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Exploring Spain
As the fourth largest country in Europe, Spain is packed with things to do and see. It has thousands of beaches along its 3,000 mile-long coastline. It’s home to nearly 50 UNESCO World Heritage sites that showcase the diverse cultures that have ruled the country. This includes the Romans and the Islamic Moors. Plus, Spain has a number of quirky traditions like its annual tomato fight held each year in the town of Buñol.
What you see while in Spain can vary a lot by where you travel. The country is divided into 17 autonomous regions that each have their own culture and government. This means you can spend a lot of time in the country exploring the differences. If you’re considering making a journey to Spain, here are some country details to keep in mind.
Country Basics
Spain is about 75% of the size of the U.S. state of Texas and has a population of about 47 million people. It occupies most of the Iberian Peninsula. Other countries on the peninsula are Portugal and Andorra. The peninsula also includes the small British territory of Gibraltar.
Spain has 48 inhabited islands, including the Canary Islands, which are named after a dog not a bird. The country’s mainland has multiple mountain ranges and an inland plateau. There’s a region in the north called Green Spain since it’s lush while parts of the south can be rather dry.
For centuries Spain was ruled by various conquerors from Europe and Africa, influencing the architecture, religion and culture. In the 1930s a civil war brought Fascist Dictator General Francisco Franco to power. His dictatorship ended in 1975. Today Spain is a constitutional monarchy with a king.
Spain’s name stems from a Carthagenian word meaning the “land of the rabbits.” During the years under Muslim rulers, the region was called Iberia with iber being the Moors word for river. Interestingly enough despite all its history, Spain is one of the only nations in the world that has a national anthem with no words.
Weather
Spain is one of the sunniest countries in Europe and has three different climate zones. In the southern and eastern coastal zones, winds from North Africa make the weather milder.
The central plateau region has hot dry summers and cold winters. The northern part of the country has cool summers and mild winters with more rainy weather than the dry south.
Here are the average weather conditions you would expect in the summer in Madrid in central Spain.
| June | July | August | |
| High Temperature | 82.8 F | 89.8 F | 88.3 F |
| Low Temperature | 61 F | 66 F | 65.8 F |
| Average Daylight | 15 hrs. | 14 hrs. 4 min | 13 hrs. 4 min |
| Average Rainfall | 0.8 inches | 0.5 inches | 0.4 inches |
| Monthly Rainy Days | 3 days | 2 days | 2 days |
Overall, the mildest weather in Spain is in the spring and fall. Regardless of when you visit Spain, bring your sunglasses!
Explore
Geography Now! Spain
Learn more about the topography, history and culture of Spain.
The World’s Strangest Borders Part 2: Spain
Believe it or not, portions of Spain are located on the African continent. There’s also an island that’s part of Spain six months of the year and part of France the other six. Check out the video below to learn more about these unusual borders.
UNESCO World Heritage Sites
Check out the 50 sites in Spain that landed on the World Heritage list.
Food
Authentic Spanish Seafood Paella Recipe
The version of paella you may experience in Spain varies by region. Here is one delicious version.
Culture
Don Quixote
Written by Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra, Don Quixote is often considered the first modern novel and may be the most famous book written by a Spanish author.
10 Amazing Facts about Spanish Artist Pablo Picasso
Spain has had many famous artists, including Salvador Dalí, Francisco Goya and of course Pablo Picasso. Watch the video below to learn more about his life.
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