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Spain, constitutional
monarchy of southwestern Europe, occupying the greater part of the Iberian
Peninsula, and bounded on the north by the Bay of Biscay, France, and Andorra;
on the east by the Mediterranean Sea; on the south by the Mediterranean
Sea and the Atlantic Ocean; and on the west by Portugal and the Atlantic
Ocean. The British dependency of Gibraltar is situated at the southern
extremity of Spain. The Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean and the Canary
Islands in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Africa are governed as provinces
of Spain. Also, Spain administers two small exclaves in Morocco—Ceuta and
Melilla—as well as three island groups near Africa—Peñón
de Vélez de la Gomera and the Alhucemas and Chafarinas islands.
The area of Spain, including the African and insular territories, is 504,750
sq km (194,885 sq mi). Madrid is the capital and largest city.
Spain occupies about 85 percent
of the Iberian Peninsula and is bounded by water for about 88 percent of
its periphery; its Mediterranean coast is about 1660 km (about 1030 mi)
long, and its Atlantic coast is about 710 km (about 440 mi) long. The long,
unbroken mountain chain of the Pyrenees, extending about 435 km (about
270 mi) from the Bay of Biscay to the Mediterranean Sea, forms the border
with France on the north; in the extreme south the Strait of Gibraltar,
less than 13 km (less than 8 mi) wide at its narrowest extent, separates
Spain from Africa. The most important topographical feature of Spain is
the great, almost treeless, central plateau, called the Meseta, sloping
generally downward from north to south and from east to west, and with
an average elevation of about 610 m (about 2000 ft) above sea level. The
tableland is divided into northern and southern sections by irregular mountain
ranges, or sierras, of which the most important are the Sierra de Guadarrama,
the Sierra de Gredos, and the Montes de Toledo. Between many of the mountains
are narrow valleys, drained by rapid rivers. The coastal plain is narrow,
rarely as much as 30 km (20 mi) wide and, in many areas, broken by mountains
that descend to the sea to form rocky headlands, particularly along the
Mediterranean coast, where the sole excellent harbor is Barcelona. The
northwestern coastal area has several good harbors, particularly along
the Galician coast. The six principal mountain chains have elevations greater
than 3300 m (greater than 11,000 ft). The highest peaks are the Pico de
Aneto (3404 m/11,168 ft) in the Pyrenees and Mulhacén (3478 m/11,411
ft) in the Sierra Nevada in southern Spain. The highest point in Spain
and its insular territories is Pico de Teide (3718 m/12,198 ft) on Tenerife
Island in the Canary Islands. The lowest point is sea level along the coast.
The principal rivers of
Spain flow west and south to the Atlantic Ocean, generally along deep,
rocky courses that they have cut through the mountain valleys. The Duero
(Douro), Miño, Tagus, and Guadiana rivers rise in Spain and flow
through Portugal to the Atlantic. The Guadalquivir River, flowing through
a fertile plain in the south, is the deepest river in Spain and the only
one navigable for any extent. The Ebro River, in northeastern Spain, flows
into the Mediterranean Sea, and is navigable by small craft for part of
its course. Most Spanish streams are too small for interior navigation,
and, with courses below the general ground level, are of little use for
irrigation. The rivers are, however, a good source of electric power.
Climate
The climate of Spain is
marked by extremes of temperature and, except in the north, generally low
rainfall, and the variegated physical features of the country ensure pronounced
climatic differences. The climate is most equable along the Biscayan and
Atlantic coasts, which are generally damp and cool. The central plateau
has summers so arid that nearly all the streams dry up, the earth parches,
and drought is common. Most of Spain receives less than 600 mm (less than
24 in) of precipitation per year; the northern mountains get considerably
more moisture. At Madrid, winter cold is sufficient to freeze surrounding
streams, while summer temperatures in Seville rise as high as 49° C
(120° F). By contrast the southern Mediterranean coast has a subtropical
climate. Málaga, in the extreme south, has an average winter temperature
of 14° C (57° F).
Plants and Animals
Only a small part of Spain
is forested, and forests are located mainly on mountain slopes, particularly
in the northwest. A common Spanish tree is the evergreen oak. Cork oak,
from which the bark may be stripped every ten years, is abundant, growing
chiefly as second growth on timbered land. Poplar trees are grown throughout
the country and the cultivation of olive trees is a major agricultural
activity. Other Spanish trees include the elm, beech, and chestnut. Shrubs
and herbs are the common natural vegetation on the central plateau. Grapevines
flourish in the arid soil. Esparto grass, used for making paper and various
fiber products, grows abundantly in both the wild and cultivated state.
On the Mediterranean coast sugarcane, oranges, lemons, figs, almonds, and
chestnuts are grown.
