Spain, the fourth largest country in Europe, was once the center of a huge colonial empire. It has a rich culture and history.
Square: 504,782 km 2
Population: 40 847 000
Capital: Madrid (5,087,000 people)
Main export items: transport equipment, mechanical engineering and agricultural products
State tuning: a constitutional monarchy
In terms of population, Spain ranks fifth among European countries. It borders on Portugal in the west and France and Andorra in the northeast, where the Pyrenees mountains rise. The territory of Spain includes the Balearic and Canary Islands and three small groups of islands off the coast of Africa. In the north and northwest, Spain is washed over a long distance by the Atlantic Ocean, and in the east and south by the Mediterranean Sea.
AFRICA'S NEIGHBOR
Spain occupies 4/5 of the territory of the Iberian Peninsula - the part of Europe that is closest to Africa. It is separated from North Africa by the narrow Strait of Gibraltar, which connects the Mediterranean Sea with the Atlantic Ocean. Spain controls Ceuta and Melilla, two small territories in the north of the African state of Morocco. In the very south of the Iberian Peninsula, at the Strait of Gibraltar, Gibraltar is located - a British possession since 1713. On this piece of land with an area of 6.5 square meters. 25 thousand people live in km, most of whom are engaged in tourism and sailing. For many years, Spain and Great Britain fought for dominance over this territory. A referendum held in November 2002 showed that the majority of Gibraltarians preferred to remain a British protectorate, but negotiations are likely to continue in the future.
MOUNTAINS AND PLATEAU OF MESETA
In different places, the territory of Spain is crossed by powerful mountain ranges. In the center of Spain lies the huge Meseta plateau, occupying almost half the country's area. In the northeast rise the Pyrenees, and in the northwest the Cantabrian Mountains stretch along the Atlantic coast, which then turn south towards Portugal. From the Cantabrian Mountains to the Mediterranean Sea stretch diagonally the Iberian Mountains, and to the south of the Meseta - the Sierra Morena Mountains and the Andalusian Mountains (Cordillera Betica). The Meseta plateau (Castilian plateau), with an area of about 210,000 sq. km, has an average altitude of 700 m above sea level. Here are the oldest geological formations of the Iberian Peninsula. A fair part of the plateau is a treeless, arid area. The plateau is drained by three major rivers - the Guadiana, Duero and Tagus, as well as their tributaries. In the center of the Meseta is the Cordillera Central mountain range. The soil in the eastern and western regions of Meseta is very different in quality. Limestone layers located close to the surface in the east of the plateau were weathered and formed more fertile soils favorable for growing crops.
CLIMATE AND AGRICULTURE
Most of Spain is characterized by a warm Mediterranean climate, which varies depending on the terrain and altitude. In a number of northern regions of Spain, winter temperatures drop below zero, and in Malaga, on the southern coast, the average daily winter temperature is 13.9°C. The mainland of the country receives less than 600 mm of precipitation per year, and droughts are not uncommon in the Meseta. In many areas, farmers water their fields through irrigation canals that drain water from rivers, further exacerbating the problem of desertification. Spain is a traditionally agricultural country. A variety of crops are grown here - from sugar beets and grains to citrus fruits and grapes. Spain is one of the world's leading wine producers. Over the past 40 years, industry has developed rapidly in the country, but agriculture and food production still play a very large role.
DIVERSITY OF CULTURES
Until the 15th century Spain was subject to invasions by the most different nations: Phoenicians, Celts, Greeks, Carthaginians, later Romans, Visigoths and Moors. Under the influence of foreigners, different provinces of Spain over time developed their own distinctive cultures, and local languages and dialects were formed. Originally, this territory was inhabited by Iberian tribes, who later mixed with the Celts who arrived on the Iberian Peninsula in the 1st millennium BC. In the III-II centuries. BC. The Romans invaded here, and in the 5th century. AD — Germanic tribes West-ready. In 711-718 Almost all of Spain was captured by the Moors - Arabs and Berbers from North Africa. From the 9th century to the 14th century this region was a center of prosperity for Islamic art, culture and science, which played a huge role in the further social and cultural development of Spain. The traditions of Muslim architecture are reflected in the special Moorish style of architecture, which existed in Spain for many centuries. By the end of the 15th century. During the Reconquista (718 -1492), the Spaniards recaptured their lands from the Moors. Despite many years of foreign rule, some peoples of Spain have retained not only their unique regional culture, but also their national identity, including the Basques in the north and the Catalans in the east and northeast of the country. After the Civil War (1936 -1939), Spain was ruled by dictator General Francisco Franco until 1975. During his reign, the languages and customs of national minorities were banned. After his death, separatist movements in the Basque Country and Catalonia intensified the struggle for separation from Spain. At the end of the 1970s. a new constitution was established. All 17 historical regions of the country were granted autonomy, and Basque, Catalan and Galician languages began to be taught in schools.
MAJOR COLONIAL POWER
At the end of the 15th century. under Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand, Spain became a unified state. In an effort to expand their possessions, the Spanish monarchs began to finance long-distance sea expeditions. Columbus and other discoverers paved the way for the Spanish conquistadors who conquered the lands of the New World. Spain turned into a large colonial empire. By 1600, it owned territories in North, Central and South America and a number of Caribbean islands. In Europe, Spain subjugated Portugal, the Netherlands, Austria, as well as parts of France, Germany and Italy. As a result of wars and internal conflicts that lasted from the middle of the 17th century, by 1714 Spain lost its European possessions, and by 1825 - almost all of its South American colonies.
CITY LIFE
In the 1980s Spain was experiencing an economic boom associated with the development of the manufacturing industry and tourism. With the transition to more developed production and the expansion of the service sector, the migration of Spaniards from rural areas to cities began. Nowadays, about 75% of the population lives in cities. The largest city in Spain is Madrid, the capital and seat of the country's government. It is located in the center of the Meseta plateau, away from large rivers and sea coast, which is quite unusual for a European capital. Barcelona, the second largest city in Spain, with which Madrid constantly competes for primacy in all walks of life, is an important Mediterranean port and the center of a large, densely populated industrial region.
TOURISM INDUSTRY
Spain is one of the five countries most popular among tourists. In 2000, its income from tourism exceeded 30 billion dollars. Foreign guests are attracted by the warm climate, magnificent Mediterranean beaches and large historical centers of art and architecture - Barcelona, Madrid, Valencia. About 50 million tourists visit the country every year. The Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean Sea and the Canary Islands in the Atlantic Ocean, which belong to Spain, are very popular holiday destinations. The Balearic Islands group includes Mallorca, Menorca and Ibiza (incorrectly called Ibiza in tourist brochures). The Canaries are the remains of volcanic mountains. Vegetation on their rocky soil is relatively sparse. However, the year-round sunshine and mild winters make it possible to grow bananas and tomatoes for export.
«Large Illustrated Directory. Countries and continents", Moscow, "Swallowtail", 2005,
The relief of Spain is very diverse. The center of the country is located 300 kilometers from the sea. The dominant role in the relief is played by systems of mountain ranges and high-mountain plateaus.
Plateaus and mountains make up about 90 percent of its territory. Almost half of the country's surface is occupied by the vast Meseta plateau, the highest in Europe - with an average height of 660 meters. It is distinguished by alternating plateaus, folded-block ridges and mountain basins. The Cordillera Central divides the Meseta into two parts: northern and southern.
The Pyrenees are several parallel ridges stretching from west to east for 450 kilometers. This is one of the most inaccessible mountainous countries in Europe. Although their average height is not very high (just over 2500 meters), they have only a few conveniently located passes. All passes are at an altitude of 1500-2000 m. Therefore, only four railways go from Spain to France: two of them bypass the Pyrenees along the coast from the north-west and south-east, and two more railways cross the Pyrenees in the sections Aerbe - Oloron - Sainte-Marie and Ripoll - Prades, through a tunnel system. The widest and highest part of the mountains is the central one. Here is their main peak - Aneto Peak, reaching 3405 meters.
From the northeast, the Meseta is adjacent to the Iberian Mountains system, the maximum height (Mont Cayo peak) is 2313 meters.
Between the eastern Pyrenees and the Iberian Mountains stretch the low Catalan Mountains, the southern slopes of which drop off into the Mediterranean Sea. The Catalan Mountains (average heights 900-1200 meters, peak - Mount Caro, 1447 meters) follow for 400 kilometers almost parallel to the coast Mediterranean Sea and actually separate the Aragonese plateau from it. The areas of coastal plains developed in Murcia, Valencia and Catalonia north of Cape Palos to the French border are highly fertile.
The entire southeast of the Iberian Peninsula is occupied by the Cordillera Betica, which is a system of massifs and ridges. Its crystalline axis is the Sierra Nevada mountains. In height they are second only to the Alps in Europe. Their summit, Mount Mulacén, reaching 3,478 meters, is the highest point in peninsular Spain. However, the highest mountain peak in Spain is located on the island of Tenerife (Canary Islands) - the Teide volcano, whose height reaches 3718 meters.
Most of Spain's territory is located at an altitude of about 700 meters above sea level. It is the second highest country in Europe after Switzerland.
The only large lowland - the Andalusian - is located in the south of the country. In the northeast of Spain in the river valley. The Ebro is the Aragonese plain. Smaller lowlands stretch along the Mediterranean Sea. One of the main rivers of Spain (and the only navigable one in the lower reaches) flows through the Andalusian lowland - Guadalquivir. The remaining rivers, including the largest: Tagus and Duero, the lower reaches of which are located in neighboring Portugal, Ebro, Guadiana, are characterized by sharp seasonal fluctuations in level and rapid flow.
Large areas of the country suffer from water shortages. Related to this is the problem of erosion - millions of tons of topsoil are blown away every year.
Spain is one of the warmest countries in Western Europe. The average number of sunny days is 260-285. The average annual temperature on the Mediterranean coast is 20 degrees Celsius. In winter, temperatures usually drop below zero only in the central and northern regions of the country. In summer, temperatures rise to 40 degrees and above (from the central part to south coast). On the northern coast the temperature is not so high - about 25 degrees Celsius.
Spain is characterized by very deep internal climatic differences, and it can only conditionally be entirely attributed to the Mediterranean climatic region. These differences are manifested both in temperature and in annual amounts and precipitation patterns.
On extreme northwest the climate is mild and humid with slight temperature fluctuations throughout the year and big amount precipitation. Constant winds from the Atlantic bring a lot of moisture, mainly in winter, when foggy and cloudy weather prevails with drizzling rain, almost without frost and snow. The average temperature of the coldest month is the same as in northwestern France. Summers are hot and humid, with average temperatures rarely below 16 degrees Celsius. Annual precipitation exceeds 1070 mm, and in some places reaches 2000 mm.
Completely different conditions in internal parts countries - on the plateau of Old and New Castile and the Aragonese plain. These areas are influenced by the plateau-basin topography, significant altitude and local continental air. They are characterized by relatively low precipitation (no more than 500 mm per year) and sharp temperature fluctuations between seasons. In Old Castile and the Aragonese plain there are quite cold winters with frosts and strong, sharp winds; Summers are hot and fairly dry, although maximum precipitation occurs during this season of the year. Nueva Castile has a slightly milder climate, with warmer winters but also low rainfall. Agriculture in all these areas requires artificial irrigation.
In northwestern Spain, brown forest soil is developed on the coastal plains and windward slopes of the mountains. The interior regions of the country - Old and New Castile, the Iberian Mountains and the Aragonese Plateau - are characterized by brown soil; in the driest treeless areas there is thin carbonate gray-brown soil with areas of salt marshes in relief depressions. Gray soils are developed in the arid landscapes of Murcia. They are non-gypsum-bearing and non-saline; when irrigated, they produce high yields of fruit and other crops. The heavy clay barros soil on the flat ancient alluvial plains is distinguished, especially favorable for the cultivation of rice.
The variety of climatic conditions - from humid in the north to arid in the south - determines the heterogeneity of the flora and vegetation of Spain. The north shows similarities with Central Europe, and the south with Africa. Traces of forest vegetation in Murcia, La Mancha and Granada indicate that in the past a significant part of the territory of Spain was afforested, but now forests and woodlands occupy only 30% of the country's area, with only 5% being full-fledged closed stands.
Evergreen oak forests grow in the north-west of the country. Mountain forests have more deciduous oak species, along with beech, ash, birch and chestnut, which is typical Central Europe. In the interior of Spain, small tracts of dry evergreen forests, dominated by oak, interspersed with pine forests and shrubs, have been preserved in some places. In the driest areas of New Castile, the Aragonese plateau and Murcia, fragments of semi-deserts (usually on salt marshes) are found.
In those areas of Southern Spain where there is more rainfall, especially along the coast, typical Mediterranean shrub-herbaceous communities of the garrigue and tomillara type are present. Garrigue is characterized by the participation of local species of gorse and cornflowers, while tomillara is characterized by the presence of aromatic Lamiaceae (shrub species of thyme, rosemary, etc.), as well as cistus. A special variety of garrigue consists of scattered thickets of the dwarf fan palm, very characteristic of Andalusia, as well as communities with a predominance tall grass alpha, or esparto, is a hardy xerophyte that produces strong fiber.
Central European and African connections are evident in the fauna of Spain. Among European species, two varieties of brown bear (the large Asturian and smaller, black, found in the Pyrenees), lynx, wolf, fox, and wildcat deserve mention. There are deer, hares, squirrels and moles. The imperial eagle is found in Spain and North Africa, and the blue magpie, found on the Iberian Peninsula, has also been found in East Asia. On both sides of the Strait of Gibraltar there are genets, Egyptian mongooses and one species of chameleon.
Minerals of Spain: The subsoil of Spain is replete with minerals. Particularly significant are the reserves of metal ores, the deposits of which are associated with the outcrops of the folded base of the Meseta or with volcanic rocks of mountain structures. Along the northwestern edge of the Meseta, within the Gallic massif, there are tin, tungsten and uranium ores in Caledonian and Proterozoic granite intrusions. A strip of lead-zinc-silver deposits stretches along the southern outskirts of Meseta. There is also a large deposit of mercury of global importance - Almaden. Iron ores are found in the north and south of Spain. They are confined to the structures of the Mesozoic and Alpine magmatic cycles. These are well-known deposits in the Bilbao region on the northern slope of the Biscay Mountains and in Almeria on the southern slope of the Beta Cordillera. In the north, in the Carboniferous sediments that fill the foothill depression of the Asturian Mountains, there is the largest coal basin in the country. In addition, there are small deposits of coal on the southern slope of the mountains and in some other areas. The Cenozoic sediments of intermountain and intramountain depressions contain strata of salts and brown coal. Significant reserves of potassium salts are located within the Ebro Plain.
It is worth noting, however, that most of the mineral deposits in the country are very modest in size and are quite depleted, like many deposits in other European regions, which makes Spain dependent on the import of minerals, mainly from North Africa.
Airports in Spain are subordinated to the public organization Spanish Airports and Air Navigation (Aeropuertos Españoles y Navegación Aérea (Aena)), which in turn is subordinate to the Ministry of Development (Ministerio de Fomento de España). According to the Catalan Autonomy Act of 2006, three Catalan airports were transferred to the jurisdiction of the Generalitat de Catalunya, which manages them jointly with public organization Aerocat. With 50.8 million passengers in 2008, Madrid Airport (Barajas) is one of the busiest airports in the world. Barcelona Airport (El Prat) served 30 million passengers in 2008. Less busy airports are in Gran Canaria, Malaga, Valencia, Seville, Mallorca, Alicante and Bilbao.
Spanish airlines are: Air Europa, Air Nostrum, Air Pullmantur, Binter Canarias, Iberia LAE, Iberworld, Islas Airways, Spanair, Vueling Airlines.
Spain aims to have a million electric vehicles by 2014 as part of the government's plan to save energy and improve the environment.
IN Food Industry winemaking stands out (Spain is second only to France and Italy in the production of grape wines in Europe), the production of vegetable oil (1.7 million tons in 1996; Spain is the world leader in the production of olive oil (about 0.5 million tons per year), fruit and vegetable and canned fish. Spain is one of the top ten global producers of cars, ships, forging equipment and gas compressors, machine tools, petroleum products and chemical goods. Half of industrial production is concentrated in the northeast (Catalonia), the north of the country (Asturias, Cantabria, Country Basque) and in Greater Madrid.
The leading branch of agriculture is crop production (provides over 1/2 of the cost of production). They grow wheat (about 20% of the sown area), barley, corn (in the central and southern regions of the country), rice (on the irrigated lands of the Mediterranean coast; its yield in Spain is one of the highest in the world), potatoes and sugar beets, legumes, tomatoes, onions, peppers, eggplants and other vegetables (vegetables occupy 60% of the cultivated area), olives - (the leading place for growing olives in the world) - (Andalusia, Castile-la-Mancha, Extremadura), citrus fruits and tobacco. Viticulture - on the Mediterranean coast and in the regions of Castile-la-Mancha, Extremadura. Almonds are grown in the very south of the country (the leading export destination in Western Europe), dates and sugar cane (in Europe they grow only in Spain), figs, pomegranates, cotton.
Spain is one of the top ten countries in the world in catching fish and seafood (1.1 million tons in 1996) and processing it, and is a major exporter of fresh fish and canned fish.
The bulk of the fishing takes place off the coast of the Basque Country and Galicia. The most commonly caught fish are sardines, hake, mackerel, anchovies and cod. Every year, 20-25% of the total catch is processed into canned food.
Spanish banks need recapitalization in the amount of 59.3 billion euros, according to the results of stress tests posted on the website of the Spanish central bank. The financial crisis in Spain led to an explosion of separatism. The economic crisis in Spain is gradually beginning to develop into a political one. On the one hand, regions with their extremely weak banks need help from the national government. On the other hand, some territories, in particular Catalonia, believe that without the guiding and guiding hand of Madrid they would feel much better.
The crisis was not limited only to the financial sphere. Property prices fell, which in turn increased unemployment. Spanish construction company Martinsa-Fadesa filed for bankruptcy after failing to refinance its €5.1 billion debt. In the second quarter, property prices in Spain fell by 20%. In the Castile-La Mancha region, approximately 69% of all buildings built in the past three years are still unsold. Deutsche Bank expects a 35 percent fall in property prices in Spain by 2011. Spain's Prime Minister, José Luis Zapatero, blamed the European Central Bank for exacerbating the situation by raising interest rates.
Dynamics of population changes:
The population of Spain is 46.16 million people (October 2011).
According to genetic research conducted by the University of Leeds in 2008, 20% of the modern population of Spain has Jewish ancestry, and 11% have Arab and Berber ancestry.
On the southwestern coast of Iberia, a culture emerged in the Bronze Age, from which at the end of the 2nd millennium the Tartessian civilization was formed, which traded metal with the Phoenicians. After the depletion of the mines, Tartessus fell into disrepair.
Along the east coast of Spain in III millennium BC e. Iberian tribes appeared; some hypotheses connect their ancestral home to North Africa. From these tribes comes ancient name peninsula - Iberian. In the middle of the 2nd millennium BC. e. The Iberians began to settle in fortified villages in what is now Castile. The Iberians were mainly engaged in agriculture, cattle breeding and hunting, and knew how to make tools from copper and bronze. The Iberians used the Paleo-Spanish script created earlier by the Tartessians. The Iberian language was not related to Tartessian.
There is Roman evidence that Ligurians previously lived in Spain, but nothing is known about their existence in the historical period.
In the late Bronze Age, the culture of the urn fields (a remnant of which in the historical period were probably the Lusitanians) penetrated into Iberia, and at the beginning of the 1st millennium BC. e. Most of Iberia is colonized by Celtic tribes. Some of the Celts who lived in the neighborhood of the Iberians, falling under their influence, created the Celtiberian culture; the Celts who lived in the western part maintained a relatively conservative way of life and were unliterate. The Celts of Iberia became famous as warriors. It was they who invented the double-edged sword, which later became the standard weapon of the Roman army and was used against its own inventors.
In March 2004, 13 explosions rocked the Atocha train station in Madrid, killing 191 people and injuring 2,050. This terrorist attack was organized by an underground Islamist organization that followed the ideology of Al-Qaeda. The explosions occurred three days before the parliamentary elections and were terrorists' response to the participation of the Spanish military in a military operation in Iraq. Most Spaniards blamed the attacks on the government of Prime Minister José Maria Aznar, which sent Spanish troops to support the US and UK. The Aznar government made this decision unilaterally, without coordinating it with the parliament (Cortes) and despite massive protests from civil society, which demonstrated in thousands of demonstrations against the participation of the Spanish army in the war. In addition, mass public surveys conducted by a government agency indicated that about 80% of the country's population was against Spain's entry into the war. Aznar's People's Party lost the elections on March 14, 2004.
At the beginning of 2004, the new socialist government of José Luis Rodriguez Zapatero made a sharp turn in Spanish foreign policy: from supporting the US course to solidarity with most EU countries. After winning the elections on March 14, 2004, the Socialist government withdrew Spanish troops from Iraq, thus fulfilling an important point in the electoral program of the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE). In the subsequent parliamentary elections held in 2008, the PSOE won again. New parliamentary elections in Spain took place on November 20, 2011.
In 2005, same-sex marriage was legalized in Spain. Thus, Spain became the third state in the world, after Holland and Belgium, to recognize the legal equality of marriages regardless of the gender of the spouses. Same-sex marriage is now recognized in many countries, as well as in some US states.
One of the problems of modern Spain is the problem of immigration. Mostly, residents of the Maghreb countries come to Spain and Latin America. At the beginning of the new century, there were an estimated 2.5 million Latin Americans in the EU countries, 800 thousand of whom were in Spain. However, after the terrorist attacks of 2004, the attitude of the Spaniards towards immigrants changed significantly.
50 provinces included in 17 autonomous regions. Also within Spain are 2 so-called autonomous cities (ciudades autónomas) in Africa - Ceuta, Melilla and sovereign territories of Spain.
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The largest cities in Spain are:
Spain is rightfully considered a museum under open air. The vast expanses of this country carefully preserve cultural and historical monuments that have worldwide fame.
The most famous museum in Spain, the Prado Museum, is located in Madrid. Its extensive exhibition cannot be seen in one day. The museum was founded by Isabella of Braganza, wife of King Ferdinand VII. The Prado has its own branch, located in Cason del Buen Retiro and storing unique collections of Spanish painting and sculpture of the 19th century, as well as works by English and French painters. The museum itself presents large exhibitions of Spanish, Italian, Dutch, Flemish and German art. The Prado owes its name to the Prado de San Jeronimo alley, where it is located, laid out during the Age of Enlightenment. Currently, the Prado Museum's holdings include 6,000 paintings, more than 400 sculptures, as well as numerous jewelry, including royal and religious collections. Over the course of several centuries of its existence, the Prado was patronized by many kings.
It is believed that the very first collection of the Prado Museum was formed under Charles I, known as Holy Roman Emperor Charles V. His heir, King Philip II, became famous not only for his bad character and despotism, but also for his love of art. It is to him that the museum owes its priceless acquisitions of paintings by Flemish masters. Philip was distinguished by his gloomy worldview; it is not surprising that the ruler was a fan of Bosch, an artist known for his bizarre, pessimistic fantasy. Philip initially purchased Bosch's paintings for Escorial, the ancestral castle of the Spanish kings. It was only in the 19th century that the paintings were moved to the Prado Museum. Now here you can see such masterpieces of the Dutch master as “The Garden of Delights” and “The Hay Wain”. Currently, in the museum you can enjoy not only paintings and sculptures, but also theatrical performances, designed to “revive” famous paintings. The first such staging was dedicated to the paintings of Velazquez and was a huge success with the public.
There are many more unique museums and galleries in Spain: the Picasso Museum and the National Museum of Art of Catalonia, located in Barcelona, the National Sculpture Museum in Valladolid, the El Greco Museum in Toledo, the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, the Museum of Spanish Abstract Art in Cuenca.
