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A little bit about Iberia

The Iberian peninsular forms the western most part of Europe. It is separated into two countries, Spain covering 80% of the peninsular and Portugal 20%. Bordering countries are France and Andorra at the Pyrenees and the Rock of Gibraltar at the southern tip.

The Atlantic Ocean washes the shores of the northern and western coasts with the Mediterranean Sea forming the southern and eastern limits. These two waters have very different influences over the climate. The complete coastline of Iberia is approximately 6,757km long(Excluding island territories). The northern regions are known to be more verdant because the Atlantic creates a cooler, moister atmosphere, with mild winters and regular summer precipitation. The Mediterranean regions in the south have hotter summers with frequent drought periods. Heavy rain may arrive in autumn, winter, spring or some years just sporadic showers that do little to refill the aquifers.

Mountain regions further dissect Spain and add climatic influences due to their altitude. Nearly a quarter of Spain is above 1000 m and three quarters between 500 and 1000 m with an average altitude of 660 metres. There are glacial lakes in the Pyrenees, the Cantabrian range in the north and at Sierra Nevada in the south. These harbour alpine plants, with each range having its own endemic species. The slopes may have beech and pine forests with mixed oaks in common with many European forests, the latter, wild olive, Holm’s oaks, gall oaks, native maple acer granatense and the Montpellier maple form the main species.

The highest point of Portugal is in the Serra da Estrela which lies to the north of the river Tagus (Rio Tejo). The Tagus is the largest river of Portugal and flows into the Atlantic at Lisbon, it divides the humid and mountainous north from the flatter and dryer south. The river Guadiana forms the southern most border with Spain and the river Douro has its estuary at Oporto. Pines, oaks, poplars and elm trees dominate the northern parts whereas cultivated citrus and cork oak trees are prevalent in the central and southern areas.

There are many fast flowing rivers in the northern regions of Spain that open into the Atlantic. Those that run into the Mediterranean are slow moving in general or seasonally dry with occasional floods. The largest rivers are the Tajo and the Duero which both cross into Portugal, the Ebro which drops into the Mediterranean and the Guadalquivir which travels west into the Atlantic. More than 1,500 wetlands, inland and coastal, create important habitats. Whether they are salt lagoons, seasonal small depressions or fresh water marshlands of extreme proportions, each holds its own species of flora and fauna.

This high diversity of climate and relief are a wonderful feature and they allow for a mosaic of forest, wetland, coastal dunes, steppe, heath and the only European desert, the Tabernas in south eastern Spain. This, along with the geological position, helps account for the 1,500 plants that are endemic to Spain with a further 500 shared with North Africa. Spain is also an important migrational route for many European bird species. Around 450 different species of birds are listed with 285 breeding. The Canary Islands which are situated near the African coast are formed of volcanic rock. Their climate and habitats are unique and therefore add a different aspect as an autonomous region of Spain.

The Spanish capital of Madrid holds the largest population with more than 5 million occupants in the city and suburbs. The second largest city is Barcelona with Valencia, Sevilla and Malaga in descending order. It is interesting to note that only 30% of the population lives in rural areas which in turn cover 90% of the country. It is down to the fact that Spain has so many wild areas that small populations of wolves, bears and lynx have survived. They have been persecuted up to the recent past but action is now being taken to protect and expand their numbers.

The highest population in Portugal is in the Capital city of Lisbon and its metropolitan area with 2.8 million inhabitants and the second largest population is in Oporto with Vila Nova de Gaia and Amardora following. Around two thirds of the population live in the coastal areas.

Also belonging to Portugal are two island groups located in the Mid-Atlantic Ridge: The archipelago of the Azores is almost 1500 km west of Lisbon. The area consists of nine islands. As well as the archipelago of Madeira which is 964 Kms southwest of Lisbon, it is much smaller than the Azores and consists of eight larger islands and a few small islets.

Search the rest of the web for more information about what to do and where to stay in Spain, Portugal.

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