Spain

Geography

Main article: Geography of Spain

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Mainland Spain is dominated by high plateaus and mountain ranges such as the Pyrenees or the Sierra Nevada. Running from these heights are several major rivers such as the Tajo, the Ebro, the Duero, the Guadiana and the Guadalquivir. Alluvial plains are found along the coast, the largest of which is that of the Guadalquivir in Andalusia, in the east there are alluvial plains with medium rivers like Segura, Júcar and Turia. Spain is bound to the east by Mediterranean Sea (containing the Balearic Islands), to the north by the Bay of Biscay and to its west by the Atlantic Ocean, where the Canary Islands off the African coast are found.

Related Topics:
Pyrenees - Sierra Nevada - Tajo - Ebro - Duero - Guadiana - Guadalquivir - Andalusia - Segura - Júcar - Turia - Mediterranean Sea - Balearic Islands - Bay of Biscay - Atlantic Ocean - Canary Islands - Africa

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Spain's climate can be divided in four areas:

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• The Mediterranean: mostly temperate in the eastern and southern part of the country; rainy seasons are spring and autumn. Mild summers with pleasant temperatures. Hot records: Murcia 47.2 ºC, Malaga 44.2 ºC, Valencia 42.5 ºC, Alicante 41.4 ºC, Palma of Mallorca 40.6 ºC, Barcelona 39.8 ºC. Low records: Gerona -13.0 ºC, Barcelona -10.0 ºC, Valencia -7.2 ºC, Murcia -6.0 ºC, Alicante -4.6 ºC, Malaga -3.8 ºC.
• The interior: Very cold winters (frequent snow in the north) and hot summers. Hot records: Sevilla 47.0 ºC, Cordoba 46.6 ºC, Badajoz 45.0 ºC, Albacete and Zaragoza 42.6 ºC, Madrid 42.2 ºC, Burgos 41.8 ºC, Valladolid 40.2 ºC. Low records: Albacete -24.0  ºC, Burgos -22.0 ºC, Salamanca -20.0 ºC, Teruel -19.0 ºC, Madrid -14.8 ºC, Sevilla -5.5 ºC.
• Northern Atlantic coast: precipitations mostly in winter, with mild summers (slightly cold). Hot records: Bilbao 42.0 ºC, La Coruña 37.6 ºC, Gijón 36.4 ºC. Low records: Bilbao -8.6 ºC, Oviedo -6.0 ºC, Gijon and La Coruña -4.8 ºC.
• The Canary Islands: subtropical weather, with mild temperatures (18 ºC to 24 ºC Celsius) throughout the year. Hot records: Santa Cruz de Tenerife 42.6 ºC. Low records: Santa Cruz de Tenerife 8.1 ºC.

Most populous metropolitan areas

• Madrid 5 603 285
• Barcelona 5 328 395
• Valencia 1 465 423
• Sevilla 1 294 081
• Málaga 1 019 292

For a more complete list, see List of cities in Spain

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Territorial disputes

Spain has called for the return of Gibraltar, a tiny British possession on its southern coast. It changed hands during the War of the Spanish Succession in 1704

Related Topics:
Gibraltar - British - War of the Spanish Succession - 1704

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Morocco claims the Spanish enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla and the uninhabited Vélez, Alhucemas, Chafarinas, and Perejil islands, all on the Northern coast of Africa.

Related Topics:
Morocco - Ceuta - Melilla - Vélez - Alhucemas - Chafarinas - Perejil - Africa

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Portugal does not recognize Spain's de facto sovereignty over the territory of Olivenza.

Related Topics:
Portugal - Olivenza

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