The main sport in Spain has been football since the beginning of the 20th century. Basketball, tennis, cycling, handball, motorsports and, more recently, Formula One are also important due to the presence of Spanish champions in all of these disciplines. Today Spain is a leading world sports power; the development of sports in the country was particularly stimulated by the Summer Olympic Games in Barcelona. In 2008, Spain won the European Football Championship, and in 2010, they won the FIFA World Cup. In 2012, Spain won the European Football Championship over Italy with a score of 4:0.
In general, in the 2000s, the Spanish national teams won the World and European Championships in almost all team sports: football, basketball, water polo, field hockey, roller hockey, handball, volleyball and the Davis Cup in tennis.
It is also worth noting that the Real Madrid football club is officially recognized as the best club in the world of the 20th century.
The new doctrine 1/2004 declares terrorism to be the main enemy of Spain (both external and internal). It is noted that from now on, Spanish troops will be able to take part in international peacekeeping actions directly approved by the UN or, as was the case in Kosovo, enjoying the obvious support of the world community. In addition, participation in hostilities will require permission from the Spanish Parliament.
In the new military doctrine, the role of the General Defense Staff JEMAD, headed by General Felix Sanz, has been increased. At the end of October 2004, he made a statement about the need to “balance” the unequal relations between Spain and the United States, formed after 1953, when Spain and the United States signed a military defense cooperation agreement, under which the United States received the right to use several large military bases in Spain.
In 2001, Spain abolished conscription and switched to a completely professional army.
There are no laws in Spain prohibiting openly gay and lesbians serve in armed forces. On March 4, 2009, Spanish Defense Minister Carme Chacón (the first woman to hold this post) issued a decree repealing a previous law that prohibited transgender people from serving in the armed forces.
The preamble of the Spanish Constitution proclaims its readiness to “cooperate in strengthening peaceful relations and cooperation with all countries of the world.” Currently, Spain's foreign policy is mainly based on three directions: Europe (especially the EU), the Ibero-American direction, and the Mediterranean countries.
Today Spain has diplomatic relations with all UN countries. More recently, Spain has relations with Bhutan (since October 2010), South Sudan (after its independence from Sudan in July 2011) and the state of Karibati (since September 2011).
On April 12, 1994, the “Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation between Russian Federation and the Kingdom of Spain." Currently bilateral relations between the Russian Federation and the Kingdom of Spain have an extensive legal framework: the basis for interaction in various areas form more than 50 contracts, agreements, protocols and other documents.
Morocco occupies one of the key places in Spanish foreign policy, for which the Moroccan Kingdom is the most important African partner, if only due to its territorial proximity. The main directions of Spanish policy in Morocco are: issues related to the enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla, the unresolved problem with Western Sahara, problems of illegal migration, issues of stopping drug smuggling, etc.
Relations between Spain and the Maghreb countries began to develop most actively after the Socialist Party came to power in Spain in 1982.
Under the government of the People's Party, led by Prime Minister J. M. Aznar, who were in power from 1996 to 2004, relations could not be called good and were characterized rather by instability, in particular the conflict around the island of Perejil (Leila) occupies a prominent place. in 2002.
The Socialists, who returned to power in April 2004 under the leadership of José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, were determined to improve relations with their neighbors and especially with Morocco. After the meeting between Mohamed VI and Juan Carlos in 2005, relations between the two monarchs improved markedly. The conflict in Western Sahara, which arose quite a long time ago, has always had an adverse impact on relations between the two countries. After the failed quadripartite conference, Morocco authorized the Green March on Western Sahara in 1975 with the goal of "cleansing" Western Sahara from Spain. The result was an agreement between Spain, Mauritania and Morocco to transfer temporary control of the Sahara to Morocco and Mauritania.
An important component of relations between the two countries are close economic ties. In 1995, the Moroccan government decides to put everything on foreign investors, the most important of which are Spain and France.
The Spanish armed forces, consisting of 3,000 people, took part in 5 peacekeeping missions of the EU, NATO, and the UN. These missions are: International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan; EUFOR in Bosnia and Herzegovina; KFOR in Kosovo; FINUL to Lebanon and the UN mission to Darfur (Chad).
The length of roads is 328,000 km. Car park - more than 19 million cars. 90% of passenger and 79% of cargo transportation is carried out by road. Length railways- 14589 km. About 6.5% of all ground transport cargo and 6% of passengers are transported.
About 300 vessels with a total displacement of 1.511 million tons are involved in maritime transport. Vessels flying Spanish flags transport over 30 million tons of foreign trade cargo annually. 24 seaports control almost 93% of all traffic.
Air transport takes the leading place. Of the 42 airports, 34 provide regular flights. Through international Airport 56 million passengers pass through Madrid every year. The airport in Barcelona serves about 30 million passengers annually.
Spain has a system of compulsory free secondary education from 6 to 16 years of age. IN public schools About 70% study at state universities - 96.5%.
The largest universities in the country: Autonomous University of Madrid, Complutense (in Madrid), Barcelona Central and Autonomous, Santiago de Compostea, Politechnical University in Valencia.
Spain has a well-developed media network. 137 newspapers and about 1000 magazines are published. The most read daily newspapers: Pais, Mundo, Vanguardia, ABC, Periodico, Marka. Magazines for women "Patrones", Labores del HOGAR, Moda.
The leading radio stations are SER, COPE, Radio Nacional de España (RNE). The international department of Spanish National Radio, known as Radio Exterior de España, broadcasts in Spanish and six foreign languages. The Russian service for Spanish foreign broadcasting has been operating (with a short break) since the times of Franco, but is less known than similar broadcasters in Russian from the USA, Germany, and France.
The largest TV channels: TVE (covers the entire country), private studios Telesinko and Antena 3, as well as the 24-hour news channel Canal 24 Horas, broadcasting all over the world. Autonomous communities have their own regional television, broadcasting also in national languages.
In recent years, the proportion of immigrants among Spanish offenders has gradually increased. This is due to increased immigration to Spain (including illegal) from African countries, as well as from Latin America. Among the latter, two gangs from the Dominican Republic became especially active: Dominicans Don’t Play (“Dominicans don’t joke”) and Trinitarios (“Trinitarians” - named after underground organization"La Trinitaria", which fought for the independence of the Dominican Republic from Haiti in 1838).
