Geography of Spain

Objectives• Content Objective: We will identify the

geographical features of Spain.

• Language Objective: We will use and discuss key words: geography, peninsula, climate, temperate, flora, fauna, and vegetation.

Vocabulary• Geography: study of the earth’s surface;

includes people’s responses to topography and climate and soil and vegetation

• Peninsula: a portion of land nearly surrounded by water

Vocabulary• Climate: the average condition

of weather at a place usually over a period of years

• Temperate: having a moderate climate which lacks extreme temperatures

• Flora: plant life• Fauna: animal life • Vegetation: total plant cover

Physical Features

Physical Features• Spain is Europe’s third largest country• Spanish territory includes the mainland, the

Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean Sea, the Canary Islands off the western coast of Africa, the Spanish free ports of Ceuta and Melilla on the northern coast of Africa, and several other small islands off the coast of Morocco

Physical Features• The Spanish Peninsula borders France in the north

and Portugal in the west; The eastern and southern coasts of Spain border the Mediterranean Sea

• There are extensive mountain ranges in the north and south of the country, and on the offshore islands

• A remarkable feature is the Meseta, a plateau in the center of the country, half of the Spanish mainland

• Spain also has 2,600 miles of coastline

Mainland Regions• The Spanish mainland

can be divided into five distinct regions

• Green Spain• Inland Spain • The Pyrenees• Mediterranean Spain• Southern Spain

Green Spain• Located in the north

and northwest Green Spain includes Galicia, Asturias, Cantabria, and the Basque Provinces

• Green Spain has a wet, evergreen climate

• The coastline is rugged with steep cliffs and rocky inlets called Rias

Inland Spain• Inland Spain consists of

the La Rioja, Castile-Leon, Castile-La Mancha, Extremadura, and the Capital of Madrid

• The region is characterized by its elevated plateaus and arid climate

• The entire region is located on a vast plateau, the Meseta, and has a stony sunbaked landscape

The Pyrenees• The rugged mountain range

extends 260 miles along the Spanish French border from the Bay of Biscay to the Gulf of Valencia

• The Pyrenees include three main ranges: the Catalan Pyrenees, the central Pyrenees in Aragon, and the Pyrenees of Navarre

• Throughout the region there are upper meadows, pasture land, glacial lakes, and streams

Mediterranean Spain

• Mediterranean Spain includes the regions of Catalonia, Valencia, and Murcia

• This region is home to many citrus orchards and is known to yield excellent produce

Southern Spain

• Southern Spain’s mild climate year round make it a tourist destination

• The natural landscape varies from east to west; from the snowcapped mountains of the Sierra Nevada to dry desert landscape to fertile soils and plains

The Canary and Balearic Islands

• The Canary Islands are seven islands in the Atlantic Ocean; they are volcanic in origin and have an abundance of tropical vegetation

• The Balearic Islands lie in the Mediterranean Sea; there are three main islands – Majorca, Minorca, and Ibiza – each with distinctive character

Climate• Spain’s climate is less temperate than

the rest of Europe• The north and northwest of the country

mild and wet conditions prevail• Inland Spain has hot summers with little

rainfall while the winters there are cold• The southern part of Spain is warm and

dry year round• Snowfall is Spain is infrequent except in

the mountains

Flora and Fauna• The regional difference in geography and

climate provide a variety of vegetation and animal life across Spain

Plants and Animals:Green Spain & The Pyrenees

• The dense forests and grazing land make the perfect environment for mountain fauna

• The trees are primarily beech, oak, chestnut, and eucalyptus and some pine and fur

• Apple orchards can be found along the base of mountain ranges

• The rivers and seas of the region are filled with seafood

Plants and Animals:the Mediterranean Coast

• Seafood and shellfish are in great abundance here• Vineyards, olive groves, palm trees, and almond,

fig, and citrus orchards are all part of the Mediterranean landscape

Plants and Animals: Southern Spain

• Olive groves, vineyards, and cherry, pear, peach, apricot and almond orchards are all common in the east

• Cotton, rice, and oranges are the predominate crop in the west

• Bulls are bred for the bullring in this region

• And a wildlife sanctuary here is protecting the lynx and imperial eagle

Plants and Animals:The Canary Islands

• The dragon tree is native to the islands, the tree was once thought to be the source of dragon’s blood, the orange fruit is filled with a thick, red, inedible liquid

• The island also has huge plantations of coffee, papayas, and bananas

• A rare species of oleander grows in the center of the island