Spain | History, Map, Flag, Population, Currency, Climate, & Facts

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md-article-drawer position-relative d-flex border-right-sm border-left-sm open"> <div class="drawer d-flex flex-column open"> <div class="left-rail-section-content"> <div class="topic-left-rail-header text-truncate bg-gray-50 position-relative text-right d-flex align-items-center"> <div class="tlr-title px-20 py-15 text-left"> <em class="material-icons text-gray-400 d-lg-none" data-icon="toc"></em> <a class="font-serif font-weight-bold text-black link-blue" href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Spain">Spain</a> </div> <button aria-label="Close" class="js-sections-close-button btn-link btn-sm btn d-lg-none position-absolute top-0 p-10 right-0" > <em class="material-icons font-26" data-icon="close"></em> </button> </div> <div class="section-content pl-10 pr-20 pl-sm-50 pr-sm-60 pl-lg-5 pr-lg-10 pt-10 pt-lg-0 bg-gray-50 clear-catfish-ad"> <div class="toc mb-20"> <div class="font-serif font-14 font-weight-bold mx-15 mb-15 mt-20"> Table of Contents </div> <ul class="list-unstyled my-0" data-level="h1"><li data-target="#ref1"><div class="pl-25"><a class="link-gray-900 w-100" href="/place/Spain">Introduction & Quick Facts</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"></div></li><li data-target="#ref70257"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><button class="h1-link-drawer-button btn btn-xs btn-circle d-flex rounded" type="button" aria-label="Toggle Heading"><em class="material-icons font-18" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></em></button><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain#ref70257">Land</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref70258"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain#ref70258">Relief</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref70259"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain#ref70259">Drainage</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref70260"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain#ref70260">Soils</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref70261"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/Climate">Climate</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref70262"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/Climate#ref70262">Plant and animal life</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref70263"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/Climate#ref70263">Vegetation</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref70264"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/Climate#ref70264">Wildlife</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref70265"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/Climate#ref70265">Fish</a></li></ul></li></ul></div></li><li data-target="#ref70267"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><button class="h1-link-drawer-button btn btn-xs btn-circle d-flex rounded" type="button" aria-label="Toggle Heading"><em class="material-icons font-18" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></em></button><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/Climate#ref70267">People</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref258814"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/Climate#ref258814">Ethnic groups</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref70269"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/Climate#ref70269">The Romans</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref70270"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/Climate#ref70270">The Visigoths</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref70271"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/Climate#ref70271">The Muslims</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref70272"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/Climate#ref70272">Recent arrivals</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref70273"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/Climate#ref70273">The Gitano minority</a></li></ul></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref70274"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/Climate#ref70274">Languages</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref70275"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/Castilian">Castilian</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref70276"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/Castilian#ref70276">Catalan</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref70277"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/Castilian#ref70277">Galician</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref70278"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/Castilian#ref70278">Euskera</a></li></ul></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref70279"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/Castilian#ref70279">Religion</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref70280"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/Castilian#ref70280">Settlement patterns</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref258815"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/Castilian#ref258815">Human landscape</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref70283"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/Migration">Migration</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref70284"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/Migration#ref70284">Urbanization</a></li></ul></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref258816"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/Migration#ref258816">Demographic trends</a></li></ul></div></li><li data-target="#ref70285"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><button class="h1-link-drawer-button btn btn-xs btn-circle d-flex rounded" type="button" aria-label="Toggle Heading"><em class="material-icons font-18" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></em></button><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/Migration#ref70285">Economy</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref70288"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/Agriculture-forestry-and-fishing">Agriculture, forestry, and fishing</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref258817"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/Agriculture-forestry-and-fishing#ref258817">Agriculture</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref258818"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/Agriculture-forestry-and-fishing#ref258818">Forestry</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref258819"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/Agriculture-forestry-and-fishing#ref258819">Fishing</a></li></ul></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref70290"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/Agriculture-forestry-and-fishing#ref70290">Resources and power</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref70291"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/Agriculture-forestry-and-fishing#ref70291">Manufacturing</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref70292"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/Agriculture-forestry-and-fishing#ref70292">Finance</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref70293"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/Agriculture-forestry-and-fishing#ref70293">Trade</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref258820"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/Agriculture-forestry-and-fishing#ref258820">Services</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref258831"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/Labour-and-taxation">Labour and taxation</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref70294"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/Labour-and-taxation#ref70294">Transportation and telecommunications</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref70295"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/Labour-and-taxation#ref70295">Railroads</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref70296"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/Labour-and-taxation#ref70296">Roads</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref70297"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/Labour-and-taxation#ref70297">Air travel</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref70298"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/Labour-and-taxation#ref70298">Maritime transport</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref258821"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/Labour-and-taxation#ref258821">Telecommunications</a></li></ul></li></ul></div></li><li data-target="#ref70299"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><button class="h1-link-drawer-button btn btn-xs btn-circle d-flex rounded" type="button" aria-label="Toggle Heading"><em class="material-icons font-18" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></em></button><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/Government-and-society">Government and society</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref70301"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/Government-and-society#ref70301">Constitutional framework</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref70303"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/Government-and-society#ref70303">Regional government</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref70305"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/Government-and-society#ref70305">Local government</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref70302"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/Government-and-society#ref70302">Justice</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref70306"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/Government-and-society#ref70306">Political process</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref70307"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/National-parties">National parties</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref70308"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/National-parties#ref70308">Regional parties</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref70309"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/National-parties#ref70309">Minor parties</a></li></ul></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref70304"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/National-parties#ref70304">Security</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref70313"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/National-parties#ref70313">Health and welfare</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref258822"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/Housing">Housing</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref70312"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/Housing#ref70312">Education</a></li></ul></div></li><li data-target="#ref70314"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><button class="h1-link-drawer-button btn btn-xs btn-circle d-flex rounded" type="button" aria-label="Toggle Heading"><em class="material-icons font-18" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></em></button><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/Housing#ref70314">Cultural life</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref258823"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/Housing#ref258823">Cultural milieu</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref258824"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/Daily-life-and-social-customs">Daily life and social customs</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref258825"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/Daily-life-and-social-customs#ref258825">Organization of the day</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref258826"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/Daily-life-and-social-customs#ref258826">Food and drink</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref258827"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/Daily-life-and-social-customs#ref258827">Internationalization of culture</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref70331"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/Festivals-and-holidays">Festivals and holidays</a></li></ul></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref258828"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/Festivals-and-holidays#ref258828">The