Spain

Spain, home to cultural centres such as Barcelona, rests in the South of Europe, nestled between the Atlantic, Mediterranean and Cantabric Seas. It has become a major tourist destination, especially within the last four years as the number of visitors climb higher and higher.

Notably famous for its fine Mediterranean cuisine and sports, especially the tradition of bullfighting, Spain exudes culture and charm, affirming reasons for its tourism industry to be the second largest in the world.

Geography:

Spain is located in Southern Europe and is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the South and East, by the Cantabric Sea to the North, and by the Atlantic Ocean and Portugal to the West. It shares land borders with Portugal, France, Andorra, Morocco and Gibraltar. The country has three exclaves in North Africa , which are areas of territory surrounded by foreign land. The Kingdom of Spain, as the country is sometimes known, also has other territory separate from the mainland. The Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean and the Canary Islands off the African Coast are just two parts of the country's external territory.

Spain is the largest of 3 sovereign states that joined to create the Iberian Peninsula – the two other countries are Portugal and Andorra . In fact, Spain is the second largest of all countries in Western Europe.

Mainland Spain is dominated mostly by high, flat terrain and mountain ranges, such as the Sierra Nevada. The climate is extremely diverse – inland areas of the peninsula have a moderate continental climate; a Mediterranean climate graces the Southern and Eastern coasts, stretching up to the mountain ranges of the Pyrenees; and an Oceanic climate rules over Galicia and the coastal strip beside the Bay of Biscay (often called Green Spain).

Government:

The Kingdom of Spain has a hereditary monarchy and bicameral parliament, called Cortes Generales. The Executive Branch is made up of Council Members, led by the President of Government. The President is nominated by the Monarch and is elected by the National Assembly shortly after legislative elections.

The legislative branch is made up of two groups: the Congress of Deputies (Congress de los Diputados) and the Senate (Senado). The Congress of Deputies is made of up 350 members who are elected by popular vote under proportional representation. The members serve a four yea term. The Senate has 259 seats within it, 208 of which are elected by popular vote. The other 51 seats are appointed by regional legislatives. Members of the Senate also serve a four year term.

Most territories within Spain manage themselves to some extent, earning the country the description of a ‘State of Autonomies '. In some territories, police representing Spain are even replaced by those of the territory.

Foreign Relations:

Since the rebirth of democracy in 1978, Spain has sought to extend its diplomatic relations with other countries. Most notable is the relationship with Latin America ; the country has developed a link to the Iberian Peninsula with Latin America through commerce, culture and language – a sharing that brings the people of both regions together.

Spain remains an active member of NATO and the European Union, accepting the Euro, and disregarding the peseta, as its official currency in the year 2002.

Transport:

Acciona Transmediterranea is Spain 's largest ferry company and offers regular services to the Balearic Islands , the Canary Islands , and several routes between Southern Spain and North Africa . There was once a service available to Portsmouth in the United Kingdom, but this has since been discontinued.

Inland Spain offer Metro and rail services in and between main cities and towns. There are buses available to smaller regions as there is no rail service to these areas.

Did You Know?

• Spanish is but one officially recognized language of the Kingdom of Spain . The others include: Aranese, Asturian, Basque, Catalan, Valencian and Galician among a few minority languages that live on in certain regions of the country.
• Spanish public holidays range between nationally religious observances and regional events. Each region can declare up to 14 public holidays a year – nine are chosen by the national government and two, or more, are chosen locally.

© Written by E.J.Clarke.