SPAIN

NATURAL ENVIRONMENT: Spain occupies about 85 percent of the Iberian Peninsula and is bounded by water for about 88 percent of its periphery; its Mediterranean coast is 1,660 km long, and its Atlantic coast is 710 km long. The long, unbroken mountain chain of the Pyrenees, extending 435 km from the Bay of Biscay to the Mediterranean Sea, forms the border with France on the north; in the extreme south the Strait of Gibraltar, less than 13 km wide at its narrowest extent, separates Spain from Africa. The most important topographical feature of Spain is the great, almost treeless, central plateau, called the Meseta Central, sloping generally downward from north to south and from east to west, and with an average elevation of 600 m above sea level. The tableland is divided into northern and southern sections by irregular mountain ranges, or sierras, of which the most important are the Sierra de Guadarrama, the Sierra de Gredos, and the Montes de Toledo. Between many of the mountains are narrow valleys, drained by rapid rivers. The coastal plain is narrow, rarely as much as 30 km wide and, in many areas, broken by mountains that descend to the sea to form rocky headlands, particularly along the Mediterranean coast, where the sole excellent harbor is Barcelona. The northwestern coastal area has several good harbors, particularly along the Galician coast. The six principal mountain chains have elevations greater than 3,300 m. The highest peaks are the Pico de Aneto in the Pyrenees and Mulhacén in the Sierra Nevada in southern Spain. The highest point in Spain and its insular territories is Pico de Teide on Tenerife Island in the Canary Islands. The lowest point is sea level along the coast. The principal rivers of Spain flow west and south to the Atlantic Ocean, generally along deep, rocky courses that they have cut through the mountain valleys. The Duero, Miño, Tajo, and Guadiana rivers rise in Spain and flow through Portugal to the Atlantic. The Guadalquivir River, flowing through a fertile plain in the south, is the deepest river in Spain and the only one navigable for any extent. The Ebro River, in northeastern Spain, flows into the Mediterranean Sea, and is navigable by small craft for part of its course. Most Spanish streams are too small for interior navigation, and, with courses below the general ground level, are of little use for irrigation. The rivers are, however, a good source of electric power. The most valuable natural resource of Spain is the soil, with nearly one-third of the land suitable for cultivation. The country also has many mineral resources, including hard and brown coal, small petroleum and natural gas deposits, iron ore, uranium, mercury, pyrites, fluorspar, gypsum, zinc, lead, tungsten, copper, and potash.
AGRICULTURE: Agriculture is a mainstay of the Spanish economy, employing, with forestry and fishing, 6 percent of the labor force. The leading agricultural products are grapes, used to make wine, and olives, used to make olive oil. In 2005 Spain’s agricultural harvest included fruits, particularly grapes, olives, oranges, and almonds; cereal grains such as barley, wheat, and rice; vegetables such as tomatoes and onions; and root crops, primarily potatoes and sugar beets. Climatic and topographical conditions make dry farming obligatory for a large part of Spanish agriculture. The Mediterranean provinces, particularly Valencia, have irrigation systems that represent the work of many generations, and the formerly arid coastal belt has become one of the most productive areas of Spain. Combined irrigation and hydroelectric projects are found particularly in the valley of the Ebro River. Large sections of Extremadura are irrigated by means of government projects on the Guadiana River. Small-farm irrigation from wells is common. The raising of livestock, especially sheep and goats, is an important industry. In 2005 livestock on farms included 22.5 million sheep, 25.3 million pigs, 6.7 million cattle, and 240,000 horses.
ENERGY: Conventional thermal plants primarily fueled by coal or refined petroleum generated 53 percent of Spain’s electricity in 2003. Hydroelectric facilities produced 16 percent, and nuclear installations, 24 percent. Total output of electricity was 247 billion kilowatt-hours.
TOURISM: The climate, beaches, and historic cities of Spain are an attraction for tourists, which make a significant contribution to the country’s economy. Spain received 52.4 million visitors in 2004, making it one of the world’s top tourist destinations. The $5.6 billion tourists spent helped make up for Spain’s considerable trade deficit.