arts</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref70321"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/Festivals-and-holidays#ref70321">Music</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref70322"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/Festivals-and-holidays#ref70322">Literature</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref258829"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/Festivals-and-holidays#ref258829">Theatre</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref70323"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/Festivals-and-holidays#ref70323">Visual arts</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref70324"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/Architecture">Architecture</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref70325"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/Architecture#ref70325">Cinema</a></li></ul></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref70326"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/Architecture#ref70326">Cultural institutions</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref70327"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/Architecture#ref70327">Museums</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref70328"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/Architecture#ref70328">Libraries and archives</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref70329"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/Architecture#ref70329">Academies and institutes</a></li></ul></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref70330"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/Sports-and-recreation">Sports and recreation</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref70333"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/Sports-and-recreation#ref70333">Media and publishing</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref70335"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/Sports-and-recreation#ref70335">The press</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref70336"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/Sports-and-recreation#ref70336">Television and radio</a></li></ul></li></ul></div></li><li data-target="#ref214578"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><button class="h1-link-drawer-button btn btn-xs btn-circle d-flex rounded" type="button" aria-label="Toggle Heading"><em class="material-icons font-18" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></em></button><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/History">History</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref70344"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/History#ref70344">Pre-Roman Spain</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref70345"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/History#ref70345">Prehistory</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref70346"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/Phoenicians">Phoenicians</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref70347"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/Phoenicians#ref70347">Greeks</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref70348"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/Iberians">Iberians</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref70349"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/Iberians#ref70349">Celts</a></li></ul></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref70350"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/Iberians#ref70350">Roman Spain</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref70351"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/Iberians#ref70351">The conquest</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref70352"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/Romanization">Romanization</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref70353"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/Romanization#ref70353">Administration</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref70354"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/Romanization#ref70354">Economy</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref70355"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/Romanization#ref70355">Religion</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref70356"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/Romanization#ref70356">Roman remains</a></li></ul></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref70357"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/Romanization#ref70357">Visigothic Spain to <em>c.</em> 500</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref70358"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/The-Visigothic-kingdom">The Visigothic kingdom</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref70359"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/The-Visigothic-kingdom#ref70359">Christian Spain from the Muslim invasion to about 1260</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref70360"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/The-Visigothic-kingdom#ref70360">The Christian states, 711–1035</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref70361"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/The-Visigothic-kingdom#ref70361">The medieval empire, 1035–1157</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref70362"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/The-rise-of-Castile-and-Aragon">The rise of Castile and Aragon</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref70363"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/The-rise-of-Castile-and-Aragon#ref70363">Society, economy, and culture</a></li></ul></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref70364"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/Christian-Spain-c-1260-1479">Christian Spain, <em>c.</em> 1260–1479</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref70365"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/Christian-Spain-c-1260-1479#ref70365">Castile and León, 1252–1479</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref70366"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/Christian-Spain-c-1260-1479#ref70366">Castilian institutions, society, and culture</a></li></ul></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref70367"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/Aragon-Catalonia-and-Valencia-1276-1479">Aragon, Catalonia, and Valencia, 1276–1479</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref70368"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/Aragon-Catalonia-and-Valencia-1276-1479#ref70368">Aragonese institutions and society</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref70369"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/Aragon-Catalonia-and-Valencia-1276-1479#ref70369">Aragonese culture</a></li></ul></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref70370"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/Muslim-Spain">Muslim Spain</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref70371"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/Muslim-Spain#ref70371">The conquest</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref70372"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/Muslim-Spain#ref70372">The independent emirate</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref70373"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/The-caliphate-of-Cordoba">The caliphate of Córdoba</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref70374"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/The-caliphate-of-Cordoba#ref70374">The <em>ṭāʾifa</em>s</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref70375"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/The-Almoravids">The Almoravids</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref70376"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/The-Almoravids#ref70376">The Almohads</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref70377"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/The-Almoravids#ref70377">Granada</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref70378"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/The-Almoravids#ref70378">Society</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref70379"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/The-Almoravids#ref70379">The economy</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref70380" class="has-children"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/Culture-of-Muslim-Spain">Culture of Muslim Spain</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref70381"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/Culture-of-Muslim-Spain#ref70381">Literature</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref258571"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/Culture-of-Muslim-Spain#ref258571">Philosophy</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref70382"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/Culture-of-Muslim-Spain#ref70382">Science</a></li></ul></li></ul></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref70383"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/United-Spain-under-the-Catholic-Monarchs">United Spain under the Catholic Monarchs</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref70384" class="has-children"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/United-Spain-under-the-Catholic-Monarchs#ref70384">The union of Aragon and Castile</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref70385"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/United-Spain-under-the-Catholic-Monarchs#ref70385">Aragon and Catalonia</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref70386"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/United-Spain-under-the-Catholic-Monarchs#ref70386">Castile</a></li></ul></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref70387" class="has-children"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/The-Spanish-Inquisition">The Spanish Inquisition</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref70388"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/The-Spanish-Inquisition#ref70388">The <em>conversos</em></a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref70389"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/The-Spanish-Inquisition#ref70389">The statutes of <em>limpieza</em></a></li></ul></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref70390"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/The-conquest-of-Granada">The conquest of Granada</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref70391" class="has-children"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/The-conquest-of-Granada#ref70391">Spain and the New World</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref70392"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/The-conquest-of-Granada#ref70392">Colonial policy</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref70393"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/The-conquest-of-Granada#ref70393">The Atlantic trade</a></li></ul></li></ul></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref70394"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/Spain-under-the-Habsburgs">Spain under the Habsburgs</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref70395" class="has-children"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/Spain-under-the-Habsburgs#ref70395">Charles I</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref70396"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/Spain-under-the-Habsburgs#ref70396">The <em>comunero</em> movement</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref70397"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/Spain-under-the-Habsburgs#ref70397">The nobility</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref70398"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/Spain-under-the-Habsburgs#ref70398">Charles I’s foreign policy</a></li></ul></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref70399" class="has-children"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/Philip-II">Philip II</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref70400"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/Philip-II#ref70400">Finance and imperial policy</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref70401"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/Philip-II#ref70401">The Moriscos</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref70402"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/Philip-II#ref70402">Portugal and Aragon</a></li></ul></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref70403"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/Philip-II#ref70403">Lepanto</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref70404" class="has-children"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/Spain-in-1600">Spain in 