Spanish Portugal Andorra map (China-foreign comparison)

Author: Zhou Min, Editor-in-Chief
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2002-01-01
Features: Area of 504,750 square kilometers. Population of 39.04 million (1991). The main ethnic group is the Castilians (i.e., Spaniards), with minority groups including Catalans (approximately 6 million), Basques, and Galicians. Castilian (i.e., Spanish) is the official and national language. In the three minority regions of Catalonia, the Basque Country, and Galicia, their respective ethnic languages are also official languages. 94% of the population is Catholic. The capital is Madrid.
Overview Located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. It borders Portugal to the west, France and Andorra to the northeast, the Bay of Biscay to the north, and Morocco across the Strait of Gibraltar to the south. It faces the Mediterranean Sea to the east and southeast. The coastline is approximately 3,904 kilometers long (excluding the Balearic Islands and the Canary Islands). The central plateau has a continental climate, while the northern and northwest coastal areas have a maritime climate. The average temperature in Madrid is 4.9°C in January and 22.5°C in August. After the victory of the "Reconquista" in 1492, a unified Spanish feudal monarchy was established. On October 12 of the same year, Christopher Columbus arrived in the Caribbean. Spain gradually became a maritime power with colonies in Europe, America, Africa, and Asia. In 1588, the "Invincible Armada" was defeated by England, marking the beginning of its decline. In 1873, a republic was established. In 1931, the Second Republic was established. In 1947, Franco declared Spain a monarchy and appointed himself life-long head of state. In November 1975, Franco died, and Juan Carlos I ascended the throne. In July 1976, King Juan Carlos appointed Adolfo Suárez, the former secretary-general of the National Movement, as prime minister, marking the beginning of a transition to Western parliamentary democracy. In October 1982, the Workers' Socialist Party won the election and formed the government. Since then, the PSOE has been re-elected to power in three consecutive elections in 1986, 1989, and 1993.
Natural Geography Located on the Iberian Peninsula in southwestern Europe, also known as the Pyrenees Peninsula, covering 4/5 of the peninsula's area. It lies between 36°N and 44°N latitude and 9°18′W to 3°19′E longitude. The north-south distance is 840 kilometers, and the east-west distance is approximately 1,000 kilometers. The territory includes the Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean Sea and the Canary Islands in the northwest of Africa, making it the largest country in southwestern Europe and the second-largest in Western Europe, covering 1/20 of Europe's total area. The Meseta in central Spain is a closed plateau surrounded by mountains, covering about 60% of the country's area with an average elevation of 600 to 800 meters. Spain has many mountains, including the Pyrenees and Cantabrian ranges in the north, and the Andalusian Mountains in the south, with the highest peak, Mulhacén, reaching 3,478 meters, the highest point in Spain. The Canary Islands were formed by volcanic eruptions, consisting of 13 volcanic islands with a total area of 7,273 square kilometers. Spain suffers from extreme water scarcity, with most regions characterized by mild, rainy weather and strong winds. The climate in Spain is diverse: the Meseta has a continental climate with extremely cold winters (-25°C) and hot summers (over 40°C), with an average annual rainfall of around 500 millimeters. The northern and northwest coastal areas have a maritime temperate climate with little temperature difference between winter and summer, with average temperatures of 9°C in January and 19°C in July, and rainfall exceeding 1,000 millimeters. The southern and southeastern regions have a Mediterranean subtropical climate with hot summers and mild, rainy winters. Spain has about 30% forest coverage, with forest resources concentrated in the northern coastal areas, covering a total of 11.79 million hectares. Spain's cork production ranks second in the world after Portugal and is an important export commodity. Spain has abundant fishing resources, with the Mediterranean Sea containing 450 fish species, the most valuable being tuna. The Atlantic Ocean and the Bay of Biscay are rich in sardines and cod, both renowned for their quality.
Population and Ethnicity Spain's population ranks fifth in Europe after Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, and France. The population distribution in Spain is highly uneven, with only one-third of the population living in the inland areas, which cover about two-thirds of the country. Spain has a high degree of population mobility, with approximately 1.5 million people migrating to other countries after World War II. Over 3.36 million Spanish people live abroad, with 2.207 million in the Americas and 1.073 million in Europe. Internal migration is also significant, with about 300 to 500,000 people moving within the country annually, primarily from rural to urban areas and from remote regions to economically developed areas or tourist destinations.
