Iberian PeninsulaIberian PeninsulaThe The Meseta, Meseta, a great a great uplifted fault uplifted fault block ringed block ringed and crossed and crossed by mountain by mountain ranges, ranges, dominates this dominates this peninsula that peninsula that contains the contains the countries of Spain, Portugal, and the tiny Andorra. countries of Spain, Portugal, and the tiny Andorra.

The ReconquistaThe Reconquista

PortugalPortugal 1415, In the 1415, In the

Portugues e s et s ail Portugues e s et s ail on epic voyages on epic voyages that would make that would make them the firs t to them the firs t to

dis cover the ocean dis cover the ocean , routes to India , routes to India

, Brazil China and, Brazil China and, Japan and at the, Japan and at the

s ame time es tablis h s ame time es tablis h s e ttlements on the s e ttlements on the

eas t and wes t eas t and wes t . coas ts of Africa . coas ts of Africa

An independent kingdom since 1143, Portugal is An independent kingdom since 1143, Portugal is one of the oldest nations in Europe. one of the oldest nations in Europe.

, Lis bon Portugal, Lis bon Portugal

Spain

MadridMadrid

PyreneesStretching from the Stretching from the Atlantic Ocean in the Atlantic Ocean in the west to the west to the Mediterranean in the Mediterranean in the East, a distance of East, a distance of some 250 miles some 250 miles (402.5km), the (402.5km), the mountains of the mountains of the Pyrenees form a natural Pyrenees form a natural barrier between Spain barrier between Spain and the Iberian and the Iberian Peninsula in the south Peninsula in the south and France in the north.and France in the north.

This pocket-sized princedom comprises just a handful This pocket-sized princedom comprises just a handful of mountainous landscapes and meandering rivers. of mountainous landscapes and meandering rivers.

Andorra

Andorra

Andorra de VellaAndorra de Vella

Ceded to Great Britain by Spain in the 1713 Ceded to Great Britain by Spain in the 1713 Treaty of Utrecht; the British garrison was Treaty of Utrecht; the British garrison was formally declared a colony in 1830. formally declared a colony in 1830.

GibraltarGibraltar

Located at the western entrance to the Mediterranean, its sailors are occasionally beset by strong gap winds that can produce dangerous seas, especially when they blow against tide and current.

Strait of Strait of GibraltarGibraltar

Linkshttp://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ancient/prehistory/peoples_01.shtmhttp://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ancient/prehistory/peoples_01.shtmhttp://www.gu.edu.au/ins/collections/webb/html/18-39.htmlhttp://www.gu.edu.au/ins/collections/webb/html/18-39.htmlhttp://www.globalgeografia.com/europe_eng/europe.htmhttp://www.globalgeografia.com/europe_eng/europe.htmhttp://www.endex.com/gf/buildings/ltpisa/ltphistory.htmlhttp://www.endex.com/gf/buildings/ltpisa/ltphistory.htmlhttp://www.discoverfrance.net/France/Paris/Monuments-Paris/Eiffel.shtmlhttp://www.discoverfrance.net/France/Paris/Monuments-Paris/Eiffel.shtmlhttp://www.people.virginia.edu/~eas5e/Irish/Famine.htmlhttp://www.people.virginia.edu/~eas5e/Irish/Famine.htmlhttp://www.lonelyplanet.com/destinations/europe/andorra/http://www.lonelyplanet.com/destinations/europe/andorra/http://www.raileurope.com/us/rail/eurostar/channel_tunnel_diagram.htmhttp://www.raileurope.com/us/rail/eurostar/channel_tunnel_diagram.htmhttp://www.geo.arizona.edu/geo5xx/geo527/Pyrenees/pyrenees.htmlhttp://www.geo.arizona.edu/geo5xx/geo527/Pyrenees/pyrenees.htmlht tp:/ / f g a.f r eac .f s u.edu/ ac ademy/ eur c hun.htm#ac t ivity1ht tp:/ / f g a.f r eac .f s u.edu/ ac ademy/ eur c hun.htm#ac t ivity1