PAMPL1.1 Geographical location
- 505.973 km²
- 47.329.981 people
- Languages: Castilian (Castellano), Catalan (Catalán), Basque (euskera), Galician (Gallego)
- Religion: 65% catholic, 20% agnostic or not believing, 12% atheist, 6% other
Christians, 3% other religion, 1% protestant
- Capital: Madrid
- Governing form: constitutional monarchy
- Head of state: king Felipe VI de Borbón since 2014
- Prime minister: Pedro Sánchez, member of the Partido Socialista Obrero Español
- Tourism: 83,7 foreign visitors
- Península ibérica (80% of the Iberian Peninsula)
- Capital: Madrid
- Islas Baleares (5): Formentera, Ibiza, Mallorca, Menorca y Cabrera (Mediterranean Sea)
- Islas Canarias (7): Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, la Gomera, la Palma y el
Hierro (Atlantic Ocean)
- Enclaves en Marruecos: Ceuta y Melilla (mixture European and Islamic culture)
- Enclave en Francia: Llívia
- 4th largest country in Europe
- 5th most densely populated European country
- 473 million people in 23 countries speak Spanish.
1.2 Climate
Spain is the second most mountain-nous country in Europe. 50% of the country is situated on a
mountain plateau. There are five large mountain ranges that run through the country;
1. The Sistema Bético (south)
2. The Pirineos (east)
3. The Sierra Nevada (south)
4. The Cordillera Cantábrica (central highland) in the north consists of:
- The Cordillera Central (central range)
- Sistema Central.
part 1: Submeseta Norte (700/800m)
part 2: Submeseta Sur (650m)
5. The Sierra Morena (600km, central/south, above Málaga) divides Andalusia from Castilla.
Highest mountain peak: Mulhacén (3478m) in the Sierra Nevada.
Highest mountain canary islands is on Tenerife
The mountains form barriers for the traffic. The narrow mountain passes brought a strong
regionalism. This changed in 1986, when Spain joined the EU. Now, the entire country is connected
through highways funded by the EU funds. The mountains also define the climate. 4 climate zones:
1. Oceánico: Atlantic sea climate (north, west). Veranos suaves, inviernos suaves
2. Continental: Mediterranean country climate (center). ‘tres meses de infierno y nueve de
invierno.’ Hot summers, cold winters. Erosion and evaporation because of the rain.
3. Mediterráneo: Mediterranean sea climate (coastal areas in south and east, Islas Baleares).
Hot summers, mild winters.
4. Clima subtropical: tropical climate (Islas Canarias). Hot summer, hot winter.
,1.2.1 Hydography
Spain is hydrographically speaking oriented towards the Atlantic coast (west). Most rivers aren’t
economically important because often there’s no rain. The rivers end in Portugal. The most
important rivers:
- El Duero (895km)
- El Tajo (1007km)
- El Guadiana (778km)
- El Guadalquivir (657km). Important for the economy and the shipping industry.
- El Ebro (910km, Catalunya, Mediterranean sea). Receives a loto f wáter from the Pyrenees, used for
the irrigation of the surrounding plains.
In the north-west, there are river branches called rías, which resemble fjords. They exist due to
the surf of the ocean hitting the coast. In Galicia, the river valleys have flooded (between Eo and
Miño), so rías are not deep. They are divided in the narrow Rías Altas and the wide and long
Rías Bajas in the south.
1.2.2 Flora and fauna
There is a wide diversity due to the mountains and climate. The north (la España verde or la España
húmeda) is like the Netherlands with more rain, so similar vegetation. There’re many deciduous
forests and pastures. Central Spain has little vegetation, parched, dry and empty. It was covered in
large forests but they have disappeared due to deforestation. The east consists of cork-oak, sturdy
grass kinds, green weed and rosemary. Due to the various climates, the fauna is varied with many
rare animals. Spain has 15 Parques Nacionales, managed by the ICONA (Instituto Nacional de la
Conservación de la Naturaleza). The larger ones on the mainland are popular for hiking. Highly
beloved parks are Picos de Europa, Aigües Tortes y Lago de Sant Maurici, and Ordesa y
Monte Perdido. All visitors receive a grabage bag and rules, and no driving in the parkes.
1.3 Composition and spread of the population
- The population consists of a large mix of cultures. 47 million inhabitants is not much.
- Due to many emigrations from Spain to Latin-America, the population increased in the 20 th century.
The birth rate was high, because of Franco banning anticonception. Now it has the lowest birth rate.
,- 1,31 children per woman, average age 30,7.
- The average household is of 2,5 people.
- The population spread is unequally divided. Madrid is the most densely populated (829 per km2),
then Basque country (over 300 per km2), Cataluña (234 per km2), the rest less than 50 per km2. The
average population density is therefore 93,1 inhabitants per km2.
