Spain: Physical Geography

Developed by María Jesús Campos Fernández, teacher in a bilingual section in Madrid

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1. Spain : Physical geography María Jesús Campos learningfromgeography.wikispaces.com

2. Spain : location It is located in the Northern hemisphere It is an European country

3. Spain occupies most of the Iberian Peninsula , the Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean Sea, the Canary Islands in the Atlantic Ocean , Ceuta and Melilla on the north coast of Africa . It has an area of 505 370 km2

4. It is surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean , the Mediterranean Sea and the Cantabrian Sea. It has borders with France, Andorra, Portugal and Morocco . Spain is the fourth largest country in Europe after Russia , Ukraine and France.

5. Spain : Relief

6. The Peninsula The Meseta Central (Central Plateau ) is divided in two parts by the Sistema Central : it divides the peninsula in 2 regions Submeseta Norte and Submeseta Sur . Valleys : Depresión del Ebro, Depresión del Guadalquivir Highest Mountains : Pico Mulhacen (3479 m), Aneto (3404 m), Monte Perdido (3355 m), Torre Cerredo (2648 m), Pico Almanzor (2591 m), La Sagra (2382), Teleno (2188 m)

7. Main mountain ranges: Macizo Galaico-Leonés Montes de León Cordillera Cantábrica Montes Vascos Pirineos Cordillera Costero-Catalana Sistema Ibérico Montes de Toledo Sistemas Béticos: Cordillera Subbética and Cordillera Penibética Sierra Morena.

8. Other mountain ranges: Pico de Europa, Sierra de Guadarrama Somosierra, Sierra de la Demanda, Picos de Urbión, Serranía de Cuenca, El Maestrazgo, Sierra de Gredos, Sierra de Gata, Sierra de Guadalupe, Sierra de Aracena, Sierra de Alcudia, Sierra Madrona, Sierra de Cazorla, Sierra de Segura.

9. Other: Golfo de Vizcaya Golfo de León Rías Gallegas Golfo de Valencia Golfo de Cádiz Estrecho de Gibraltar Cabo de Creus Cabo de la Nao Cabo de Palos Cabo de Gata Punta de Tarifa Cabo de Finisterre Punta de Estaca de Bares

10. The Archipelagos The relief of the Balearic Islands can be considered a continuation of the Peninsula: Mallorca: Sierra de Tramuntana Menorca Ibiza Formentera Cabrera The relief of the Canary Islands is hilly and of volcanic origin: Tenerife: Teide (3718 m) the highest mountain of Spain Gran Canaria: Pico de las Nieves (1949m) La Palma: Roque de los Muchachos (2426m) Lanzarote Fuerteventura LaGomera El Hierro

11. Spain : Rivers Most rivers flow irregularly and are not navigable. The only navigable river is River Guadalquivir between Sevilla and the Atlantic Ocean. Spain has got different catchment areas: Cantabrian Sea basin : short rivers with a regular flow. Atlantic Ocean basin : long rivers with an irregular flow (except River Miño) Mediterranean Sea basin : short rivers with an irregular flow (except River Ebro)

12. Cantabrian Sea’s catchment areas rivers : Bidasoa, Nervión, Nalón Atlantic Ocean’s catchment areas rivers : Miño , Duero, Tajo, Guadiana, Guadalquivir Mediterranean Sea’s catchment areas rivers : Ebro, Turia, Jucar , Segura Important tributaries : Miño : Sil Duero: Tormes, Esla, Pisuerga, Arlanza, Eresma Tajo: Alagón, Tietar , Alberche, Jarama, Henares Guadiana: Cigüela, Záncara, Jabalón, Zújar Guadalquivir: Guadiato, Genil Ebro: Aragón, Gállego, Cinca, Segre, Guádalope

13. Spain : Climate The Iberian Peninsula , the Balearic Islands and Ceuta and Melilla are located in the Earth’s temperate climate zone . The Canary Islands are located in the Earth’s warm climate zone . Spain’s average altitude is fairly high , at about 660 m.

