Spain Geography

What is the terrain and geography like in Spain?

Overview

Spain is comprised of portions of the Iberian mainland, the Balearic Islands and the Canary Islands, and the enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla on the North African coast. Spain’s most striking topographical features are its elevated central plateau and its internal division by mountain and river barriers. The peninsula rises sharply from the sea with only a narrow coastal plain except in the Andalusian lowlands. Most of the peninsula is a vast plateau broken by mountains, deep gorges, and broad, shallow depressions. Spain has few bays, virtually no coastal islands, and a scarcity of natural harbors. Knowledge of the geography of Spain is important to an understanding of the nation’s history.

Geography - note

strategic location along approaches to Strait of Gibraltar; Spain controls a number of territories in northern Morocco including the enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla, and the islands of Penon de Velez de la Gomera, Penon de Alhucemas, and Islas Chafarinas

Spain Use of Natural Resources

Geographic Location	Europe
Total Area	195,123 Square Miles 505,370 Square Kilometers
Land Area	192,656 Square Miles 498,980 Square Kilometers
Water Area	2,467 Square Miles 6,390 Square Kilometers
Land Boundaries	1,192 Miles 1,918 Kilometers
Irrigated Land	13,398 Square Miles 34,700 Square Kilometers
Border Countries	Andorra 63.7 km, France 623 km, Gibraltar 1.2 km, Portugal 1,214 km, Morocco (Ceuta) 6.3 km, Morocco (Melilla) 9.6 km
Coastline	3,084 Miles 4,964 Kilometers
Geographic Coordinates	40 00 N, 4 00 W
Terrain	large, flat to dissected plateau surrounded by rugged hills; Pyrenees Mountains in north
Highest Point	3,718 Meters
Highest Point Location	Pico de Teide (Tenerife) on Canary Islands 3,718 m
Lowest Point Location	Atlantic Ocean 0 m
Natural Resources	coal, lignite, iron ore, copper, lead, zinc, uranium, tungsten, mercury, pyrites, magnesite, fluorspar, gypsum, sepiolite, kaolin, potash, hydropower, arable land
Time Zone	UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) time zone note: Spain has two time zones, including the Canary Islands (UTC 0)
Daylight saving time	+1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

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