, Morocco in 1975 authorized the Green March to Western Sahara with the aim of “clearing” Western Sahara from Spain. The result was an agreement between Spain, Mauritania and Morocco on the transfer of temporary control over the Sahara to Morocco and Mauritania.

Close economic ties are an important component of relations between the two countries. In 1995, the Moroccan government decides to stake everything on foreign investors, the most important of which are Spain and France.

Peacekeeping missions

The Spanish Armed Forces, consisting of 3,000 people, took part in 5 peacekeeping missions of the EU, NATO, UN. These missions are: International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan; EUFOR in Bosnia and Herzegovina; KFOR in Kosovo; FINUL to Lebanon and the UN Mission in Darfur (Chad).

Various questions

Transport in Spain

The length of highways is 328,000 km. The car park - more than 19 million cars. 90% of passenger and 79% of cargo transportation is carried out by road. The length of the railways is 14,589 km. About 6.5% of all land transport cargo and 6% of passengers are transported.

About 300 vessels with a total displacement of 1.511 million tons are involved in maritime transport. Vessels under Spanish flags carry from 30 million tons of foreign trade cargo annually. 24 seaports control almost 93% of all traffic.

The leading place is occupied by air transport. Of the 42 airports, 34 carry out regular flights. Madrid International Airport handles 56 million passengers every year. The airport in Barcelona serves about 30 million passengers annually.

Education in Spain

Spain has a system of compulsory free secondary education from 6 to 16 years old. About 70% study in public schools, 96.5% in public universities.

The largest universities in the country: Autonomous University of Madrid, Complutense (in Madrid), Barcelona Central and Autonomous, Santiago de Compostea, Polytechnic University in Valencia.

Mass media in Spain

Spain has a well-developed media network. 137 newspapers and about 1000 magazines are published. Most read daily newspapers: Pais, Mundo, Vanguardia, ABC, Periodico, Marka. Magazines for women "Patrones", Labores del HOGAR, Moda.

The leading radio stations are SIR, COPE, Radio Nacional de España (RNE). The international department of Spanish national radio, known as Radio Exterior de España, broadcasts in Spanish and six foreign languages. The Russian service of Spanish foreign broadcasting has been operating (with a short break) since the days of Franco, but is less known than similar broadcasters in Russian from the USA, Germany, and France.

Major TV channels: TVE (covers the entire territory of the country), private studios Telesinko and Antena 3, as well as the round-the-clock news channel Canal 24 Horas, which broadcasts around the world. The Autonomous Communities have their own regional television broadcasting in national languages.

Siesta in Spain

Crime in Spain

In recent years, the proportion of immigrants among Spanish offenders has gradually increased. This is due to the increase in immigration to Spain (including illegal) from African countries, as well as from Latin America. Among the latter, two gangs from the Dominican Republic became especially active: Dominicans Don't Play and Trinitarios (Trinitarians - named after the underground organization La Trinitaria, which fought for the independence of the Dominican Republic from Haiti in 1838 ).

Real estate market in Spain

The average cost per square meter in Spain for the 1st trimester of 2011 is 1777.6 euros (1793.8 euros - new construction; 1764.8 euros - from second hand). The highest prices (in € / m²): San Sebastian - 3762.3; San Cugat del Valles - 3282.6; Getcho - 3224.3; Barcelona - 3103.5; Pozuelo de Alarcon - 2964.0; Madrid - 2921.0.

The main real estate in Spain is villas, apartments and apartments. At the moment, buying real estate in Spain has become more profitable, since on August 20, 2011, the Spanish government temporarily changed the tax - VAT on the purchase of new housing from 8% to 4%.

Telecommunications in Spain

In astronomy

In honor of Spain, the asteroid (804) Spain is named, discovered on March 20, 1915 by the Spanish astronomer Jose Comas Sola at the Fabra Observatory in Barcelona. It was the first asteroid discovered from Spain.

see also

	Portal "Spain"
	Spain in Wiktionary
	in Wikisource
	Spain at Wikimedia Commons

Travel Latin America - Spain

The name of the country comes from the Phoenician "i-shpanim" - "bank of rabbits" or "bank of damans".

The capital of Spain is Madrid.

The area of ​​Spain is 504,782 km2.

The population of Spain is 46 162 thousand people.

Location of Spain. Spain is a southern European country. It occupies five-sixths of the Iberian Peninsula, the Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean and the Canary Islands in the Atlantic Ocean. The Pyrenees mountains are inaccessible and isolate Spain from other European countries, except for Portugal, located on the western part of the peninsula. Spain is washed by the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. It borders on land with Portugal in the west, with France (along the ridge of the Pyrenees mountains) and the tiny state of Andorra in the northeast, with Gibraltar in the south.

