Spain

Spain is located at the Iberian Peninsula, of which it occupies approximately 80% (the remaining 20% are occupied by Portugal), in the southwest of Europe. In the north Spain borders on France and Andorra, with the Pyrenees as a natural frontier.

Additionally the Balearic Islands (Mallorca, Menorca and Ibiza) in the Mediterranean Sea, Canary Islands in Atlantic Ocean close to the Moroccian coast, and Ceuta and Melilla, located in northern Africa, are Spanish territory.

The climate of Spain is extremely varied. The northern coastal regions are cool and humid, with an average annual temperature of 14° C (57° F ); temperatures at Bilbao range from an average of 10° C (50° F ) in January–March to 19° C (66° F ) during July– September. The central plateau is cold in the winter and hot in the summer; Madrid has a winter average of about 8° C (46° F ) and a summer average of 23° C (73° F ). In Andalucía and the Levante, the climate is temperate except in summer, when temperatures sometimes reach above 40° C (104° F ) in the shade. The northern coastal regions have an average annual rainfall of 99 cm (39 in); the southern coastal belt has 41–79 cm (16–31 in); and the interior central plain averages no more than 50 cm (20 in) annually.

Madrid is the capital of and the largest city in Spain. It is located on the river Manzanares in the centre of the Iberian Peninsula. Zamora is a city in Castile and Leon, Spain, the capital of the province of Zamora. Valladolid is an economic motor of the autonomous community, having an important automobile industry. Valencia is the third largest city in Spain and the 21st largest in the European Union. It forms part of an industrial area on the Costa del Azahar.Toledo is a municipality located in central Spain. Toledo was famed for its production of iron and especially of swords and the city is still a center for the manufacture of knives and other steel implements. Teruel's remote and mountainous location and its low population has led to relative isolation within Spain. Tarragona is home to a large port and the Universitat Rovira i Virgili. Much of its economic activity comes from a large number of chemical industries located in the city or in surrounding areas. During the Roman invasion of Spain, Soria was besieged and its population committed a collective suicide in order to escape slavery. Seville is the artistic, cultural, and financial capital of southern Spain. It is the capital of Andalusia and of the province of Seville. Segovia is a very popular tourist destination, especially as a day-trip from Madrid. Santa Cruz de Tenerife aka Santa Cruz is a city and a municipality on the island of Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain. Salamanca is considered one of the most spectacular Renaissance cities in Europe. The population of Pontevedra is mature where generational replacement is not necessarily assured, although the city has been slowly but gradually growing in recent years.Palencia contains a few historic sights. 

Long a largely agricultural country, Spain produces large crops of wheat, barley, vegetables, tomatoes, olives, sugar beets, citrus fruit, grapes, and cork. Spain is the world's largest producer of olive oil and Europe's largest producer of lemons, oranges, and strawberries. The best-known wine regions are those of Rioja, in the upper Ebro valley, and of Málaga and Jerez de la Frontera, in Andalusia. Cattle, pigs, and poultry are raised. Agriculture is handicapped in many places by lack of mechanization, by insufficient irrigation, and by soil exhaustion and erosion. The major industries produce textiles and apparel, foods and beverages, metals and metal products, chemicals, ships, automobiles, machine tools, clay and refractory products, footwear, pharmaceuticals, and medical equipment. Petroleum is found near Burgos. Fishing, notably for sardines, tuna, cod, and anchovies, is an important source of livelihood, especially on the Atlantic coast, and fish canning is a major industry. Tourism is Spain's greatest source of income. Most Spanish railroads, unlike those of the rest of Western Europe, use broad-gauged tracks, although some regional systems consist of narrow-gauge railways. In 1992 a high-speed standard-gauge railway connecting Madrid and Seville began operation. Spain's greatest trade is with France, Germany, Italy, and Great Britain.

The Terra Mítica theme park, located in Benidorm (Alicante), on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea, is one of the most famous leisure centres in Spain. It offers visitors the possibility of taking a tour through History by means of its different attractions and shows, visiting civilisations such as the Egyptian, Greek, Roman and Iberian. This new season the park opens with a new show, Imagine, which allows visitors to relive events from the past such as the Big Band, and to travel through remote galaxies or to plunge into the fascinating World of Imagination. The Warner Bros. Park, located in San Martin de la Vega (Madrid), this year celebrates its third season with sensational attractions and new interactive shows. Through the five zones that make up the Leisure Park, visitors will relive a shooting with spectacular explosions and visual effects or will watch the Crazy Police Academy show or the Lethal Weapon show. Moreover, visitors can get lost in the Little Horror Shop or take a walk through the old streets of the Hollywood dream factory, where Californian restaurants and specialised shops intermingle with marvellous cars of the fifties and the movies of the legendary Chinese Theatre.

Religion is Roman and Catholic. Languages are Castilian Spanish (official) 74%, Catalan 17%, Galician 7%, Basque 2%, are official regionally.

The Central Plateau is the largest in Europe and has always been dominant throughout Spain's history. It is an agricultural region where the classic crops of Spain are grown e.g cereals, grapes and olives. To the east of the Meseta there is a coastal fringe bathed by the waters of the Bay of Biscay. This area is known as 'Green Spain', a wet area producing a wide range leafy, woodland vegetation.

Horses are the main attraction in Jerez de la Frontera in southern Andalusia during the Horse Fair. During the festivities the fairground is filled with parades featuring carriages and horses, as well as with thoroughbred horses who dance to the rhythms of flamenco music. The fun never stops, and the streets are alive with people who come to enjoy the music, the shows, and to dance the traditional Andalusian sevillanas.

Football is the most popular sport in Spain. Other popular sport activities are basketball, tennis, cycling, handball, motorcycling, Formula 1, water sports, golf, and skiing.