The average cost per square meter in Spain for the 1st trimester of 2011 is 1777.6 euros (1793.8 euros - new construction; 1764.8 euros - second-hand). Highest prices (in €/m²): San Sebastian - 3762.3; San Cugat del Valles - 3282.6; Getcho - 3224.3; Barcelona - 3103.5; Pozuelo de Alarcon - 2964.0; Madrid - 2921.0.
The main real estate in Spain are villas, apartments and apartments. At the moment, buying real estate in Spain has become more profitable, since on August 20, 2011, the Spanish government temporarily changed the tax - VAT on the purchase of new housing from 8% to 4%.
The asteroid (804) Spain, discovered on March 20, 1915 by Spanish astronomer José Comas Sola at the Fabre Observatory in Barcelona, is named after Spain. It was the first asteroid discovered from Spain.
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SPAIN - GENERAL INFORMATION
Territory- 504,750 sq. km. In terms of territory, Spain is the second country in Western Europe after France.
Population- 39.2 million people. National composition: Spaniards, Catalans, Galicians, Basques.
Languages:Spanish (official language - 74% of the population), Catalan (autonomous community of Catalonia - 17%), Galician (autonomous community of Galicia - 7%), Basque (Basque Country - 2%).
Religion- 99% Catholics.
Capital- Madrid.
Largest cities - Madrid (3 million), Barcelona (1.7 million), Seville (714 thousand).
Administrative division - 17 autonomous communities. Under Spanish control there are also 2 territorial enclaves on the coast of Morocco (Ceuta and Melilla) and three groups of islands off the coast of Morocco.
Form of government- a constitutional monarchy.
Head of State - King Juan Carlos.
Currency- Euro.
Banks serve clients on weekdays from 08.15 to 14.00, on Saturday until 13.00, Sunday is a day off. You can also exchange currency at exchange offices, hotels and travel agencies.
Visa regime - Schengen visa.
Time– Moscow minus two hours.
Geography of Spain
Spain is located in southwestern Europe and occupies about 85% of the Iberian Peninsula. Also, Spain owns the Balearic and Pitius Islands in the Mediterranean Sea, and the Canary Islands in the Atlantic Ocean. The cities of Ceuta and Melilla (in Morocco) and the islands of Vélez de la Gomera, Alucenas and Chafaranas are under Spanish control. Territory: 504,750 sq. km. Of these: land - 499,400 sq. km., water - 5,350 sq. km. Spain borders France - 623 km, Portugal - 1,214 km, Andorra - 65 km, the English colony of Gibraltar - 1.2 km, Morocco: (Ceuta) - 6.3 km, (Melilla) - 9.6 km. The total length of the border: on land - 1,919.1 km, coastline - 4,964 km. The central part of Spain is the Meseta plateau with the Center mountain chain. Cordillera. In the north and northeast are the Pyrenees, Cantabrian, Iberian and Catalan mountains, in the south are the Andalusian mountains (Mulacen, 3478 m, the highest point of continental Spain) and the Sierra Morena mountains. Large rivers - Tagus, Duero, Ebro, Guadalquivir, Guadiana. The country is washed in the southeast by the Mediterranean Sea, in the west by the waters of the Atlantic Ocean. Spain is located at the intersection of important sea and air routes connecting Europe with the African and American continents. Spain also has a strategic location along the Strait of Gibraltar.
Population of Spain
Spain is considered a single nation formed on the basis of various historical areas and ethnic groups, the main ones being Catalans (15.6%), Andalusians (15.6%), Castilians (11.1%), Valencians (9.7%), Galicians (7.4%) and Basques ( 5.6%).
Most of the population of Spain (99%) are Catholics. The Catholic Church enjoys great influence in the country.
The total population of the country is 39.6 million people; population density - 78.5 people per 1 sq. km; annual population growth - 0.2%; illiteracy rate - 4.6%; life expectancy - 78 years.
Four languages are spoken in Spain: Spanish, Basque, Catalan and Galician. The official and most common language in the country is Spanish.
Climate of Spain
Spain has a Mediterranean climate. Average temperatures in January range from 4-5 °C on the Meseta plateau to 12 °C in the south; in July, respectively, from 23 to 29 °C. Precipitation 300-500 mm, in the mountains of St. 1000 mm per year (mainly in winter).
The Canary archipelago is also Spain, and you can swim on the island of Tenerife all year round. At the same time, the average air temperature is +22-24°C, and even in August there is no sweltering heat.
Spanish cuisine
Spanish national cuisine is considered one of the best in the world in terms of quality and variety of products. Its peculiarity is the combination of numerous regional cuisines, each of which was influenced by the climatic conditions and lifestyle of the people of a given area. National cuisine can be divided into Catalan, Valencian, Basque, etc. Madrid stands apart. Madrid-style fried meats, cod and rennet (stewed innards, cut into pieces) are equally beloved here, as are the traditional cocido madrileño (pea soup with croutons). But especially popular is Madrid's "calos" - spiced tripe with blood sausage and pepper sauce. You should definitely try at least the classic dishes. The famous Spanish omelette “tortilla”, spicy smoked sausage “chorizo”, serrano ham, sheep cheese “manchego”, delicacy specially smoked ham “jamon”. And, of course, cold gazpacho soup.
Work time
Institutions: 9.00-13.00 and 16.00-20.00 (Monday - Friday).
Shops: 9:00-13:00 and 16:00-20:00 (Monday-Saturday). Large chain department stores: El Corte Ingles 10:00 - 21:00 (Monday-Saturday, without a break). Supermarkets: "Continente, Pryca, Alcampo, Mercadonna 9:00 (10:00) - 20.00 (21.00) Monday - Saturday, without a break. In tourist centers during the holidays, some stores are open on Sunday.
Museums: from 9.00-13.00 and 16.00-19.00 (usually). Some museums are closed on Sunday and Monday.