The Spanish fauna includes
the wolf, lynx, wildcat, fox, wild boar, wild goat, deer, and hare. Among
the more famous domesticated animals are the bulls bred near Seville and
Salamanca for bullfighting, the Spanish national sport. Birdlife is abundant,
with varieties of birds of prey. Insect life abounds. Mountain streams
and lakes teem with such fish as barbel, tench, and trout.
Natural Resources
The most valuable natural
resource of Spain is the soil, with nearly one-third of the land suitable
for cultivation. Although Spanish soils need careful irrigation and
cultivation, they are a rich and valuable resource. Semiarid chestnut-brown
soils cover the central plateau, and red Mediterranean soils cover the
southern area and the northeastern coastal region. A gray desert soil,
often saline, is found in the southeast. The forest of northern Spain has
gray-brown forest soils, and the forest in the Cantabrian Mountains has
leached podzolic soils. The country also has many mineral resources, including
hard and brown coal, small petroleum and natural gas deposits, iron ore,
uranium, mercury, pyrites, fluorspar, gypsum, zinc, lead, tungsten, copper,
and potash.
The Spanish people are essentially a mixture of the indigenous peoples of the Iberian Peninsula with the successive peoples who conquered the peninsula and occupied it for extended periods. These added ethnologic elements include the Romans, a Mediterranean people, and the Suevi, Vandals, and Teutonic peoples. Semitic elements are also present. Several ethnic groups in Spain have kept a separate identity, culturally and linguistically. These include the Catalans (16 percent of the population), who live principally in the northeast and on the eastern islands; the Galicians (8 percent), who live in northwestern Spain; the Basques, or Euskal-dun (2 percent), who live chiefly around the Bay of Biscay; and the nomadic Spanish Roma (Gypsies), also called Gitanos.
The population of Spain at
the 1991 census was 38,872,268. The estimate for 1995 is 39,276,000, giving
the country an overall density of about 78 persons per sq km (about 202
per sq mi). Spain is increasingly urban, with more than 80 percent of the
population in towns and cities.
Languages
Most of the people of Spain
speak Castilian Spanish. In addition, Catalan is spoken in the northeast,
Galician (Gallego, akin to Portuguese) is spoken in the northwest, and
Basque (Euskara, a pre-Indo-European language) is spoken in the north.
See Spanish Language, Catalan Language, Basque Language.
Religion
Roman Catholicism is professed
by about 97 percent of the population. The country is divided into 11 metropolitan
and 52 suffragan sees. In addition, the archdioceses of Barcelona and Madrid
are directly responsible to the Holy See. Formerly, Roman Catholicism was
the established church, but the 1978 constitution decreed that Spain shall
have no state religion, while recognizing the role of the Roman Catholic
church in Spanish society. There are small communities of Protestants,
Jews, and Muslims.
Culture and Education
The golden age of Spanish
education occurred during the Middle Ages, when the Moors, Christians,
and Jews established strong interreligious centers of higher education
in Córdoba, Granada, and Toledo. The University of Salamanca (1218)
served as a model for the universities of Latin America from the 16th century
on, thereby extending the international influence of Spanish education.
During the 16th century the University of Alcalá (founded in Alcalá
de Henares in 1508 and moved to Madrid as the University of Madrid in 1836)
was famous for its multilingual, parallel translations of the Bible. Important
Spanish educators of that period include Juan de Huarte, a pioneer in the
application of psychology to education; the humanist and philosopher Juan
Luis Vives, who interpreted new ideas on education and, in particular,
advocated the education of women; and Saint Ignatius of Loyola, founder
of the Society of Jesus (see Jesuits). Others who made important contributions
to education in the 19th and 20th century include Francisco Giner de los
Rios, who sought reforms in higher education and the schooling of women;
Francisco Ferrer Guardia, the nationalistic educator who advocated reform
and democratization of education; and the philosopher José Ortega
y Gasset, whose writings on the mission of the university have been translated
into several languages. The Royal Spanish Academy (founded 1713) and the
Royal Academy of History (1738) are well known for scholarly publications.
Elementary and Secondary
Schools
Education in Spain is free
and compulsory for children between the ages of 6 and 16. The school system
consists of preprimary schools (for children 3 to 5 years old), primary
(6 to 11), and secondary (ages 12 to 16, in 2 two-year cycles). Students
may then take either a vocational training course for one or two years,
or the two-year Bachillerato course in preparation for university entrance.
The university system has three cycles. The first, leading to the degree
of Diplomatura, lasts for three years. The second cycle lasts for two or
three years and leads to the degree of Licenciatura. Students earning the
degree of Doctor must complete the two-year third cycle and write a thesis.
In the early 1990s Spain's
preprimary schools were attended by approximately 1 million pupils, primary
schools by about 4.5 million, and secondary schools (including high schools
and technical schools) by approximately 1.8 million. About 30 percent of
all children receive their education in the Roman Catholic school system.