Administrative division of Spain. Consists of 17 autonomous regions: Andalusia, Aragon, Asturias, Balearic Islands, Basque Country, Valencia, Galicia, Canary Islands, Cantabria, Catalonia, Castile-La Mancha, Castile and Leon, Madrid, Murcia, Navarra, Rioja, Extremadura, which unite 50 provinces, as well as 2 cities (Ceuta and Melilla), located on the northern coast of Africa and are independent administrative units.

Spain's form of government is a constitutional monarchy.

The head of state of Spain is the King.

The highest legislative body in Spain, the Cortes General (Parliament), consisting of two chambers, is elected for a term of 4 years.

The highest executive body in Spain is the Government.

Major cities in Spain are Barcelona, ​​Valencia, Seville, Zaragoza, Bilbao, Malaga.

The official language of Spain is Spanish, the use of Catalan, Galician, Basque, Aran and some other languages ​​of national minorities is legalized.

Religion of Spain. 99% are Catholics.

Ethnic composition of Spain. 72.8% are Spaniards, 16.4% are Catalans, 8.2% are Galician, 2.3% are Basques.

The currency of Spain is Euro = 100 cents.

Climate of Spain. Most of Spain has a subtropical Mediterranean climate with hot dry summers and mild rainy winters. However, it varies significantly from the northwest to the southeast of the country and depending on the height above sea level. In addition to a large number of mountain ranges and plateaus, which make up 90% of the total area, the climate is greatly influenced by the proximity to Africa. The average annual temperature throughout the country hovers around + 20 ° C. In southern Spain, the average daily temperature is + 26 ° С for almost 200 days a year. Most precipitation falls in the north and northwest of the country, while the central and southeastern regions are drier. That is why Spain is conventionally divided into "dry" (annual precipitation up to 500 mm) and "wet" (up to 900 mm per year). Spain is the highest mountainous country in Europe after Switzerland. The most powerful mountain system is the Pyrenees, the main peak of which is Aneto Peak (3404 m).

Flora of Spain. Apart from the flora of the Canary Islands, there are about 8000 plant species in Spain, many of which are found only in this area. Only a small part of the once vast forests remained in the north of the country. In "wet" Spain beech, elm, oak, chestnut, ash, linden, poplar grow. Higher in the mountains, forests turn into flooded meadows. The richest vegetation on the North Atlantic slopes of the Cantabrian mountains and the Galician massif - that is why these areas are called "green" Spain. On the plain of the Ebro River at the foot of the mountains, evergreen shrubs and grasses grow, there is also semi-desert vegetation with a predominance of wormwood and salt marshes. "Dry" Spain is dominated by Mediterranean vegetation, evergreen shrubs and semi-shrubs - maquis, gariga and tomillars. In the extreme south, thickets of dwarf palm hamerops are widespread - the only wild palm in Europe.

Fauna of Spain. The fauna of Spain is also very rich and varied. In the north, the fauna is Central European - there are many deer, roe deer, wild boars. Red deer and Iberian ibex have survived in the mountainous regions. Sports hunting for deer is allowed. Sometimes in the Cantabrian mountains and the mountains of Leon you can see the brown bear. Of the predators, there is a small number of wolves, foxes, and at the mouth of the Guadalquivir there are Spanish lynxes. Macaques live near Gibraltar - the only representative of this monkey species in Europe. Spain rightfully occupies a leading place in Europe in terms of the number of bird species found here. Among them are hawks, eagles, griffins, falcons. There are many colonies of waterfowl - geese, ducks, herons, flamingos, white storks.
Spain also has a large number of reptile species - lizards, snakes, chameleons, and in the semi-deserts in the south of the country - tarantulas and scorpions.

In the estuaries and in the coastal waters of the Atlantic, there are many fish - mainly sardines, in smaller quantities - herring, cod, anchovies and various types of molluscs. The Mediterranean Sea is home to tuna, salmon, anchovy, crayfish and lobster.

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

Tags: free travel, travel to latin america, spain

Everything you need to know about Spain

• Official language
  Spanish;


• The official name of the country
  The Kingdom of Spain;


• Location
  Spain is a country located in the southwest of Europe and is considered a member of the European Union. A well-known fact about Spain is that the state occupies most of the Perinean Peninsula. Almost 80% of the territory of Spain includes the Iberian Peninsula, the Canary Islands and the Balearic Islands. Spain is the fourth largest country in Europe after Russia, Ukraine and France. Not every tourist interested in all the facts about Spain knows that it is the most mountainous country in all of Europe;


• State structure
  The form of government is the Constitutional Monarchy.
  The king is the head of state .;


• Capital of Spain
  the city of Madrid;


• Currency
  Remembering all the known facts about Spain, the first thing that comes to mind is that the country is a member of the European Union. The official currency in this regard is the EURO (€), equal to 100 cents .;


• Difference in time
  Spanish time is 3 hours behind Moscow time;


• Electrical voltage
  220V.

