Created By: Aubrey Thompson

SPAIN

*Three horizontal bands:

Red (top) Yellow (double

width) National Coast of Arms.

Red (bottom)

Flag:

Spanish Coat of Arms:

• The gold Castle in the Red background symbolizes Castile.

• The red lion in the white background symbolizes Leon.

• Red and Yellow stripes of Aragon•The golden chains of Navorre.

• The pomegranate flower of Granada

•The fleur-de-lis of the House of Bourbon

Type: Constitutional Monarchy.

Branches: Executive: President of government

nominated by monarch, subject to approval of democratically elected congress deputies.

Legislative: Bicameral Cortes a 350 seat congress of deputies and Senate. Four senators are elected in each of 47 peninsular provinces, 16 are elected from the three island provinces and Ceuta and Melilla elect two each.

Judicial: Constitutional Tribunal has jurisdiction over constitutional issues. Supreme Tribunal heads system compromising territorial, provincial, regional, and municipal courts.

GOVERNMENT:

POPULATION:

∙The population of Spain is approximately 40 million.

Madrid

CAPITAL CITY:

• Largest city in Spain with a population of 3,5 million people.

• It is located in the center of the Iberian Peninsula and is surrounded by mountains and natural parks.

• Connected to all major cities in Spain either by road, train or air.

• City is filled with great monuments such as the Royal Palace and the Plaza Mayor.

LOCATION ON WORLD MAP:

Fun facts:• Has over 8,000 km of beaches

•Spain has one of the most diverse landscapes and climates in Europe. The region of Almeria in the South East resembles a desert in places, while the North West in winter can expect rain around 20 days out of every month.

According to a study by the Treasury a total of 18.3 million Spaniards earn a gross monthly salary of less than 1,100 euros a month – 63% of the workforce. This is 5% more than the figures from the last study carried out in 2006.

The report was compiled using information provided by workers and pensioners. According to the information given 16.7 million workers receive a gross annual salary of 13,400 euros, while the national average gross annual salary is 18,087 euros.

The study also reveals that currently in Spain around 1.6 million businessmen and women and professionals earn a gross monthly salary of less than 1,100 euros a month – a figure which represents three quarters of the total number of self employed workers in Spain

AVERAGE INCOME:

EUROS:

PLACES IN SPAIN:

Tourism is an important industry in Spain. Millions of people visit the country each year, and thousands of Spanish have jobs that serve tourists.

Farms: About one-quarter of the population live outside the cities in the countryside. Spain's farmers live in small villages and towns and grow vegetables, citrus fruits such as oranges, olives to make olive oil, and grapes to make wine. The best farm land is in the north. Here the soil is rich and fertile and there is plenty of rain all year round. Farmers also keep sheep, goats, pigs and poultry.

Fishing: is an important industry and Spain has a large fleet of fishing boats. Cod, tuna, octopus and sardines are all caught in the waters off the Spanish coasts.

Mining: in the mountains produces iron ore which is turned into steel. Other minerals mined in Spain are lead, copper, zinc and coal.

MAJOR INDUSTRIES:

* A few natural resources:

Coal Lignite Iron ore Copper Lead Zinc Uranium Mercury

NATURAL RESOURCES:

Religion in Spain includes Catholicism along with some other religions as well. However Catholicism is the major religion in Spain.

According to the statistics about seventy six percent of the population is Catholics.

religion in Spain involves a number of Muslim populations. Though Roman Catholicism is the major religion in Spain, nowadays Spain’s second largest religion comprise of Muslims.

MAJOR RELIGIONS:

Las Fallas,Valencia: This event takes place each March in the Mediterranean city of Valencia. The celebration lasts for a week and includes nonstop fireworks and noisy fanfare.

Semana Santa: The southern city of Seville hosts two of the biggest celebrations of the year. First is Semana Santa, a week of feasting and Roman Catholic processions leading up to Easter. Holy Week in Seville features masked parades and enormous floats with Roman Catholic figures.

HOLIDAYS & FESTIVALS: