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Today in Spain

Spain España or the Kingdom of Spain Reino de España, is a country located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Its mainland is bordered to the south and east by the Mediterranean Sea except for a small land boundary with Gibraltar; to the north by France, Andorra, and the Bay of Biscay; and to the west by the Atlantic Ocean and Portugal. Spanish territory also includes the Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean, the Canary Islands in the Atlantic Ocean off the African coast, and two autonomous cities in North Africa, Ceuta and Melilla, that border Morocco. With an area of 504,030 km², Spain is the second largest country in Western Europe after France.

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Because of its location, the territory of Spain was subject to many external influences, often simultaneously, since prehistoric times and through the dawn of Spain as a country. On the other side, the country itself has been an important source of influence to other regions, chiefly during the Modern Era, when it became a global empire that has left a legacy of over 400 million Spanish speakers today.

Spain is a democracy organised in the form of a parliamentary government under a constitutional monarchy. It is a developed country with the eighth largest economy in the world based on nominal GDP. It is a member of the European Union and NATO.

The name Spain was derived from the ancient Roman name for Iberia, Hispania.

Geography

At 195,884 mi² (504,782 km²), Spain is the world’s 51st-largest country. It is some 47,000 km² smaller than France and 81,000 km² larger than the U.S. state of California.
On the west, Spain borders Portugal, on the south, it borders Gibraltar (a British overseas territory) and Morocco, through its cities in North Africa (Ceuta and Melilla). On the northeast, along the Pyrenees mountain range, it borders France and the tiny principality of Andorra. Spain also includes the Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean Sea, the Canary Islands in the Atlantic Ocean and a number of uninhabited islands on the Mediterranean side of the strait of Gibraltar, known as Plazas de soberanía, such as the Chafarine islands, the isle of Alborán, the “rocks” peñones of Vélez and Alhucemas, and the tiny Isla Perejil. Along the Pyrenees in Catalonia, a small enclave town called Llívia is surrounded by France. The little Pheasant Island in the River Bidasoa is a Spanish-French condominium.

Mainland Spain is dominated by high plateaus and mountain ranges, such as the Sierra Nevada. Running from these heights are several major rivers such as the Tagus, the Ebro, the Duero, the Guadiana and the Guadalquivir. Alluvial plains are found along the coast, the largest of which is that of the Guadalquivir in Andalusia.

Driving in Spain

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The Geography on Spain

Most of Spain’s national territory is located on the Iberian Peninsula – which it shares with Portugal and Andorra – situated in the southwest corner of Europe. However it also comprises the Canary Islands and the Balearics, a few smaller islands, and the cities of Ceuta and Melilla in North Africa. With a surface area...

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Spanish Institutions

The Crown. The political form of the Spanish state is that of a parliamentary monarchy. The king, in his capacity as the head of state, symbolises the unity and permanence of the state. He arbitrates and moderates in the regular running of institutions and acts as the highest representative of the Spanish state in international...

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Spanish Population

In recent years the resident population in Spain has begun an unexpected recovery. At the beginning of the 1990s, demographers and other experts announced that the population showed a tendency to decline and that the figure of 40 million inhabitants would therefore not be reached in the short term. However, the massive influx of immigrants...

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Regions of Spain

The Autonomous Community Comunidad Autónoma in Spanish is the first-level political division of the Kingdom of Spain, established in accordance with the Spanish Constitution. The second article of the constitution recognizes the rights of "regions and nationalities" to self-government and declares the "indissoluble unity of the Spanish nation". Spain is divided into 17 autonomous communities. These regional governments are responsible...

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Provinces of Spain

In addition to its Autonomous Communities, Spain is divided into fifty provinces. Formerly of greater importance, since the arrival of the autonomous community system the provinces have had fewer powers. They are still used as electoral districts, in postal addresses, phone codes, and as geographical referents. (A small town would be identified as being in Valladolid province rather than as being in Castile and Leon, for example.)...

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Spanish Politics

The Politics of Spain take place in the framework of a parliamentary representative democratic constitutional monarchy, whereby the Monarch is the Head of State and the President of the Government is the head of government in a multi-party system. Executive power is vested in the government. Central legislative power is vested in the two chambers of parliament. The Judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislature. Political developments Parliamentary democracy was restored following the...

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The Monarchy

The Crown Article 1.3. of the Spanish Constitution of 1978 lays down that "the political form of the Spanish State is that of a Parliamentary Monarchy". Art. 56 of the Spanish Constitution of 1978 lays down that: 1. The King is the Head of State and Supreme Commander in Chief of the armed forces, the symbol...

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Spanish Law

The Law of Spain is the term used to describe the legislation which is in force in the Kingdom of Spain, which is understood to mean Spanish territory, Spanish waters, consulates and embassies, and ships flying the Spanish flag in international waters. It is also applicable to the Spanish armed forces worldwide. Spanish law stems from the...

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Country Information

Kingdom of Spain Reino de España Motto: "Plus Ultra" (Latin)"Further Beyond" Anthem: "Marcha Real" (Spanish)"Royal March" Capital (and largest city) Madrid 40°26'N 3°42'W? / ?40.433°N 3.7°W? / 40.433; -3.7 Official languages Spanish Recognised regional languages Aranese, Basque, Catalan/Valencian and Galician Ethnic groups 88.7% Spanish, 11.3% Other (Romanian, Moroccan, Ecuadorian, Colombian, British) Demonym Spanish, Spaniard Government Parliamentary democracy and Constitutional monarchy - King Juan Carlos I - Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero (PSOE) Formation 15th century - Dynastic...

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The Transport Network

Railways Spanish railways date from 1848. The total route length in 2004 was 14,781 km (8,791 km electrified) broad gauge (1668 mm): 11,829 km (6,950 km electrified at 3 kV DC) standard gauge (1435 mm): 998 km (all electrified at 25 kV AC) narrow gauge] (1000 mm): 1,926 km (815 km electrified) narrow gauge] (914 mm): 28

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Spanish Food

Spanish cuisine consists of a variety of dishes which stem from differences in geography, culture and climate. It is heavily influenced by seafood available from the waters that surround the country, and reflects the country's deep maritime roots. Spain's extensive history with many cultural influences has led to an array of unique cuisines with literally thousands of recipes...

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Public Holidays

Public holidays celebrated in Spain include a mix of religious (Roman Catholic), national and regional observances. Each municipality is allowed to declare a maximum of 14 public holidays per year; up to nine of these are chosen by the national government and at least two are chosen locally. If one of the nine "national holidays" falls on a Sunday,...

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The Police in Spain

The Police in Spain In the UK, it is generally easy to know who looks after the law and order of our streets and cities, crime, major criminal activity etc, as everything goes through THE POLICE. This is of course a little bit of a facade in the UK, as there are groups like the...

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