Spain is a multi-ethnic country, with the Castilians (i.e., Spaniards) as the majority ethnic group, accounting for 70% of the population. Other ethnic groups include Catalans (approximately 6.9 million, 18.8% of the population), Galicians (approximately 3 million, 8.2%), Basques (approximately 850,000, 2.3%), and others such as Gypsies (40,000), Portuguese (30,000), Americans (30,000), and Cubans (20,000).
Language and Religion Spanish originated from ancient Latin and has a history of over 1,000 years. It is the official language of Spain. In minority regions, their respective ethnic languages are also official languages. Spanish is the lingua franca in some Latin American countries, Equatorial Guinea in Africa, several North African countries, and parts of the Philippines. Currently, 230 million people worldwide speak Spanish, making it one of the official languages of the United Nations. 94% of the Spanish population is Catholic, and Catholicism has a significant influence on people's lives. Additionally, there are 30,000 Protestants and a small number of followers of baptismal sects.
Customs and Traditions "Large Pot Rice" In 1987, Spain twice broke the "Guinness" world record for the largest pot of rice and meat dish (similar to Chinese eight-treasure rice pudding). The previous record was a pot of rice and meat dish that could feed 15,000 people. That year, Spain set two new records, with pots of rice and meat dishes large enough to feed 30,000 and 60,000 people. Rice and meat dishes are a popular food in the Valencia region and throughout Spain, made with rice, meat, fish, and beans, and are highly favored by foreign tourists.
"Island of Honeymoon" The Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean Sea have the largest island, Mallorca, known for its beautiful scenery and pleasant climate. In the mid-1950s, 100 French couples got married collectively. They were deeply impressed by the charming landscapes of Mallorca and decided to celebrate their honeymoon together there. Afterward, many newlyweds in Europe considered this the best place for a honeymoon. Over time, the island became known as the "Island of Honeymoon."
Bullfighting Bullfighting is considered Spain's "national art" and "national sport," earning it the nickname "Kingdom of Bullfighting." Spanish bullfighting has always attracted worldwide attention and admiration.
"Women's Rule Day" on the Day of Martyrs It is said that in 1227, the Moors captured the Segovia Castle of Zamora, and when people were helpless, women like Saint Agatha bravely stepped forward, leading men and other women in a special battle to drive out the enemy and recapture the castle. Many women sacrificed their lives. In memory of the women who died in this battle to defend their homeland, it was decided to dedicate two days in February as "Women's Rule Day," with women taking over all powers traditionally held by men. On these days, women "elected" two mayors and exercised mayoral powers. On this day, women, under the command of the "female mayor," carried the giant statue of Saint Agatha, a defender of the Segovia Castle, and marched to the church guarded by men. This symbolized the recapture of the Segovia Castle.
Tourism In the first nine months of 1992, 44.99 million foreign tourists visited Spain, a 4.1% increase over the previous year, generating 14.553 billion euros in tourism revenue, an 8.6% increase over the previous year. Spain has excellent tourism resources, with most of its territory having a mild climate, beautiful mountains and rivers, bright sunshine, and picturesque scenery. Along its winding 3,000-kilometer coastline, there are numerous natural beaches, including three world-famous coastal tourist areas. The "Golden Coast," a 100-kilometer stretch of coastline in southern Spain, is a paradise for sunbathers. The Canary Islands, known as the "Island of Happiness," attract countless tourists with its magnificent volcanic landscapes and tropical scenery, with sunshine year-round. The Balearic Islands, renowned as the "Mediterranean Swimming Pools," offer breathtaking natural beauty and a harmonious blend of land and sea.
Spain has many palaces, churches, and castles. Among them, more than 10 historical sites are listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. For example, the Saint Martin Pinaillo Cathedral in Santiago de Compostela (also known as Santiago), the Jerónimos Monastery near Madrid, the ancient walls of ávila, the ancient Aqueduct of Segovia, the Great Mosque of Córdoba, the Alhambra in Granada, Gaudí Park in Barcelona, and the home of the artist Joan Miró, all represent the legacy of Spain's ancient civilization.
Spain also has many ancient and unique cultural traditions and distinctive ethnic cultural activities, including the world-famous Spanish bullfighting, passionate Spanish dance, and various customs and national festivals (such as the Pigeon Festival in Madrid, the Major Festival in Catalonia, the Fallas Festival in Valencia, and the Running of the Bulls in Pamplona), all of which can make visitors from different countries experience Spain's unique charm.
When visiting Spain, you can explore the country in five regions: the Balearic Islands Tourist Area, the Southeast Tourist Area, the Northeast Tourist Area, the Central-West Tourist Area, and the Northwest Tourist Area.