All tourists, as a rule, are interested in collecting information about the country, with which states the kingdom borders and which sea in Spain. Spain received a rather interesting location - in the north and west it is washed by the Atlantic Ocean, and in the south and east by the Mediterranean Sea.

And here are all those land borders that Spain has:

• in the west - with Portugal;
• in the south - with Gibraltar;
• in the north - with France and Andorra;
• in North Africa - from Morocco.

All the most important about the climate in Spain

Spain can be safely said as the warmest country in Western Europe.
The number of sunny days per year is 260 - 285 days. Everything, of course, is changeable and changeable, but basically (according to statistics) this is so.
The average annual air temperature is + 20 ° C.

The climate of Spain is very interesting in relation to the territory of the country:

• in winter, the air temperature in the northern and central regions can drop below zero degrees;
• in summer, at the height of the season, in the central and southern regions of the Mediterranean coast, the temperature can rise to 40 ° C, and in the northern part of the coast it can be no more than + 25 ° C.

All this information gives, albeit a brief, but quite understandable idea of ​​Spain as a resort country for thermophilic tourists.

All the most interesting facts about the population of Spain

According to the October 2011 census, the population of Spain is 46.16 million.
All almost 76% of the population are urban residents - this is evidenced by statistics from the same period.
95% of the inhabitants of Spain are Catalians, which did not prevent 67% of them from expressing their agreement on the legalization of same-sex marriage.
9% of the population are expats.

All about the resort cities of Spain

Largest cities in Spain

• Madrid -;
• Barcelona -;
• Valencia -;
• Seville;
• Zaragoza;
• Malaga.

Holiday destinations in Spain

The place where the country is located is not stingy with its resorts in Spain. Any tourist will find where to relax in Spain, taking into account their preferences. Whether it's just an excursion or a beach vacation.

• Barcelona;
• Costa Brava;
• Costa del Maresme;
• Costa Dorada;
• Gran Canaria;
• Mallorca -;
• Tenerife -

Having visited one of the resorts in Spain, you can get some idea of ​​it as a country as a whole. Although, in fact, it is difficult to judge Spain by one part of it.

Some more interesting information about Spain

• The shops are open from 10:00 to 20:00. Break - from 14:00 to 17:00;
• Bars and bakeries open at 8:00;
• It is better to arrange shopping in large cities of Spain, because all boutiques of famous brands are located there;
• Pottery, leather goods, fans, olive oils and wines brought from there will remind of Spain;
• Leaving a tip in Spain is optional, because it is already included in the cost of services and amounts to 10-15% of it. If you liked the service so much and you want to thank the institution, then it is customary to leave a tip in the amount of 5%;
• The national holiday is celebrated on October 12 and is called "Day of the Spanish Nation".

Spain flag	Coat of arms of Spain

Visa to enter the country

All citizens of the Russian Federation must know if they and their fellow travelers need a visa to Spain.
Tourists wishing to go on vacation to Spain should be aware of this before traveling without fail. The visa is issued at the Consular Section of the Spanish Embassy in Moscow.

Spain is the very country about which you want to know as much as possible, but you can never learn absolutely everything! Spain opens up in a new way every time. This is evidenced by the fact that the number of tourists returning to the country is growing every year.

Brief information about the country

Date of foundation

Official language

Spanish

Form of government

Parliamentary monarchy

Territory

504,782 km² (51st in the world)

Population

47 370 542 people (26th in the world)

Timezone

CET (UTC + 1, UTC + 2 in summer)

Largest cities

Madrid, Barcelona, ​​Valencia, Seville

$ 1.536 trillion (13th in the world)

Internet domain

Telephone code

A colorful, cheerful, sunny country located in the southwest of Europe. It occupies about 85% of the Iberian Peninsula, as well as the Balearic and Pitius Islands in the Mediterranean Sea and the Canary Islands in the Atlantic Ocean. There are many cities in Spain, whose history goes back more than one millennium, works of architectural art and unspoilt beaches, which attracts travelers from different parts of the world here, to this fertile land. The heights of the Pyrenees, Sierra Morena and the Andalusian mountains do not leave indifferent fans of outdoor activities: ski resorts with equipped slopes and magnificent landscapes every year receive hundreds and thousands of vacationers. The country of flamenco and bullfighting, as it is also called, is visited by an average of 30 million tourists annually. The Canary and Balearic Islands can be called a real paradise for a beach holiday.

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