14. Spain has a variety of climate types : Warm climates : Sub-tropical climate Temperate climates : Maritime Mediterranean coastal Mediterranean inland Cold climates : Alpine climate

15. Maritime or Oceanic Climate North and North- west of the Iberian Peninsula . Temperatures are mild in winter and coll in summer due to the influence of the sea. Precipitation is abundant and regular, more than 800 mm annually . Santander

16. Mediterranean Climate In most of the Iberian Peninsula with variations: Mediterranean Inland climate: Big difference between hot summers and cold winters. Rainfall is scarce and mainly during spring and autumn. Talavera

17. Mediterranean Climate In the East and South coast of Spain : Mediterranean coastal climate : Dry in the summer and moderate precipitation in spring and autumn . Temperatures are mild in winter and hot in summer . Cullera Almería

18. Sub-tropical Climate In the Canary Islands . Mild temperatures all year round. Scarce precipitation . Las Palmas

19. Alpine or High Mountain Climate In the highest mountain ranges . Temperatures are lower than in the rest of Spain . They decrease as we move up the mountain . The average precipitation is over 1500 mm annually . It may fall as snow . Benasque

20. Spain : biomes Deciduous forests Mediterranean forest and scrubland Sub-tropical forests Alpine landscapes

21. Deciduous Forests In areas with Maritime climate Vegetation : Deciduous trees that lose their leaves in autumn : beech , oak . Also moorland and grassland . The indigenous vegetation ( oak trees , beech trees and moors ) has almost dissaperared due to extensive logging . Non- native vegetarion : pines and ecucalyptus trees . Forests have been cut down to make space for pastures, for livestock or farmland . Fauna : capercaillies , hares , otters , wolves , bears and foxes

22. Mediterranean Forest and Scrubland In areas with Mediterranean coastal climate or Mediterranean inland climate . Vegetation : Trees that can survive the dry summers : holm oaks , cork oaks , pine trees Bushes and aromatic plants : lavender, thyme

23. In Mediterranean inland climate the main landscape is the steppe . The territory has suffered a severe deforestation due to the human use of the land for agriculture and livestock . Fauna: rabbits , wolves , lynxes and imperial eagles .

24. Sub-tropical Forest In areas with sub-tropical climates . Vegetation : Vegetation is scarce . Pine trees and evergreen laurisilva forests . Endemic species such as the dragon tree or the Canary island pine Fauna: endemic animals , such as Bolle’s pigeon .

25. Alpine Landscape In areas with Alpine climate . Vegetation : Forests of pine trees and fir trees Above 2000m there are thorny bushes and grassland . Fauna: Spanish ibex and vultures

26. Natural hazards and Environmental Problems Earthquakes : are rare but they may happen in the south-east connected to the tectonic boundary .

27. Volcanic eruptions : also rare but may happen in the volcanic Canary islands .

28. Cold snaps : when cold air from the norht and north-east of Europe moves over the peninsula . Temperatures fall and precipitation happens as snow and ice which damages crops and affect transport system

29. Floods : from abundant precipitation or melting snow from the mountains . Cause damages in crops and cities / villages . They occur specially on the Mediterrean and Cantabrian coasts .

30. Droughts : they happen more often in the south and Mediterranean regions affectin agriculture and people .

31. Deforestation : when the forest is destroyed or cleared to make space for crops and grazing or for building . It affects not only vegetation but also the soil Erosion : it increases after deforestation or by the use of heavy machinery , fertilisers or pesticides , overgrazing or excesive building . Desertification : caused by deforestation , overgrazing and poor agricultural irrigation systems . It is becoming serious in the south-east of the Iberian Peninsula .

32. Atmospheric pollution Noise pollution : caused mainly by traffic Water and land pollution : caused by waste products from agriculture , industry and homes .

33. How to protect the environment ? Creating more forests mainly with native trees and protecting the current ones . Using modern irrigation systems to prevent erosion and desertification Improving forest fire prevention Using public transport Reusing goods and recycling waste Increasing the number of protected areas like national parks . Reducing our own impact in nature

34. Spain’s Autonomous Comunities

35. Spain’s Provinces

36. Developed by María Jesús Campos Chusteacher Wikiteacher