Telephone
There are telephone booths anywhere in Spain from which you can call anywhere in the world. Telephone sets accept coins of 5, 10, 25, 100 and 500 pesetas. It is more convenient to call Russia from any telephone booth installed on the street or in a bar or restaurant - it is much cheaper than calling from a hotel.
Required telephone numbers:
national police – 091
local police – 092
Red Cross - 22-22-22
urgent medical care – 061
fire service – 080
exact time service - 093
Help Desk - 098
Tips
Tipping in Spain is an ancient tradition, practiced in bars and restaurants, taxis, cinemas, and hotels. Please note that a service charge may be included in your bill. Typically tip 5-10% in restaurants and taxis.
Useful tips for Spain
When going to Spain you should not count on English language. Learn Spanish words, or at least write them down on paper. A well-chosen list of 30 words will make your life immeasurably easier.
If you do not live in Moscow, a tour with a departure from your city will cost one and a half times more than a tour with a departure from Moscow. It might make sense to fly from Moscow.
If you are faced with a choice of when to go to the coast - in June or in September, keep in mind that the sea in June is noticeably cooler.
Buy and take with you a pocket-sized (so you can carry it with you) Spanish-Russian/Russian-Spanish dictionary. As practice shows, standard phrase books turn out to be practically useless, perfect option- knowledge of a couple of dozen basic phrases plus a dictionary in case you need to urgently translate a word.
Charter flights tend to be very late. Don't be surprised or worried, just be mentally prepared for the confusion at the airport and the fact that you will have to spend a couple of extra hours there.
The sand on the beaches varies depending on the beach - from coarse and sharp, as, for example, in Lloret de Mar, to very fine.
Popular because of its affordable prices, Lloret de Mar is not suitable for a family holiday, as it is overrun by young people from all over Europe. If that suits you, Lloret is the place to be, but if you prefer something quieter and cozy places, it's better to choose something else.
The Costa Brava is characterized by a “sheer bottom”, when after taking four or five steps into the sea you plunge headlong. This is not particularly important for adults, but with small children who love to play in shallow water, it is still better to go to another coast.
The talk about the insidious Spanish sun is completely true. Don't neglect protective creams.
To avoid getting your towels dirty with sand on the beach, it is best not to spend money on sunbeds every day, but to buy a couple of mats (it will cost about a little over a euro apiece). You can buy them right there, in nearby shops. It wouldn't hurt to buy a folding sun umbrella either. It's more expensive, about 10 euros, but it's worth it.
If you are traveling on your own, keep in mind that during the season you can rent an inexpensive 1*-2* hotel within major cities can be extremely difficult. This is more likely in nearby suburbs.
You can significantly save on city public transport if you buy passes for 10 trips.
Water parks typically open in late May/early June and close by October.
In Tenerife, you can look into the crater of the Teide volcano only with a special, separately obtained permit, which travel agencies forget to warn about.
The exchange commission (if there is one) of a currency, in addition to interest, always has a certain mandatory minimum - for example, 2 euros, so it is more profitable to change a large amount once than several small ones.
If you need to buy beach accessories (swimsuits, towels, slippers), remember that prices for them in Spain are 3 to 7 times lower than in Moscow. For example, swimsuits - 15-20 euros. Luxury beach towels - 5-10 euros. But photographic film in Spain is more expensive - from 4 euros.
Hot tea and coffee are usually offered in hotels only for breakfast. If you are used to drinking tea in the evenings, a small camp boiler will come in handy.
EmbassySpain in Moscow
Moscow, st. Bolshaya Nikolskaya, 50/8. Tel.: +7 (495)2022161, 2022180 / Fax +7 2919171
Spain has its own access to the sea and is also located in Europe, which is why this state has so many neighboring countries. Who does Spain border on sea and land?
Land borders of Spain
On land, Spain has common borders with the following countries:
The length of the border with Portugal is 1214 kilometers. With France, the length of the borders is 623 kilometers. The smallest border with Andorra is 64 kilometers.
The total mileage of the Spanish borders is approximately 1917 kilometers by land and sea.
In addition to neighbors on land borders, Spanish territories also have sea borders.
Maritime boundaries of Spain
The coastline of Spain stretches for 4964 kilometers. The Spanish state is washed by seas and straits: the Mediterranean, Balearic, Alboran Sea, as well as the Bay of Biscay and Gibraltar.
The country's maritime borders are associated with the borders of Morocco and the state of Gibraltar. There are also borders with North Africa.
Only 14 kilometers of the Strait of Gibraltar separate the Spanish state from Africa.
The area of Spain is 504,782 square kilometers. In Europe, the state is considered the fourth largest in terms of territory. Thanks to the advantageous geographical location Spain has good trade and maritime connections with many countries around the world.
The Kingdom of Spain, with its capital in Madrid, is located in the southwestern part of Europe. The total area of the kingdom is 504,782 km. The country is located on most of the Iberian Peninsula, and owns the Canary and Bolearic Islands. Spain's northern neighbors are Andorra and France, its western neighbor is Portugal, its southern neighbor is North African Morocco, and the south of the country is washed by the waters of Gibraltar.
In general, the country is influenced by a temperate Mediterranean climate, but each of the regions of Spain is characterized by deep internal climatic differences. Average temperature in summer period is +24 +29 °C, average autumn temperatures are +15 °C, winter temperatures are around 0 °C, and average winter temperatures for the southern coast are +14 °C.
Time zone: -2 hours from Moscow time, and -3 hours for the Canary archipelago.
Spain has a population of 40 million. In percentage terms, the largest population of the country is made up of Catalans and Andalusians – 15.6% each.
The vast majority of Spaniards profess Catholicism.
The official language of the country is Spanish, but many regions use their own dialects - Basque, Catalan, Gallego, etc. The staff of hotels and restaurants in popular Spanish resorts also speak English, German and French.
flight Moscow-Madrid – five hours, Moscow-Barcelona – four hours, Moscow-Malaga – five hours, Moscow-Tenerife – seven hours.