Higher Education
Spanish institutions of
higher education enrolled nearly 1.3 million students in the early 1990s.
The major universities of Spain include the University of Madrid, the Polytechnical
University of Madrid (1971), the University of Barcelona (1450), the University
of Granada (1526), the University of Salamanca, the University of Seville
(1502), and the University of Valencia (1510).
Economy
Spain has traditionally
been an agricultural country and is still one of the largest producers
of farm commodities in Western Europe, but since the mid-1950s industrial
growth has been rapid. A series of development plans, initiated in 1964,
helped the economy to expand, but in the later 1970s an economic slowdown
was brought on by rising oil costs and increased imports. Subsequently,
the government emphasized the development of the steel, shipbuilding, textile,
and mining industries. Spain derives much income from tourism. The gross
domestic product in 1993 was about $478.6 billion. The annual budget in
the early 1990s included revenues of about $97.7 billion and expenditures
of about $128 billion. On January 1, 1986, Spain became a full member of
the European Community (now the European Union, or EU).
The climate, beaches, and historic cities of Spain are an attraction for tourists, which make a significant contribution to the country's economy. More than 57 million people visit Spain each year, making it one of the world's top tourist destinations. The $20 billion tourists spend each year helps make up for Spain's considerable trade deficit.
In the early 1990s the Spanish
labor force included about 15.2 million people. About 2.8 million were
employed in manufacturing; 1.3 million in agriculture, forestry, and fishing;
7.1 million in service industries; and 1.2 million in construction. Unemployment
soared as high as 22 percent during this period. In the early 1990s, about
10 percent of Spain's workforce was unionized.
Agriculture
Agriculture is a mainstay
of the Spanish economy, employing, with forestry and fishing, about 10
percent of the labor force. The leading agricultural products, in order
of value, are grapes and olives, used to make olive oil. In the early 1990s
annual production of grapes was 5.7 million metric tons and of olive oil
was 597,000 metric tons. Other important commodities included potatoes
(5.3 million tons), barley (6 million), wheat (4.5 million), almonds (425,000),
tomatoes (2.6 million), oranges and mandarins (4.2 million), sugar beets
(7.5 million), and onions (995,000).
Climatic and topographical
conditions make dry farming obligatory for a large part of Spanish agriculture.
The Mediterranean provinces, particularly Valencia, have irrigation systems
that represent the work of many generations, and the formerly arid coastal
belt has become one of the most productive areas of Spain. Combined irrigation
and hydroelectric projects are found particularly in the valley of the
Ebro River. Large sections of Extremadura are irrigated by means of government
projects on the Guadiana River. Small-farm irrigation from wells is common.
The raising of livestock,
especially sheep and goats, is an important industry. In the early 1990s
livestock on farms included about 24.6 million sheep, 17.2 million pigs,
4.9 million cattle, and 240,000 horses.
Forestry and Fishing
The cork-oak tree is the
principal forest resource of Spain, and the annual production of cork,
more than 52,000 metric tons in the late 1980s, placed Spain among the
world leaders. The yield of Spain's forests is insufficient for the country's
wood-pulp and timber needs. The fishing industry is important to the Spanish
economy. The annual catch was about 1.4 million metric tons in the early
1990s and consisted primarily of sardines, mussels, tuna, hake, and squid.
Mining
The mineral wealth of Spain
is considerable. In the early 1990s annual production, in metric tons,
included hard and brown coal (about 35.7 million), iron ore (1.5 million),
zinc concentrates (255,000), lead (58,400), copper (10,700), and gypsum
(5 million). In addition, 5.9 million barrels of petroleum were extracted.
The principal coal mines are in the northwest, near Oviedo; the chief iron-ore
deposits are in the same area, around Santander and Bilbao; large mercury
reserves are located in Almadén, in southwestern Spain, and copper
and lead are mined in Andalusia.
Manufacturing
Among the leading goods
manufactured in Spain are textiles, iron and steel, motor vehicles, chemicals,
clothing, footwear, ships and boats, refined petroleum, and cement. Spain
is one of the world's leading wine producers, and the annual output in
the early 1990s was about 3.7 million cu m (983 million gallons). The iron
and steel industry, centered in Bilbao, Santander, Oviedo, and Avilés,
produced about 12.7 million metric tons of crude steel and 5.7 million
tons of pig iron annually in the early 1990s.
Energy
About 52 percent of Spain's
electricity is generated in conventional thermal plants primarily using
coal or refined petroleum. Hydroelectric facilities produce 13 percent,
and nuclear installations, 35 percent. In the early 1990s Spain had an
installed electricity-generating capacity of some 46.6 million kilowatts,
and annual output was about 157 billion kilowatt-hours.