1600</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref70405"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/Spain-in-1600#ref70405">Spain’s Golden Age in literature</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref70406"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/Spain-in-1600#ref70406">The “Golden Age” in architecture and painting</a></li></ul></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref70407" class="has-children"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/The-reign-of-Philip-III">The reign of Philip III</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref70408"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/The-reign-of-Philip-III#ref70408">The expulsion of the Moriscos</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref70409"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/The-reign-of-Philip-III#ref70409">Spain and Europe</a></li></ul></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref70410" class="has-children"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/Philip-IVs-reign">Philip IV’s reign</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref70411"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/Philip-IVs-reign#ref70411">Spain and the Thirty Years’ War</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref70412"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/Philip-IVs-reign#ref70412">The government of Olivares</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref70413"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/Philip-IVs-reign#ref70413">The revolt of Catalonia</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref70414"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/Philip-IVs-reign#ref70414">The revolt of Portugal</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref70415"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/Philip-IVs-reign#ref70415">The last years of Philip IV</a></li></ul></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref70416" class="has-children"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/Charles-II">Charles II</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref70417"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/Charles-II#ref70417">The French wars</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref70418"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/Charles-II#ref70418">The decline of Spain</a></li></ul></li></ul></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref70419"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/The-early-Bourbons-1700-53">The early Bourbons, 1700–53</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref70420"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/The-early-Bourbons-1700-53#ref70420">The War of the Spanish Succession</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref70421"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/The-early-Bourbons-1700-53#ref70421">“American” and “Italian” policies</a></li></ul></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref70422"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/The-reign-of-Charles-III-1759-88">The reign of Charles III, 1759–88</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref70423"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/The-reign-of-Charles-III-1759-88#ref70423">Economic revival</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref70424"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/The-reign-of-Charles-III-1759-88#ref70424">Imperial problems</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref70425"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/The-reign-of-Charles-III-1759-88#ref70425">Domestic reforms</a></li></ul></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref70426"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/The-reign-of-Charles-III-1759-88#ref70426">Charles IV and the French Revolution</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref70427"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/The-French-invasion-and-the-War-of-Independence-1808-14">The French invasion and the War of Independence, 1808–14</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref70428"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/The-French-invasion-and-the-War-of-Independence-1808-14#ref70428">The War of Independence</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref70429"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/The-French-invasion-and-the-War-of-Independence-1808-14#ref70429">The Constitution of Cadiz, 1812</a></li></ul></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref70430"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/The-French-invasion-and-the-War-of-Independence-1808-14#ref70430">Ferdinand VII, 1814–33</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref70431"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/The-French-invasion-and-the-War-of-Independence-1808-14#ref70431">The failure of liberalism</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref70432"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/The-French-invasion-and-the-War-of-Independence-1808-14#ref70432">The “ominous decade,” 1823–33</a></li></ul></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref70433"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/Isabella-II-1833-68">Isabella II, 1833–68</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref70434"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/Isabella-II-1833-68#ref70434">The Carlist wars</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref70435"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/Isabella-II-1833-68#ref70435">Moderates, progressives, and the generals</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref70436"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/Isabella-II-1833-68#ref70436">Economic expansion</a></li></ul></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref70437"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Spain/The-Revolution-of-1868-and-the-Republic-of-1873">The Revolution of 1868 and the Republic of 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Author of <i>The Land and People of Spain </i>and others.</div> </a> <div data-popper-arrow></div> </div> <span class="btn btn-link editor-link p-0 qa-byline-link gtm-byline font-12 byline-contributor text-decoration-underline"> Adrian Shubert</span>, <div class="editor-popover popover p-0"> <a class="d-block p-20 qa-editor-popup gtm-byline font-12 byline-contributor" href="/contributor/Juan-Vernet-Gines/3053" > <div class="editor-title font-16 font-weight-bold">Juan Vernet Ginés</div> <div class="editor-description font-12 font-serif mt-5 clamp-description text-black">Emeritus Professor of Arabic, University of Barcelona. Author of <i>Ce que la culture doit aux Arabes d'Espagne </i>and others.</div> </a> <div data-popper-arrow></div> </div> <span class="btn btn-link editor-link p-0 qa-byline-link gtm-byline font-12 byline-contributor text-decoration-underline"> Juan Vernet Ginés</span><span class="text-gray-700 mx-5">•</span><a class="see-all border-gray-700 gtm-byline" rel="nofollow" href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Spain/additional-info#contributors">All</a> </div> <div class="font-serif font-12 text-gray-700"> <span class="qa-fact-checked-by">Fact-checked by</span> <div class="editor-popover popover p-0"> <a class="d-block p-20 qa-editor-popup font-12" href="/editor/The-Editors-of-Encyclopaedia-Britannica/4419" > <div class="editor-title font-16 font-weight-bold">The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica</div> <div class="editor-description font-12 font-serif mt-5 text-black">Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.</div> </a> <div data-popper-arrow></div> </div> <span class="btn btn-link editor-link p-0 qa-byline-link font-12 "> The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica</span></div> <div class="last-updated font-12 font-serif"> <span class="text-gray-700"> Last Updated: <time datetime="2025-03-30T00:00:00CDT" >Mar 30, 2025</time> •</span> <a class="byline-edit-history" href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Spain/additional-info#history" rel="nofollow">Article History</a> </div></div> </div> <button class="d-flex d-lg-none btn btn-outline-blue border rounded-sm shadow-sm mobile-toc-button gtm-mobile-toc-inline-button d-none d-sm-block js-sections-inline-button module-spacing btn d-lg-none"> <em class="material-icons mr-5 ml-n10 my-n5 md-icon" data-icon="toc"></em> Table of Contents </button> <div class="d-flex d-sm-none flex-row"> <button class="d-flex d-lg-none btn btn-outline-blue border rounded-sm shadow-sm mobile-toc-button gtm-mobile-toc-inline-button js-sections-inline-button module-spacing"> <em class="material-icons mr-5 ml-n10 my-n5 md-icon" data-icon="toc"></em> Table of Contents </button> <button class="ai-ask-button btn btn-sm border-2 btn-outline-red-400 border-red-400 module-spacing js-inline-ai-ask-button p-10 ml-5"> Ask the Chatbot </button> </div> <div class="bg-gray-50 p-15 rounded module-spacing recent-news d-flex flex-column float-false"> <div> <h2 class="font-weight-bold font-14 m-0 d-inline"> News <span class="text-gray-600">•</span> </h2> <div class="recent-news-item first-recent-news-item d-inline"> <a class="font-14 gtm-ap-news-link" href="/news/557573/08e129c0d648e1f1c3c5217cacdfe4ff" rel="nofollow">Spanish court overturns soccer player Dani Alves' rape conviction on appeal</a> <span class="font-14 text-gray-600"> <span>•</span> Mar. 28, 2025, 11:39 AM ET (AP) <button class="btn btn-link d-inline p-0 font-12 js-toggle-recent-news"> <span class="text-gray-500">...</span><span>(Show more)</span> </button> </span> </div> </div> <div class="rest-of-recent-news-items"> <div class="recent-news-item mt-5"> <a class="font-14 gtm-ap-news-link" href="/news/557573/5dddbffbacd863c0a21c6de4f4efb02f" rel="nofollow">Archeologists unearth signs from 1700s of British control in Florida after centuries of Spanish rule</a> <span class="font-14 text-gray-600"> <span>•</span> Mar. 28, 2025, 11:29 AM ET (AP) </span> </div> <div class="recent-news-item mt-5"> <a class="font-14 gtm-ap-news-link" href="/news/557573/992ef8d9bd7fa6aec439043a1722484e" rel="nofollow">Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez named creative directors at Loewe</a> <span class="font-14 text-gray-600"> <span>•</span> Mar. 24, 2025, 12:02 PM ET (AP) </span> </div> <div class="recent-news-item mt-5"> <a class="font-14 gtm-ap-news-link" href="/news/557573/0120977e2f3c5010ba5c5f990b84a26f" rel="nofollow">Spain and France need penalty shootouts to join Germany and Portugal in Nations League semifinals</a> <span class="font-14 text-gray-600"> <span>•</span> Mar. 23, 2025, 7:58 PM ET (AP) </span> </div> <div class="recent-news-item mt-5"> <a class="font-14 gtm-ap-news-link" href="/news/557573/0a55b17ee1465b683ebd21293e761f40" rel="nofollow">Flash floods in southern Spain prompt officials to evacuate homes. Couple missing in rising waters</a> <span class="font-14 text-gray-600"> <span>•</span> Mar. 18, 2025, 4:37 PM ET (AP) </span> </div> <button class="js-toggle-recent-news d-flex btn btn-unstyled font-14 pr-10 rounded-sm mt-10" aria-label="Toggle additional news items"> Show less <em class="material-icons" data-icon="expand_less"></em> </button> </div> </div><span class="marker before-article"></span><section data-level="1" id="ref1"><span class="marker PREMOD1 mod-inline"></span><div class="assemblies multiple medialist slider js-slider position-relative d-inline-flex align-items-center mw-100" data-type="other"><div class="slider-container js-slider-container overflow-hidden d-flex"><div class="rw-track d-flex align-items-center"><div class="position-relative rw-slide col-100 px-20 "><figure class="md-assembly m-0 mb-md-0 card card-borderless print-false" data-assembly-id="188221" data-asm-type="image"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media" data-type="image"><a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/98/175498-050-97BD7DE6/Alhambra-Granada-Spain.jpg" class="gtm-assembly-link position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center media-overlay-link card-media" data-href="/media/1/557573/188221"><picture><source media="(min-width: 680px)" srcset="https://cdn.britannica.com/98/175498-050-97BD7DE6/Alhambra-Granada-Spain.jpg?w=300"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/98/175498-050-97BD7DE6/Alhambra-Granada-Spain.jpg?w=300" alt="Granada: Alhambra" data-width="1600" data-height="1060" loading="eager"></picture><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white top-10 right-10" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class="card-body"><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif line-clamp"><span><a class="gtm-assembly-link md-assembly-title font-weight-bold d-inline font-sans-serif mr-5 media-overlay-link" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/98/175498-050-97BD7DE6/Alhambra-Granada-Spain.jpg" data-href="/media/1/557573/188221">Granada: Alhambra </a><span>The Alhambra, Granada, Spain.</span><button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-white js-content" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"><span class="link-blue">(more)</span></button></span></div></figcaption></figure></div></div></div><button disabled="true" class="prev-button js-prev-button position-absolute btn btn-circle shadow btn-lg btn-blue-dark m-20"><span class="material-icons" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_left"></span></button><button disabled="true" class="next-button js-next-button position-absolute btn btn-circle shadow btn-lg btn-blue-dark m-20"><span class="material-icons" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></span></button></div><p class="topic-paragraph"><strong><span id="ref587868"></span>Spain</strong>, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/nation-state" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">country</a> located in extreme southwestern <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Europe" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Europe</a>. It occupies about 85 percent of the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Iberian-Peninsula" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Iberian Peninsula</a>, which it shares with its smaller neighbour <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Portugal" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Portugal</a>.</p><span class="marker MOD1 mod-inline"></span><span class="marker PREMOD2 mod-inline"></span><div class="assemblies multiple medialist slider js-slider position-relative d-inline-flex align-items-center mw-100" data-type="other"><div class="slider-container js-slider-container overflow-hidden d-flex"><div class="rw-track d-flex align-items-center"><div class="position-relative rw-slide col-100 px-20 "><figure class="md-assembly m-0 mb-md-0 card card-borderless print-false" data-assembly-id="208558" data-asm-type="image"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media" data-type="image"><a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/61/183761-050-F02B165E/World-Data-Locator-Map-Spain.jpg" class="gtm-assembly-link position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center media-overlay-link card-media" data-href="/media/1/557573/208558"><picture><source media="(min-width: 680px)" srcset="https://cdn.britannica.com/61/183761-050-F02B165E/World-Data-Locator-Map-Spain.jpg"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/61/183761-050-F02B165E/World-Data-Locator-Map-Spain.jpg?w=300" alt="Spain" data-width="1600" data-height="1532" loading="eager"></picture><div class="position-absolute top-10 left-10 assembly-slide-tag rounded-lg">1 of 2</div><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white top-10 right-10" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class="card-body"><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif line-clamp"><span><a class="gtm-assembly-link md-assembly-title font-weight-bold d-inline font-sans-serif mr-5 media-overlay-link" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/61/183761-050-F02B165E/World-Data-Locator-Map-Spain.jpg" data-href="/media/1/557573/208558">Spain</a><button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-white js-content" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"><span class="link-blue">(more)</span></button></span></div></figcaption></figure></div><div class="position-relative rw-slide col-100 px-20 "><figure class="md-assembly m-0 mb-md-0 card card-borderless print-false" data-assembly-id="3596" data-asm-type="image"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media" data-type="image"><a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/05/20305-050-C42D0918/village-Andalusia-region-Spain-housing.jpg" class="gtm-assembly-link position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center media-overlay-link card-media" data-href="/media/1/557573/3596"><picture><source media="(min-width: 680px)" srcset="https://cdn.britannica.com/05/20305-050-C42D0918/village-Andalusia-region-Spain-housing.jpg?w=300"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/05/20305-050-C42D0918/village-Andalusia-region-Spain-housing.jpg?w=300" alt="Andalusia, Spain" data-width="1111" data-height="1113" loading="eager"></picture><div class="position-absolute top-10 left-10 assembly-slide-tag rounded-lg">2 of 2</div><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white top-10 right-10" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class="card-body"><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif line-clamp"><span><a class="gtm-assembly-link md-assembly-title font-weight-bold d-inline font-sans-serif mr-5 media-overlay-link" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/05/20305-050-C42D0918/village-Andalusia-region-Spain-housing.jpg" data-href="/media/1/557573/3596">Andalusia, Spain</a><span>A village in Andalusia, Spain, showing housing typical of the region.</span><button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-white js-content" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"><span class="link-blue">(more)</span></button></span></div></figcaption></figure></div></div></div><button disabled="true" class="prev-button js-prev-button position-absolute btn btn-circle shadow btn-lg btn-blue-dark m-20"><span class="material-icons" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_left"></span></button><button disabled="true" class="next-button js-next-button position-absolute btn btn-circle shadow btn-lg btn-blue-dark m-20"><span class="material-icons" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></span></button></div><p class="topic-paragraph">Spain is a storied country of stone castles, snowcapped mountains, vast monuments, and sophisticated cities, all of which have made it a favoured travel destination. The country is geographically and culturally <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="diverse" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/diverse" data-type="MW">diverse</a>. Its heartland is the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Meseta-Central" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Meseta</a>, a broad central <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/plateau-landform" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">plateau</a> half a mile above <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/sea-level" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">sea level</a>. Much of the region is traditionally given over to <a href="https://www.britannica.com/animal/cattle-livestock" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">cattle</a> ranching and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/cereal-farming" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">grain production</a>; it was in this rural setting that <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Miguel-de-Cervantes" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Miguel de Cervantes</a>’s <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Don-Quixote-novel" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Don Quixote</a> tilted at the tall windmills that still dot the landscape in several places. In the country’s northeast are the broad valley of the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Ebro-River" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Ebro River</a>, the mountainous region of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Catalonia" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Catalonia</a>, and the hilly coastal plain of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Valencia-province-Spain" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Valencia</a>. To the northwest is the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Cantabrian-Mountains" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Cantabrian Mountains</a>, a rugged range in which heavily forested, rain-swept valleys are interspersed with tall peaks. To the south is the citrus-orchard-rich and irrigated lands of the valley of the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Guadalquivir-River" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Guadalquivir River</a>, celebrated in the renowned lyrics of Spanish poets <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Federico-Garcia-Lorca" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Federico García Lorca</a> and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Antonio-Machado" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Antonio Machado</a>; over this valley rises the snowcapped <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Sierra-Nevada-mountain-range-Spain" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Sierra Nevada</a>. The southern portion of the country is desert, an extension of the Sahara made familiar to Americans through the “spaghetti western” films of the 1960s and early ’70s. Lined with palm trees, rosemary bushes, and other tropical vegetation, the southeastern Mediterranean coast and the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Balearic-Islands" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Balearic Islands</a> enjoy a gentle climate, drawing millions of visitors and retirees, especially from northern Europe.</p><div class="js-qf-module qf-module px-40 px-sm-20 py-15 mx-auto module-spacing font-14 bg-gray-50 rounded"> <div class="qf-title font-weight-bold font-14 mb-10 text-center"> Quick Facts</div> <div class="m-n10 "> <div class="slider js-slider position-relative d-inline-flex align-items-center mw-100 media-slider card-snap-slider col-100"> <div class="slider-container js-slider-container overflow-hidden d-flex col-100"> <div class="rw-track w-100"> <div class="pt-10 d-inline-flex col-100"> <div class="w-100"> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/36/4336-050-056AC114/Flag-Spain.jpg" data-href="/media/1/557573/61815" class="media-overlay-link card-media d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center px-20" > <div class="position-relative"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/36/4336-050-056AC114/Flag-Spain.jpg" alt="Spain" class="cropped-false w-100 " /> <em class="material-icons qf-zoom" data-icon="zoom_in"></em> </div> </a> <div class="card-body text-center pt-5 pb-10 font-14"> <span>See article: <a href="/topic/flag-of-Spain">flag of Spain</a> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <button disabled class="prev-button js-prev-button position-absolute btn btn-circle shadow btn-lg btn-blue btn-blue-dark" aria-label="Previous"> <span class="material-icons md-24" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_left"></span> </button> <button disabled class="next-button js-next-button position-absolute btn btn-circle shadow btn-lg btn-blue btn-blue-dark" aria-label="Next"> <span class="material-icons md-24" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></span> </button> </div> </div> <audio src="https://cdn.britannica.com/79/145879-005-BA6E9092/instrumental-national-anthem-Spain.mp3" type="audio/mpeg" controls=""></audio> <div class="text-center font-12 mt-5"> <span>Audio File:</span> National anthem of Spain</div> <div class="facts-list mt-10"> <div class=""> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Head Of Government: </dt> <dd>Prime Minister: Pedro Sánchez</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class=""> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Capital: </dt> <dd><a href="/place/Madrid">Madrid</a></dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class=""> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Population: </dt> <dd>(2025 est.) 49,270,000</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class=""> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Currency Exchange Rate: </dt> <dd>1 USD equals 0.937 euro</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class=""> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Head Of State: </dt> <dd>King: <a href="/biography/Felipe-VI">Felipe VI</a></dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class="facts-item-none d-none"> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Form Of Government: </dt> <dd>constitutional monarchy with two legislative houses (Senate [266<sup>1</sup>]; Congress of Deputies [350])</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class="facts-item-none d-none"> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Official Language: </dt> <dd>Castilian Spanish<sup>2</sup></dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class="facts-item-none d-none"> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Official Religion: </dt> <dd>none</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class="facts-item-none d-none"> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Official Name: </dt> <dd>Reino de España (Kingdom of Spain)</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class="facts-item-none d-none"> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Total Area (Sq Km): </dt> <dd>505,983</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class="facts-item-none d-none"> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Total Area (Sq Mi): </dt> <dd>195,360</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class="facts-item-none d-none"> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Monetary Unit: </dt> <dd>euro (€)</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class="facts-item-none d-none"> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Population Rank: </dt> <dd>(2025) 30</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class="facts-item-none d-none"> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Population Projection 2030: </dt> <dd>47,083,000</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class="facts-item-none d-none"> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Density: Persons Per Sq Mi: </dt> <dd>(2025) 252.2</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class="facts-item-none d-none"> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Density: Persons Per Sq Km: </dt> <dd>(2025) 97.4</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class="facts-item-none d-none"> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Urban-Rural Population: </dt> <dd>Urban: (2024) 81.8%</dd> <dd>Rural: (2024) 18.2%</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class="facts-item-none d-none"> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Life Expectancy At Birth: </dt> <dd>Male: (2022) 80.4 years</dd> <dd>Female: (2022) 85.9 years</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class="facts-item-none d-none"> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Literacy: Percentage Of Population Age 15 And Over Literate: </dt> <dd>Male: (2020) 99%</dd> <dd>Female: (2020) 98%</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class="facts-item-none d-none"> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Gni (U.S.$ ’000,000): </dt> <dd>(2023) 1,587,225</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class="facts-item-none d-none"> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Gni Per Capita (U.S.$): </dt> <dd>(2023) 32,830</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> <div class="footnotes mb-15"> <ol> <li>Includes 58 indirectly elected seats. </li> <li>The constitution states that “Castilian is the Spanish official language of the State,” but that “all other Spanish languages (including Euskera [Basque], Catalan, and Galician) will also be official in the corresponding autonomous communities.”</li> </ol> </div> <div class="text-center"> <a class="btn btn-sm btn-link p-0" href="/facts/Spain"> See all related content </a> </div> </div> </div> <button class="facts-list-show-more-btn mt-15 p-0 mx-auto btn font-14 d-block font-weight-normal"> <span class="material-icons" data-icon="expand_more"></span> <span class="show-more-label">Show More</span> </button> </div><span class="marker MOD2 mod-inline"></span><span class="marker PREMOD3 mod-inline"></span><div class="assemblies multiple medialist slider js-slider position-relative d-inline-flex align-items-center mw-100" data-type="other"><div class="slider-container js-slider-container overflow-hidden d-flex"><div class="rw-track d-flex align-items-center"><div class="position-relative rw-slide col-100 px-20 "><figure class="md-assembly m-0 mb-md-0 card card-borderless print-false" data-assembly-id="94189" data-asm-type="image"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media" data-type="image"><a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/11/91711-050-F568BC18/Toledo-alcazar-Spanish-Civil-War.jpg" class="gtm-assembly-link position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center media-overlay-link card-media" data-href="/media/1/557573/94189"><picture><source media="(min-width: 680px)" srcset="https://cdn.britannica.com/11/91711-050-F568BC18/Toledo-alcazar-Spanish-Civil-War.jpg?w=300"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/11/91711-050-F568BC18/Toledo-alcazar-Spanish-Civil-War.jpg?w=300" alt="Alcazar of Toledo" data-width="1057" data-height="1600" loading="eager"></picture><div class="position-absolute top-10 left-10 assembly-slide-tag rounded-lg">1 of 3</div><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white top-10 right-10" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class="card-body"><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif line-clamp"><span><a class="gtm-assembly-link md-assembly-title font-weight-bold d-inline font-sans-serif mr-5 media-overlay-link" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/11/91711-050-F568BC18/Toledo-alcazar-Spanish-Civil-War.jpg" data-href="/media/1/557573/94189">Alcazar of Toledo</a><span>Alcazar (fortress) of Toledo, Spain.</span><button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-white js-content" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"><span class="link-blue">(more)</span></button></span></div></figcaption></figure></div><div class="position-relative rw-slide col-100 px-20 "><figure class="md-assembly m-0 mb-md-0 card card-borderless print-false" data-assembly-id="94188" data-asm-type="image"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media" data-type="image"><a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/02/94502-050-1701ED01/Puerta-de-Alcala-Madrid.jpg" class="gtm-assembly-link position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center media-overlay-link card-media" data-href="/media/1/557573/94188"><picture><source media="(min-width: 680px)" srcset="https://cdn.britannica.com/02/94502-050-1701ED01/Puerta-de-Alcala-Madrid.jpg?w=300"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/02/94502-050-1701ED01/Puerta-de-Alcala-Madrid.jpg?w=300" alt="Puerta de Alcalá" data-width="1600" data-height="1224" loading="eager"></picture><div class="position-absolute top-10 left-10 assembly-slide-tag rounded-lg">2 of 3</div><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white top-10 right-10" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class="card-body"><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif line-clamp"><span><a class="gtm-assembly-link md-assembly-title font-weight-bold d-inline font-sans-serif mr-5 media-overlay-link" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/02/94502-050-1701ED01/Puerta-de-Alcala-Madrid.jpg" data-href="/media/1/557573/94188">Puerta de Alcalá</a><span>The Puerta de Alcalá, Madrid.</span><button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-white js-content" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"><span class="link-blue">(more)</span></button></span></div></figcaption></figure></div><div class="position-relative rw-slide col-100 px-20 "><figure class="md-assembly m-0 mb-md-0 card card-borderless print-false" data-assembly-id="212266" data-asm-type="image"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media" data-type="image"><a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/91/167891-050-2B1F9988/Torre-Agbar-skyscraper-Barcelona.jpg" class="gtm-assembly-link position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center media-overlay-link card-media" data-href="/media/1/557573/212266"><picture><source media="(min-width: 680px)" srcset="https://cdn.britannica.com/91/167891-050-2B1F9988/Torre-Agbar-skyscraper-Barcelona.jpg?w=300"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/91/167891-050-2B1F9988/Torre-Agbar-skyscraper-Barcelona.jpg?w=300" alt="Barcelona: Torre Agbar" data-width="800" data-height="524" loading="eager"></picture><div class="position-absolute top-10 left-10 assembly-slide-tag rounded-lg">3 of 3</div><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white top-10 right-10" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class="card-body"><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif line-clamp"><span><a class="gtm-assembly-link md-assembly-title font-weight-bold d-inline font-sans-serif mr-5 media-overlay-link" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/91/167891-050-2B1F9988/Torre-Agbar-skyscraper-Barcelona.jpg" data-href="/media/1/557573/212266">Barcelona: Torre Agbar</a><span>Torre Agbar skyscraper at night in Barcelona.</span><button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-white js-content" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"><span class="link-blue">(more)</span></button></span></div></figcaption></figure></div></div></div><button disabled="true" class="prev-button js-prev-button position-absolute btn btn-circle shadow btn-lg btn-blue-dark m-20"><span class="material-icons" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_left"></span></button><button disabled="true" class="next-button js-next-button position-absolute btn btn-circle shadow btn-lg btn-blue-dark m-20"><span class="material-icons" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></span></button></div><p class="topic-paragraph">Spain’s countryside is quaint, speckled with castles, aqueducts, and ancient ruins, but its cities are resoundingly modern. The Andalusian capital of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Sevilla-Spain" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Sevilla</a> (Seville) is famed for its musical <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="culture" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/culture" data-type="MW">culture</a> and traditional folkways; the Catalonian capital of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Barcelona" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Barcelona</a> for its <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="secular" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/secular" data-type="MW">secular</a> architecture and maritime industry; and the national capital of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Madrid" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Madrid</a> for its winding streets, its museums and bookstores, and its around-the-clock lifestyle. Madrid is Spain’s largest city and is also its financial and cultural centre, as it has been for hundreds of years.</p><span class="marker MOD3 mod-inline"></span><span class="marker PREMOD4 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">The many and varied <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="cultures" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cultures" data-type="MW">cultures</a> that have gone into the making of Spain—those of the Castilians, Catalonians, Lusitanians, Galicians, Basques, Romans, Arabs, Jews, and Roma (Gypsies), among other peoples—are renowned for their varied cuisines, customs, and <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="prolific" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prolific" data-type="MW">prolific</a> contributions to the world’s artistic heritage. The country’s Roman conquerors left their language, roads, and monuments, while many of the Roman Empire’s greatest rulers were Spanish, among them <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Trajan" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Trajan</a>, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Hadrian" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Hadrian</a>, and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Marcus-Aurelius-Roman-emperor" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Marcus Aurelius</a>. The Moors, who ruled over portions of Spain for nearly 800 years, left a <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="legacy" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/legacy" data-type="MW">legacy</a> of fine architecture, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/art/lyric" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">lyric poetry</a>, and science; the Roma contributed the haunting music called the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/art/cante-jondo" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true"><em>cante jondo</em></a> (a form of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/art/flamenco" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">flamenco</a>), which, wrote García <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Lorca" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Lorca</a>, “comes from remote races and crosses the graveyard of the years and the fronds of parched winds. It comes from the first sob and the first kiss.” Even the Vandals, Huns, and Visigoths who swept across Spain following the fall of Rome are remembered in words and monuments, which prompted García Lorca to remark, “In Spain, the dead are more alive than the dead of any other country in the world.”</p><span class="marker MOD4 mod-inline"></span><span class="marker PREMOD5 mod-inline"></span><div class="assemblies"><div class="w-100 assembly-container"><figure class="md-assembly m-0 mb-md-0 card card-borderless print-false" data-assembly-id="94193" data-asm-type="image"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media" data-type="image"><a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/12/94912-050-01938555/Illustration-Christopher-Columbus-fleet-Spain-1492.jpg" class="gtm-assembly-link position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center media-overlay-link card-media" data-href="/media/1/557573/94193"><picture><source media="(min-width: 680px)" srcset="https://cdn.britannica.com/12/94912-050-01938555/Illustration-Christopher-Columbus-fleet-Spain-1492.jpg?w=300"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/12/94912-050-01938555/Illustration-Christopher-Columbus-fleet-Spain-1492.jpg?w=300" alt="Christopher Columbus's fleet" data-width="1375" data-height="1600" loading="eager"></picture><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white top-10 right-10" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class="card-body"><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif line-clamp"><span><a class="gtm-assembly-link md-assembly-title font-weight-bold d-inline font-sans-serif mr-5 media-overlay-link" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/12/94912-050-01938555/Illustration-Christopher-Columbus-fleet-Spain-1492.jpg" data-href="/media/1/557573/94193">Christopher Columbus's fleet</a><span>Illustration depicting Christopher Columbus's fleet departing from Spain in 1492.</span><button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-white js-content" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"><span class="link-blue">(more)</span></button></span></div></figcaption></figure></div></div><p class="topic-paragraph">In 1492, the year the last of the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Moor-people" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Moorish</a> rulers were <a href="https://www.britannica.com/event/Reconquista" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">expelled from Spain</a>, ships under the command of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Christopher-Columbus" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Christopher Columbus</a> reached <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/United-States" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">America</a>. For 300 years afterward, Spanish explorers and conquerors traveled the world, claiming huge territories for the Spanish <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off eb" data-term="crown" href="https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/crown" data-type="EB">crown</a>, a succession of Castilian, Aragonese, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/House-of-Habsburg" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Habsburg</a>, and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/house-of-Bourbon" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Bourbon</a> rulers. For generations Spain was arguably the richest country in the world, and certainly the most far-flung. With the steady erosion of its continental and overseas empire throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, however, Spain was all but forgotten in world affairs, save for the three years that the ideologically charged <a href="https://www.britannica.com/event/Spanish-Civil-War" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Spanish Civil War</a> (1936–39) put the country at the centre of the world’s stage, only to become ever more insular and withdrawn during the four decades of rule by dictator <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Francisco-Franco" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Francisco Franco</a>. Following Franco’s death in 1975, a Bourbon king, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Juan-Carlos" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Juan Carlos</a>, returned to the throne and established a <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/constitutional-monarchy" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">constitutional monarchy</a>. The country has been ruled since then by a succession of elected governments, some socialist, some <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="conservative" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/conservative" data-type="MW">conservative</a>, but all devoted to <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/democracy" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">democracy</a>.</p><a class="link-module shadow-sm d-block qa-quiz-module" href="/quiz/which-country-is-larger-by-population-quiz" data-link-module-iframe-link=""> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/91/142291-131-1FF39F2D/Flags-world-blue-sky-Countries-Globalization-relations-2010.jpg" alt="Flags of the world against blue sky. Countries, International. Globalization, global relations, Australia, Canada, United Kingdom, Poland, Palestine, Japan. Homepage 2010, arts and entertainment, history and society" class="rounded-sm mr-15" width="70" /> <div class="line-clamp clamp-5"> <div class="module-title bg-green">Britannica Quiz</div> <div class="font-weight-semi-bold mt-5">Which Country Is Larger By Population? Quiz</div> </div> </a><span class="marker MOD5 mod-inline"></span></section> <span class="marker h2"></span><section data-level="1" id="ref70257"><h2 class="h1"><span id="ref587869"></span>Land</h2> <span class="marker PREMOD6 mod-inline"></span><div class="assemblies"><div class="w-100 assembly-container"><figure class="md-assembly m-0 mb-md-0 card card-borderless print-false" data-assembly-id="6030" data-asm-type="image"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media" data-type="image"><a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/36/10836-050-E2186916/Ibiza-city-port-Spain.jpg" class="gtm-assembly-link position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center media-overlay-link card-media" data-href="/media/1/557573/6030"><picture><source media="(min-width: 680px)" srcset="https://cdn.britannica.com/36/10836-050-E2186916/Ibiza-city-port-Spain.jpg?w=300"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/36/10836-050-E2186916/Ibiza-city-port-Spain.jpg?w=300" alt="Ibiza" data-width="1075" data-height="804" loading="eager"></picture><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white top-10 right-10" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class="card-body"><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif line-clamp"><span><a class="gtm-assembly-link md-assembly-title font-weight-bold d-inline font-sans-serif mr-5 media-overlay-link" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/36/10836-050-E2186916/Ibiza-city-port-Spain.jpg" data-href="/media/1/557573/6030">Ibiza</a><span>Ibiza city and port, Spain.</span><button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-white js-content" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"><span class="link-blue">(more)</span></button></span></div></figcaption></figure></div></div><p class="topic-paragraph">Spain is bordered to the west by Portugal; to the northeast it borders <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/France" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">France</a>, from which it is separated by the tiny principality of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Andorra" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Andorra</a> and by the great wall of the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Pyrenees" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Pyrenees</a> Mountains. Spain’s only other land border is in the far south with <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Gibraltar" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Gibraltar</a>, an enclave that belonged to Spain until 1713, when it was ceded to Great Britain in the Treaty of Utrecht at the end of the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/event/War-of-the-Spanish-Succession" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">War of the Spanish Succession</a>. Elsewhere the country is bounded by water: by the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Mediterranean-Sea" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Mediterranean Sea</a> to the east and southeast, by the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Atlantic-Ocean" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Atlantic Ocean</a> to the northwest and southwest, and by the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Bay-of-Biscay" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Bay of Biscay</a> (an inlet of the Atlantic Ocean) to the north. The <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Canary-Islands" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Canary (Canarias) Islands</a>, in the Atlantic Ocean off the northwestern African mainland, and the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Balearic-Islands" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Balearic (Baleares) Islands</a>, in the Mediterranean, also are parts of Spain, as are <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Ceuta" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Ceuta</a> and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Melilla" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Melilla</a>, two small enclaves in <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/North-Africa" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">North Africa</a> (northern Morocco) that Spain has ruled for centuries.</p><span class="marker MOD6 mod-inline"></span> <section data-level="2" id="ref70258"><h2 class="h2">Relief</h2> <span class="marker PREMOD7 mod-inline"></span><div class="assemblies multiple medialist slider js-slider position-relative d-inline-flex align-items-center mw-100" data-type="other"><div class="slider-container js-slider-container overflow-hidden d-flex"><div class="rw-track d-flex align-items-center"><div class="position-relative rw-slide col-100 px-20 "><figure class="md-assembly m-0 mb-md-0 card card-borderless print-false" data-assembly-id="3595" data-asm-type="image"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media" data-type="image"><a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/34/178134-050-D31CAEE2/farmstead-region-La-Mancha-Spain-Meseta-Central.jpg" class="gtm-assembly-link position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center media-overlay-link card-media" data-href="/media/1/557573/3595"><picture><source media="(min-width: 680px)" srcset="https://cdn.britannica.com/34/178134-050-D31CAEE2/farmstead-region-La-Mancha-Spain-Meseta-Central.jpg?w=300"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/34/178134-050-D31CAEE2/farmstead-region-La-Mancha-Spain-Meseta-Central.jpg?w=300" alt="La Mancha" data-width="1600" data-height="703" loading="eager"></picture><div class="position-absolute top-10 left-10 assembly-slide-tag rounded-lg">1 of 3</div><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white top-10 right-10" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class="card-body"><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif line-clamp"><span><a class="gtm-assembly-link md-assembly-title font-weight-bold d-inline font-sans-serif mr-5 media-overlay-link" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/34/178134-050-D31CAEE2/farmstead-region-La-Mancha-Spain-Meseta-Central.jpg" data-href="/media/1/557573/3595">La Mancha</a><span>Isolated farmstead in the region of La Mancha in the southern Meseta Central, south-central Spain.</span><button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-white js-content" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"><span class="link-blue">(more)</span></button></span></div></figcaption></figure></div><div class="position-relative rw-slide col-100 px-20 "><figure class="md-assembly m-0 mb-md-0 card card-borderless print-false" data-assembly-id="160282" data-asm-type="image"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media" data-type="image"><a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/13/152313-050-2A6425C6/Teide-Peak-Tenerife-Canary-Islands-Spain.jpg" class="gtm-assembly-link position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center media-overlay-link card-media" data-href="/media/1/557573/160282"><picture><source media="(min-width: 680px)" srcset="https://cdn.britannica.com/13/152313-050-2A6425C6/Teide-Peak-Tenerife-Canary-Islands-Spain.jpg?w=300"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/13/152313-050-2A6425C6/Teide-Peak-Tenerife-Canary-Islands-Spain.jpg?w=300" alt="Teide Peak, Canary Islands, Spain" data-width="1600" data-height="1063" loading="eager"></picture><div class="position-absolute top-10 left-10 assembly-slide-tag rounded-lg">2 of 3</div><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white top-10 right-10" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class="card-body"><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif line-clamp"><span><a class="gtm-assembly-link md-assembly-title font-weight-bold d-inline font-sans-serif mr-5 media-overlay-link" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/13/152313-050-2A6425C6/Teide-Peak-Tenerife-Canary-Islands-Spain.jpg" data-href="/media/1/557573/160282">Teide Peak, Canary Islands, Spain</a><span>Teide Peak on Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain.</span><button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-white js-content" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"><span class="link-blue">(more)</span></button></span></div></figcaption></figure></div><div class="position-relative rw-slide col-100 px-20 "><figure class="md-assembly m-0 mb-md-0 card card-borderless print-false" data-assembly-id="238584" data-asm-type="image"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media" data-type="image"><a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/49/194349-050-6C1FBC57/Iberian-Peninsula-International-Space-Station-July-26-2014.jpg" class="gtm-assembly-link position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center media-overlay-link card-media" data-href="/media/1/557573/238584"><picture><source media="(min-width: 680px)" srcset="https://cdn.britannica.com/49/194349-050-6C1FBC57/Iberian-Peninsula-International-Space-Station-July-26-2014.jpg?w=300"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/49/194349-050-6C1FBC57/Iberian-Peninsula-International-Space-Station-July-26-2014.jpg?w=300" alt="Iberian Peninsula; International Space Station" data-width="1600" data-height="1065" loading="eager"></picture><div class="position-absolute top-10 left-10 assembly-slide-tag rounded-lg">3 of 3</div><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white top-10 right-10" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class="card-body"><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif line-clamp"><span><a class="gtm-assembly-link md-assembly-title font-weight-bold d-inline font-sans-serif mr-5 media-overlay-link" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/49/194349-050-6C1FBC57/Iberian-Peninsula-International-Space-Station-July-26-2014.jpg" data-href="/media/1/557573/238584">Iberian Peninsula; International Space Station</a><span>The Iberian Peninsula seen from the International Space Station, July 26, 2014.</span><button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-white js-content" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"><span class="link-blue">(more)</span></button></span></div></figcaption></figure></div></div></div><button disabled="true" class="prev-button js-prev-button position-absolute btn btn-circle shadow btn-lg btn-blue-dark m-20"><span class="material-icons" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_left"></span></button><button disabled="true" class="next-button js-next-button position-absolute btn btn-circle shadow btn-lg btn-blue-dark m-20"><span class="material-icons" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></span></button></div><p class="topic-paragraph">Spain accounts for five-sixths of the Iberian Peninsula, the roughly quadrilateral southwestern tip of Europe that separates the Mediterranean Sea from the Atlantic Ocean. Most of Spain <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="comprises" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/comprises" data-type="MW">comprises</a> a large plateau (the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Meseta-Central" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Meseta Central</a>) divided by a mountain range, the Central Sierra (Sistema Central), which trends west-southwest to east-northeast. Several mountains border the plateau: the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Cantabrian-Mountains" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Cantabrian Mountains</a> (Cordillera Cantábrica) to the north, the Iberian Cordillera (Sistema Ibérico) to the northeast and east, the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Sierra-Morena" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Sierra Morena</a> to the south, and the lower mountains of the Portuguese frontier and Spanish Galicia to the northwest. The Pyrenees run across the neck of the peninsula and form Spain’s border with France. There are two major depressions, that of the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Ebro-River" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Ebro</a> River in the northeast and that of the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Guadalquivir-River" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Guadalquivir River</a> in the southwest. In the southeast the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Baetic-Cordillera" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Baetic Cordillera</a> (Sistema Penibético) runs broadly parallel to the coast to merge with the mountains of the Iberian Cordillera. Along the Mediterranean seaboard there are coastal plains, some with lagoons (e.g., Albufera, south of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Valencia-Spain" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Valencia</a>). Offshore in the Mediterranean, the Balearic Islands are an unsubmerged portion of the Baetic Cordillera. The <span id="ref587870"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Canary-Islands" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Canary Islands</a> in the Atlantic are of volcanic origin and contain the highest peak on Spanish territory, <span id="ref587871"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Teide-Peak" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Teide Peak</a>, which rises to 12,198 feet (3,718 metres) on the island of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Tenerife" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Tenerife</a>.</p><div class="module-spacing"> <DIV class="marketing-INLINE_SUBSCRIPTION marketing-content" data-marketing-id="INLINE_SUBSCRIPTION"><style> .student-promo-banner-wrapper { container-type: inline-size; margin-bottom: 15px; } @container (min-width: 475px) { .student-promo-banner { flex-direction: row; } .student-promo-banner-img-wrapper { margin-bottom: 0; margin-right: 10px; justify-content: flex-start; } .student-promo-banner-text-wrapper { text-align: left; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 10px; } .student-promo-banner-button-wrapper { margin-right: 0; } }</style> <div class="student-promo-banner-wrapper"> <div class="student-promo-banner d-flex flex-column align-items-center bg-blue rounded p-20"> <div class="student-promo-banner-img-wrapper mb-20 mr-0 d-flex justify-content-center"> <img class="rounded" style="max-width: 100px; min-width: 80px" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/marketing/BlueThistle.webp" /> </div> <div class="student-promo-banner-text-wrapper ml-0 mb-10 text-center text-white"> <div class="h2 mb-10">Get Unlimited Access</div> <div class="h4 font-weight-semi-bold">Try Britannica Premium for free and discover more.</div> </div> <div class="student-promo-banner-button-wrapper d-flex justify-content-center align-items-center ml-auto mr-auto"> <a class="btn btn-m btn-orange" href="https://premium.britannica.com/premium-membership/?utm_source=premium&utm_medium=inline-cta&utm_campaign=august-2024">Subscribe</a> </div> </div> </div> </DIV></div><span class="marker MOD7 mod-inline"></span> <span class="marker PREMOD8 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">Spain has some of the oldest as well as some of the youngest rocks of Europe. The entire western half of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/money/Iberia-Spanish-airline" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Iberia</a>, with the exception of the extreme south, is composed of ancient (<span id="ref587872"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Variscan-orogenic-belt" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Hercynian</a>) rocks; geologists refer to this Hercynian block as the <span id="ref587873"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Meseta-Central" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Meseta Central</a>. It <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="constitutes" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/constitutes" data-type="MW">constitutes</a> a relatively stable platform around which younger sediments accumulated, especially on the Mediterranean side. In due course these sediments were pushed by major earth movements into mountain ranges. The term <em>meseta</em> is also used by geographers and local toponymy to designate the dominating relief unit of central Iberia. As a result, the Meseta Central defined by relief is subdivided by geology into a crystalline west (granites and gneisses) and a sedimentary east (mainly clays and limestones). The northern Meseta Central, which has an average elevation of 2,300 feet (700 metres), corresponds to the tablelands, or plateau, of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Castile-Leon" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Castile and León</a>, although it is in fact a <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off eb" data-term="basin" href="https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/basin" data-type="EB">basin</a> surrounded by mountains and drained by the Douro (Duero) River. The southern Meseta Central (the Meseta of Castile–La Mancha) is some 330 feet (100 metres) lower. Its relief is more diverse, however, owing to heavy faulting and warping caused by <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/volcanism" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">volcanic activity</a> around the Calatrava Plain and to two complex river systems (the Guadiana and the Tagus) separated by mountains. Its southern plains rise gradually to the Sierra Morena. The southeastern side of this range drops almost vertically by more than 3,300 feet (1,000 metres) to the Guadalquivir depression. Dividing the northern and southern Mesetas are the Central Sierras, one of the outstanding features of the Iberian massif. Their highest points—<span id="ref587874"></span>Peñalara Peak at 7,972 feet (2,430 metres) and <span id="ref587875"></span>Almanzor Peak at 8,497 feet (2,590 metres)—rise well above the plains of the central <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off eb" data-term="plateau" href="https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/plateau" data-type="EB">plateau</a>. In contrast, the granitic Galician mountains, at the northwestern end of the Hercynian block, have an average elevation of only 1,640 feet (500 metres), decreasing toward the deeply indented (<a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/ria" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">ria</a>) coast of the Atlantic seaboard.</p><span class="marker MOD8 mod-inline"></span> <span class="marker PREMOD9 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">Part of Alpine Europe, the <span id="ref587876"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Pyrenees" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Pyrenees</a> form a massive mountain range that stretches from the Mediterranean Sea to the Bay of Biscay, a distance of some 270 miles (430 km). The range comprises a series of parallel zones: the central axis, a line of intermediate depressions, and the pre-Pyrenees. The highest peaks, formed from a core of ancient crystalline rocks, are found in the central Pyrenees—notably <span id="ref587877"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Pico-de-Aneto" class="md-crosslink ">Aneto Peak</a> at 11,168 feet (3,404 metres)—but those of the west, including <span id="ref587878"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Anie-Peak" class="md-crosslink ">Anie Peak</a> at 8,213 feet (2,503 metres), are not much lower. The mountains fall steeply on the northern side but <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off eb" data-term="descend" href="https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/descend" data-type="EB">descend</a> in terraces to the Ebro River trough in the south. The outer zones of the Pyrenees are composed of sedimentary rocks. Relief on the nearly horizontal sedimentary strata of the Ebro depression is mostly plain or plateau, except at the eastern end where the Ebro River penetrates the mountains to reach the Mediterranean Sea.</p><span class="marker MOD9 mod-inline"></span> <span class="marker PREMOD10 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">A series of sierras trending northwest-southeast forms the Iberian Cordillera, which separates the Ebro depression from the Meseta and reaches its highest elevation with <span id="ref587879"></span>Moncayo Peak at 7,588 feet (2,313 metres). In the southeast the Iberian Cordillera links with the <span id="ref587880"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Baetic-Cordillera" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Baetic Cordillera</a>, also a result of Alpine earth movements. Although more extensive—more than 500 miles (800 km) long and up to 150 miles (240 km) wide—and with <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/peninsular" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">peninsular</a> Spain’s highest <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off eb" data-term="summit" href="https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/summit" data-type="EB">summit</a>, <span id="ref587881"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Mount-Mulhacen" class="md-crosslink ">Mulhacén Peak</a>, at 11,421 feet (3,481 metres), the Baetic ranges are more fragmented and less of a barrier than the Pyrenees. On their northern and northwestern sides they flank the low-lying and fairly flat Guadalquivir basin, the average elevation of which is only 426 feet (130 metres) on mainly clay strata. Unlike the Ebro basin, the Guadalquivir depression is wide open to the sea on the southwest, and its delta has extensive marshland (<a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Las-Marismas" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Las Marismas</a>).</p><span class="marker MOD10 mod-inline"></span></section> <section data-level="2" id="ref70259"><h2 class="h2">Drainage</h2> <span class="marker PREMOD11 mod-inline"></span><div class="assemblies"><div class="w-100 assembly-container"><figure class="md-assembly m-0 mb-md-0 card card-borderless print-false" data-assembly-id="12193" data-asm-type="image"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media" data-type="image"><a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/89/10589-050-39E7A445/Jucar-River-castle-Valencia-Spain-Cofrentes.jpg" class="gtm-assembly-link position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center media-overlay-link card-media" data-href="/media/1/557573/12193"><picture><source media="(min-width: 680px)" srcset="https://cdn.britannica.com/89/10589-050-39E7A445/Jucar-River-castle-Valencia-Spain-Cofrentes.jpg?w=300"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/89/10589-050-39E7A445/Jucar-River-castle-Valencia-Spain-Cofrentes.jpg?w=300" alt="Júcar River and a 14th-century castle" data-width="958" data-height="620" loading="eager"></picture><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white top-10 right-10" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class="card-body"><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif line-clamp"><span><a class="gtm-assembly-link md-assembly-title font-weight-bold d-inline font-sans-serif mr-5 media-overlay-link" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/89/10589-050-39E7A445/Jucar-River-castle-Valencia-Spain-Cofrentes.jpg" data-href="/media/1/557573/12193">Júcar River and a 14th-century castle</a><span>The Júcar River flowing past a 14th-century castle at Cofrentes, Valencia, Spain.</span><button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-white js-content" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"><span class="link-blue">(more)</span></button></span></div></figcaption></figure></div></div><p class="topic-paragraph">Although some maintain that “aridity rivals civil war as the chief curse of [historic] Spain,” the Iberian Peninsula has a dense network of streams, three of which rank among Europe’s longest: the <span id="ref587882"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Tagus-River" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Tagus</a> at 626 miles (1,007 km), the <span id="ref587883"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Ebro-River" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Ebro</a> at 565 miles (909 km), and the <span id="ref587884"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Douro-River" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Douro</a> at 556 miles (895 km). The <span id="ref587885"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Guadiana-River" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Guadiana</a> and the <span id="ref587886"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Guadalquivir-River" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Guadalquivir</a> are 508 miles (818 km) and 408 miles (657 km) long, respectively. The Tagus, like the Douro and the Guadiana, reaches the Atlantic Ocean in Portugal. In fact, all the major rivers of Spain except the Ebro drain into the Atlantic Ocean. The hydrographic network on the Mediterranean side of the <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off eb" data-term="watershed" href="https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/watershed" data-type="EB">watershed</a> is poorly developed in comparison with the Atlantic systems, partly because it falls into the climatically driest parts of Spain. However, nearly all Iberian rivers have low annual volume, irregular regimes, and deep valleys and even canyons. Flooding is always a potential hazard. The short, swift streams of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Galicia-region-Spain" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Galicia</a> and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Cantabria-province-Spain" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Cantabria</a>, draining to the northwestern and northern coasts, respectively, have only a slight or, at most, modest summer minimum. The predominant fluvial regime in Spain is thus characterized by a long or very long summer period of low water. This is the regime of all the major arteries that drain the Meseta as well as those of the Mediterranean seaboard, such as the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Jucar-River" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Júcar</a> and the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Segura-River" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Segura</a>: for example, from August to September the Guadiana River usually has less than one-tenth of its average annual flow. Only the Ebro River has a relatively constant and substantial flow—19,081 cubic feet (540 cubic metres) per second at Tortosa—coming from snowmelt as well as rainfall in the high Pyrenees. In comparison, the flow of the Douro is only 5,050 cubic feet (143 cubic metres) per second. The flow of many Iberian streams has been reduced artificially by water extraction for purposes such as irrigation. Subterranean flow is well-developed in limestone districts.</p><span class="marker MOD11 mod-inline"></span></section> <section data-level="2" id="ref70260"><h2 class="h2">Soils</h2> <span class="marker PREMOD12 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">There are five major soil types in Spain. Two are widely distributed but of limited extent: alluvial soils, found in the major valleys and coastal plains, and poorly developed, or <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off eb" data-term="truncated" href="https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/truncated" data-type="EB">truncated</a>, mountain soils. Brown forest soils are restricted to humid Galicia and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Cantabria-autonomous-area-and-region-Spain" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Cantabria</a>. Acidic southern brown earths (leading to restricted crop choice) are prevalent on the crystalline rocks of the western Meseta, and gray, brown, or chestnut soils have developed on the calcareous and alkaline strata of the eastern Meseta and of eastern Spain in general. Saline soils are found in the Ebro basin and coastal lowlands. Calcretes (subsoil zonal crusts [toscas], usually of hardened calcium carbonate) are particularly well-developed in the arid regions of the east: <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/La-Mancha" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">La Mancha</a>, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Almeria-province-Spain" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Almería</a>, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Murcia-region-Spain" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Murcia</a>, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Alicante-province-Spain" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Alicante</a> (Alacant), and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Valencia-province-Spain" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Valencia</a>, as well as the Ebro and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Lleida-province-Spain" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Lleida</a> (Lérida) basins.</p><div class="one-good-fact-module"> </div><span class="marker MOD12 mod-inline"></span> <span class="marker PREMOD13 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">Soil erosion resulting from the vegetation <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="degradation" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/degradation" data-type="MW">degradation</a> suffered by Spain for at least the past 3,000 years has created extensive badlands, reduced soil cover, downstream alluviation, and, more recently, silting of dams and irrigation works. Particularly affected are the high areas of the central plateau and southern and eastern parts of Spain. Although the origins of some of the spectacular badlands of southeastern Spain, such as <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Guadix" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Guadix</a>, may lie in climatic conditions from earlier in Quaternary time (beginning 2.6 million years ago), one of the major problems of modern Spain is the threat of desertification—i.e., the impoverishment of arid, semiarid, and even some humid ecosystems caused by the joint impact of human activities and <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off eb" data-term="drought" href="https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/drought" data-type="EB">drought</a>. Nearly half of Spain is moderately or severely affected, especially in the arid east (Almería, Murcia), as well as in much of subarid Spain (the Ebro basin). The government has adopted policies of afforestation, but some authorities believe that natural vegetation regrowth would yield more speedy and more permanent benefits.</p><span class="marker MOD13 mod-inline"></span></section> </section><span class="marker end-of-content"></span><span class="marker after-article"></span></div> <div id="chatbot-simplify-root"></div> <div id="chatbot-root"></div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="ai-dialog-placeholder"></div> </div> </div> <aside class="col-md-da-320"></aside> </div> </div> </div> </div> </article> </div> </div> </div> </div> </main> <div id="md-footer"></div> <noscript><iframe src="//www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=GTM-5W6NC8" height="0" width="0" style="display:none;visibility:hidden"></iframe></noscript>  <script> window.ap3c = window.ap3c || {}; var ap3c = window.ap3c; ap3c.cmd = ap3c.cmd || []; ap3c.cmd.push(function() { ap3c.init('ZO4siT4cLwnykPnzZWJtd3Byb2Q', 'https://engage.email.britannica.com/'); ap3c.track({v: 0}); }); ap3c.activity = function(act) { ap3c.act = (ap3c.act || []); ap3c.act.push(act); }; var s, t; s = document.createElement('script'); s.type = 'text/javascript'; s.src = "https://engage.email.britannica.com/app.js"; t = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; t.parentNode.insertBefore(s, t); </script> <script class="marketing-page-info" type="application/json"> {"pageType":"Topic","templateName":"DESKTOP","pageNumber":1,"pagesTotal":45,"pageId":557573,"pageLength":2370,"initialLoad":true,"lastPageOfScroll":false} </script> <script class="marketing-content-info" type="application/json"> [] </script> <script src="https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-134/js/libs/jquery-3.5.0.min.js?v=3.134.26"></script> <script type="text/javascript" data-type="Init Mendel Code Splitting"> (function() { $.ajax({ dataType: 'script', cache: true, url: 'https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-134/dist/topic-page.js?v=3.134.26' }); })(); </script> <script class="analytics-metadata" type="application/json"> {"leg":"C","adLeg":"C","userType":"ANONYMOUS","pageType":"Topic","pageSubtype":null,"articleTemplateType":"COUNTRY_PAGINATED","gisted":false,"pageNumber":1,"hasSummarizeButton":false,"hasAskButton":true,"hasAiTopQuestions":false,"hasSimplifyButton":false} </script> <script type="text/javascript"> EBStat={accountId:-1,hostnameOverride:'webstats.eb.com',domain:'www.britannica.com', json:''}; </script> <script type="text/javascript"> ( function() { $.ajax( { dataType: 'script', cache: true, url: '//www.britannica.com/webstats/mendelstats.js?v=1' } ) .done( function() { try {writeStat(null,EBStat);} catch(err){} } ); })(); </script> <div id="bc-fixed-dialogue"></div> </body> </html>

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