Entry into the country is carried out with a Schengen visa. There is no import duty charged for: two liters of wine, 500 grams of coffee, 200 cigarettes, 100 grams of tea, household utensils in the amount of personal needs, food. Video, photo and radio equipment, musical and household appliances must be declared. The Consular Section also issues special permits for the import of film equipment. An amount exceeding 500 euros is declared, but is not limited. Exported currency is allowed in an amount that does not exceed the imported declared amount. In the absence of a special permit for the export of weapons and cultural property, their export is prohibited. Vaccination certificates are not required for tourists. A veterinary certificate is required to import pets.
Currency – euro. Banking hours in weekdays from 9.00 to 14.00, on Saturdays from 9.00 to 12.00. You can use all banks on the main streets 24 hours a day. Currency exchange offices can be found at airports, resorts and hotels. Often exchange offices charge a commission for the transaction. The main credit cards that can be used outside the country are Visa, Master Card, American Express, etc.
Infrastructure public transport in Spain it is superbly developed. The bus and railway networks make it possible to get to any desired location without spending a minimum of money. The cost of a ticket for an express bus is much lower than the cost of a ticket for an intercity train, and they will also take you to your desired destination much faster. Electric trains cost almost half as much as buses. In Barcelona you can buy a T-1 ticket for ten trips by train and bus, and a T-2 ticket for ten trips by train and metro. The cost of a taxi ride is approximately 1 euro/km; a taxi can be caught on the street or called by phone. The islands can be reached by passenger ships or by air travel from local companies.
Car rental can be done at airports, large train stations and at any rental company. In order to rent a car, you must have an international driver's license, be at least 21 years old, and have 1 year or more driving experience. The rental cost will depend on the amount of insurance, rental period and brand of the selected vehicle - at least 35 euros/day. The amount of deposit left will be from 100 euros. When paying with a credit card, it is worth remembering that the deposit will most often be blocked on the card. So, the rental price includes insurance (sometimes incomplete); also, when you receive a car with a full tank, you must return it in the same condition - and the cost of gasoline will not be included in the rental price.
The most convenient way to make international calls is a telephone card, which can be purchased in Tabaco stores and tents. You can take advantage of preferential rates for negotiations from 22.00 to 6.00, and are also valid in holidays. When making calls to Spain, dial the combination: 8->10->34-area code, without using “0”->subscriber number. In order to call Russia you need to dial the combination: 007->city code->subscriber number. The main post offices in Spain operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Most Spanish hotels use 12:00 noon as a checkout time. Sockets in hotels are European standard with a voltage of 220. Rooms in two- and three-star hotels do not provide air conditioning and TV. Before departure, payment for additional services is required: minibar, telephone, etc.
Spanish cuisine is famous for its healthy, delicious dishes. There is complete freedom for stewing, grilling and baking, and there are simply too many dishes using white and red wines and sheep’s cheese. The most popular soups are perhaps the famous gazpacho - made from selected tomatoes and fresh vegetables, escudella - made from vegetables, trout and meat, delicious fish soup, of course, the most delicate paella - made from rice and seafood, the world famous pork ham - jamon , and tapas. Very often in national cuisine they use hot sauces: tomato Sofrito, pepper Ali-oli, spicy Picada.
When talking about tasty and healthy Spanish food, it is impossible not to mention the numerous orange plantations, because every Spaniard prefers freshly squeezed orange juice for breakfast, not canned, which is also sold everywhere here. The famous pina colada was also “born” in Spain, and is sold in supermarkets in glass bottles.
The most popular Spanish wines are Jerez and Rioja, as well as Spanish brandy and Orujo vodka. Beer is most often served with appetizers; here it is not strong and inexpensive. Tourists prefer red wine sangria with pieces of ice and fruit.
Working hours of local stores: from 9.00 to 13.00, from 13.00 to 16.00 - rest for siesta, and then from 16.00 to 20.00.
The easiest way to go shopping is in big cities - Malaga, Madrid, Barcelona. El Corte Ingles is the largest national supermarket chain. In these stores you can purchase everything from the smallest household purchases to large household items. All products offered by supermarkets good quality. When leaving the country, you can refund the value added tax using the Tax Free system; it is made when purchasing goods in an amount exceeding 180 euros upon presentation of a pre-issued receipt at customs.
Particularly popular among souvenir products They use castanets, figurines in the form of national characters, fans, Toledo steel - knives and daggers.
In Spain, it is customary to leave a tip (not mandatory, but is an indicator of good manners) in the amount of 5-10% of the amount of the service received in a restaurant, hotel, taxi, or tour guide.
Spain is rich in cultural and historical heritage. Here you can visit all kinds of ruins of Roman settlements and the remains of ancient Greek villages. While in Madrid, do not miss the interesting opportunity to visit the Prado National Museum, with its truly unique collection of paintings by the greatest masters. Madrid also attracts tourists with its Royal Palace and the Basilica of San Francisco El Grande.
Barcelona inspires travelers with its numerous Gaudí architecture. Of course, the first places most visited by tourists are the Sagrada Familia Cathedral and Park Güell. You should definitely visit the ancient quarters and look at the architecture of the central Catholic Cathedral.
Toledo, Segovia and Avila are museum cities included in the UNESCO heritage list. When visiting Andalusia, you should definitely note the cities of Granada, Cordoba and Seville on your itinerary.
The most popular Spanish resort island with the cleanest sea waters, pearl factory and aquarium - Mallorca. For the tropical climate and unusual origin of the rocks, you need to go to canary island Tenerife. The favorite entertainment of all Spaniards and travelers, bullfighting, takes place at many resorts in the country.
English, popular among Russian-speaking tourists, is not popular in Spain. You should not resort to car rental services if the owners of the company are Arabs - they may turn out to be simple scammers. On the way, you should not stop on the roads if you see people voting - this is not accepted here, and therefore, most likely it is a hoax.
There are frequent cases of theft, you should be vigilant. All Spanish beaches are municipal property. Visiting the beaches is free, only sun loungers and umbrellas are rented. Eat separate beaches for nudists, but top-less sunbathing is not prohibited on all beaches. Spain is one of those Mediterranean countries that have a widespread afternoon rest - a siesta, during which you can eat a cheap lunch - Menu del dia.
The number of forks present on restaurant signs indicates the class of the establishment.