Transportation
and communications
Spain had about 332,000
km (about 206,300 mi) of roads and about 13.1 million passenger cars in
the early 1990s. Rail service over about 15,430 km (about 9590 mi) of track
is provided by both government-owned and private companies. In 1992, a
high-speed railway line from Madrid to Seville began operating; an extension
of the line to Barcelona is scheduled to open by 1997. The government-controlled
Iberia Airline operates domestic and international services. The airline,
which needed financial rescue by the government in the mid-1990s, also
serves Spain through a number of subsidiaries. In the early 1990s the merchant
marine consisted of some 2190 vessels; the total capacity of the fleet
was about 3.2 million gross tons.
Radios in use in Spain in
the early 1990s totaled about 12.1 million along with 15.2 million television
sets. The country also had about 90 daily newspapers, with a combined daily
circulation of about 5 million. Influential dailies include El País,
ABC and El Mundo, both published in Madrid, and La Vanguardia and El Periódico,
issued in Barcelona.
International Trade
In the early 1990s, Spain
annually imported goods valued at about $92.5 billion and exported goods
valued at about $72.8 billion. Principal imports include machinery, mineral
fuels, transportation equipment, food products, metals and metal products,
and textiles. Exports include motor vehicles, machinery, basic metals,
vegetable products, chemicals, mineral products, and textiles. Spain's
chief trading partners are France, Germany, Italy, Great Britain, Portugal,
the United States, the Netherlands, Japan, and Belgium and Luxembourg.
Spain comprises 50 provinces
in 17 autonomous regions: Andalusia, Aragón, Asturias, Balearic
Islands, Basque Country (País Vasco), Canary Islands, Cantabria,
Castile-La Mancha, Castile-León, Catalonia, Extremadura, Galicia,
La Rioja, Madrid, Murcia, Navarra, and Valencia.
Principal Cities
The capital and largest
city is Madrid (population, greater city, 1991, 3,010,492), also the capital
of Madrid autonomous region; the second largest city, chief port, and commercial
center is Barcelona (1,643,542), capital of Barcelona province and Catalonia
region. Other important cities include Valencia (752,909), capital of Valencia
province and Valencia region, a manufacturing and railroad center; Seville
(683,028), capital of Seville province and Andalusia region, a cultural
center; Saragossa (594,394), capital of Saragossa province and Aragón
region, another industrial center; and Bilbao (369,839), a busy port.
Executive
The head of state of Spain
is a hereditary monarch, who also is the commander in chief of the armed
forces. Executive power is vested in the prime minister, who is proposed
by the monarch on the parliament's approval and is voted into office by
the Congress of Deputies. Power is also vested in a cabinet, or council
of ministers. There is also the Council of States, a consultative body.
Legislative
In 1977 Spain's unicameral
Cortes was replaced by a bicameral parliament made up of a 350-member Congress
of Deputies and a Senate of 208 directly elected members and 47 special
regional representatives. Deputies are popularly elected to four-year terms
by universal suffrage of people 18 years of age and older, under a system
of proportional representation. The directly elected senators are voted
to four-year terms on a regional basis. Each mainland province elects 4
senators; another 20 senators come from the Balearic Islands, the Canary
Islands, Ceuta, and Melilla.
Local Government
The 1978 constitution allowed
for two types of autonomous regions, each with different powers. Catalonia,
the Basque provinces, and Galicia were defined as “historic nationalities”
and used a simpler process to achieve autonomy. The process for other regions
was slower and more complicated. While the autonomous regions have assumed
substantial powers of self-government, the issue of regional versus central
governmental power is still under negotiation.
Each of Spain's 17 autonomous
regions elects a unicameral legislative assembly, which selects a president
from among its own members. Seven autonomous regions are composed of only
one province, the other ten are formed of two or more provinces. Each of
the provinces, 50 in all, has an appointed governor and an elected council.
Each of the more than 8000 municipalities is governed by a directly elected
council, which elects one of its members as mayor.
Judiciary
The judicial system in Spain
is governed by the General Council of Judicial Power, presided over by
the president of the Supreme Court. The country's highest tribunal is the
Supreme Court of Justice, divided into 7 sections; it sits in Madrid. There
are 17 territorial high courts, one in each autonomous region, 52 provincial
high courts, and several lower courts handling penal, labor, and juvenile
matters. The country's other important court is the Constitutional Court,
which monitors observance of the constitution.
Health and Welfare
The Law of Family Subsidy,
enacted in 1939, provides Spain's workers with monthly allowances proportionate
to the number of children in the family; the necessary funding is collected
from employers and employees. A program of old-age pensions and health
and maternity benefits has been in effect since 1949. A fund derived from
public collections provides for the support of the poor, nursery schools,
and health clinics. In the early 1990s Spain had about 153,300 physicians
and 175,400 hospital beds.
Microsoft® Encarta®
97 Encyclopedia. © 1993-1996
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Última actualització: 8 de juny de 2000