Geography of Spain

Geography of Spain

Location

• Located in southwestern Europe, occupying most of the Iberian Peninsula
• Borders Portugal, Gibraltar, France, Andorra, and Morocco
• Shares maritime borders with the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea

Terrain

• Varied terrain, with mountains, plateaus, and coastlines
• Mountains:
  • Pyrenees (northeast): natural border with France and Andorra
  • Picos de Europa (north): part of the Cantabrian Mountains
  • Sierra Morena (south): separating the Meseta Central from the Guadalquivir River valley
  • Baetic System (south): including the Sierra Nevada, the highest peak in mainland Spain
• Plateaus:
  • Meseta Central: a vast plateau in the center of the country, covering nearly half of Spain
• Coastlines:
  • Atlantic coast: rugged and rocky, with many cliffs and bays
  • Mediterranean coast: generally smoother and more sandy

Climate

• Varied climate, with different regions having distinct weather patterns
• Mediterranean climate: dominant in the south and east, characterized by warm summers and mild winters
• Oceanic climate: found in the north and northwest, with mild winters and cool summers
• Continental climate: in the central plateau, with cold winters and hot summers

Islands

• Balearic Islands: located in the Mediterranean, including Ibiza, Mallorca, and Menorca
• Canary Islands: located in the Atlantic, off the northwest coast of Africa, including Tenerife, Gran Canaria, and Lanzarote
• Ceuta and Melilla: two autonomous cities located on the north African coast, bordering Morocco

Geography of Spain

Location

• Spain is situated in southwestern Europe and occupies most of the Iberian Peninsula
• It shares borders with Portugal, Gibraltar, France, Andorra, and Morocco
• The country has maritime borders with the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea

Terrain

• Spain's terrain is varied, featuring mountains, plateaus, and coastlines
• The Pyrenees mountain range in the northeast forms a natural border with France and Andorra
• The Picos de Europa mountain range is part of the Cantabrian Mountains in the north
• The Sierra Morena mountain range in the south separates the Meseta Central from the Guadalquivir River valley
• The Baetic System in the south includes the Sierra Nevada, which is the highest peak in mainland Spain
• The Meseta Central is a vast plateau in the center of the country, covering nearly half of Spain
• The Atlantic coast is rugged and rocky, with many cliffs and bays
• The Mediterranean coast is generally smoother and more sandy

Climate

• Spain's climate is varied, with different regions having distinct weather patterns
• The Mediterranean climate is dominant in the south and east, characterized by warm summers and mild winters
• The Oceanic climate is found in the north and northwest, with mild winters and cool summers
• The Continental climate is found in the central plateau, with cold winters and hot summers

Islands

• The Balearic Islands, located in the Mediterranean, include Ibiza, Mallorca, and Menorca
• The Canary Islands, located in the Atlantic, off the northwest coast of Africa, include Tenerife, Gran Canaria, and Lanzarote
• Ceuta and Melilla are two autonomous cities located on the north African coast, bordering Morocco

Learn about the location, terrain, and borders of Spain, including its mountain ranges and coastlines.