1.4 Language and dialects
Even in countries where Spanish is not the official language, it is often spoken, like in USA where
Spanish is the second language. Spanish is one of the 5 official languages in the united nations. Next
to castellano, spoken in castile, there are 3 regional languages:
1. Catalán, spoken in Catalonia, Valencia and Islas Baleares.
2. Basque (vasco, vascuence or euskera), origin unknow, spoken in Basque country/ Navarra.
3. Galician (Gallego), related to Portuguese, spoken in north west.
Also, a lot of dialects like Andalusian and Aragonese.
During the regime of Franco, only Castellano was allowed. After his death, autonomous regions
were installed and different languages were allowed. This lead to language tuition (non-native
languages recognized). Catalan is spoken by the whole population.
1.5 Religion/religious customs
During the roman rule, Roman Catholicism was instated as the state religion, despite having to fight
against Muslims and Jews. In franco’s regime, church and state were one, so people turned against
church because they associated it with Franco. The new constitution of 1978 allowed the freedom of
religion (people stay with Roman Catholicism). The amount of church visits have declined. But
religious traditions are still important. A few religious festivities (fiestas):
- Fiestas Religiosas:
1. Semana santa the holy week before easter. Most known in Sevilla, where statues of saints
are carried through the streets. The origin is in the second half of the 16 th century, when the
first cofradías (brotherhoods) were founded. These are made up of penitentes (penitents)
referred to as nazarenos, accompanied by women with candles.
2. Fiesta de Moros y Cristianos: the confrontation between the Moors and Christians who
coincided between 711-1609. The groups fought each other through luchas o combates
(battles) for the possession of a wooden castle. The Christians won, procession took place for
the saint of the village.
- Romerías: Pilgrimages to a sanctuary, chapel or holy statues. Usually with a picnic before and
a ball later afterwards.
1.Most popular one is La Virgen del Rocío in Huelva. Starts Sunday before Pentecostés where
pilgrims arrive by foot or horse at the Santuario (sanctuary) and ends with the release of the
Virgen and a procession.
2. Camino de Santiago: Santiago went to Spain after Jesus’ death to convert people. He is
buried in the west coast of Spain. Some time later, a shepherd saw a star above the campo
where he was buried, and from then Jacob was worshipped. His remains are now in Santiago
de Compostela (Galicia). The route to here goes through Europe. It was seen as a form of
repentance, but now it’s for fun. Santiago was later announced patron saint of Spain. People
come from all over to Santiago, walking during the day. Stamps and a certificate at the end.
- La Romería del Rocío during Pentecost
- Ferias: a fair. People dressed in traditional Spanish customs, city decorated.
, Fiestas en España:
• 1 de enero: Año Nuevo -> Lunch with family
• 6 de enero: Los Reyes Magos -> 3 magic kings, gifts, like sinterklaas, parade with throwing candy.
• 20 de enero: Tamborrada (San Sebastián) -> festival where they play drums for a whole day
• Febrero: Carnaval (Tenerife, Cádiz) -> groups of people dress the same and sing songs about what is
happening in the world. A competition.
• 12-19 Marzo: las Fallas en Valencia (Mascletá)-> Parade, competition and then they get burned
down.
• Abril-Mayo: Ferias
• Abril: Semana Santa
• Junio: Pentecostés, el Rocío (Huelva)
• 7 de julio: San Fermín (Pamplona)
• 25 de julio: el día de Santiago
• Agosto (primer fin de semana): descenso del Sella (Asturias) -> Rent a kayak and stop at different
places to hang out.
• Octubre: Fiestas de la vendimia -> people stamping on grapes because traditional
• Diciembre:
-24 Nochebuena + Misa del Gallo
-25 Navidad
-28 Día de los Inocenetes
-31 Nochevieja -> new year’s eve: first 12 seconds of the new year you eat 12 grapes. Supposed to
give you good luck.
1.6 Media (la presa)
Little was read during Franco’s regime, because all the press was censored. After his death,
magazines and newspapers (115)came back, now 137 newspapers. Most important:
- El País (1976)
- El Mundo (1989, in Madrid).
- La Vanguardia
- ABC (conservative, 1905)
- El periódico (in Catalonia)
- El Correo Español (in Baque región)
There are over 200 magazines. Also Reading Revistas del Corazón (tabloids) are popular (like Hola,
Semana, Lecturas and Diez minutos). Sports newspapers as Marca are popular. Television is also
important, usually on (loudly) during all the daily activities. It started with public broadcasting
services (RTVE) and now commercial stations like antenna 3 and canal plus interfere. Many Spaniards
also listen to radio every day. 2000 channels, Radio Nacional de España is owned by the state, and
the commercial stations are COPE, Onda Cero and la cadena SER.
1.7 Leisure time
Spaniards are soccer fans, and their fan clubs (peñas) are represented big (Pádel, hiking, football,
swimming, cycling, running, gym). Spaniards are also gamblers, O.N.C.E (Organización Nacional de
