A Traveler's Geography of Spain
Spain occupies about 80 percent of the Iberian Peninsula. It is separated from Morocco by the Straits of Gibraltar and has both a Mediterranean and Atlantic Coastline. The Canary Islands in the Atlantic and the Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean belong to Spain.
Much of Spain is mountainous, as you can see from the map. Spain's largest rivers are the Ebro, Duero, Guadalquivir, Guadiana and Tagus. The climate is varied, with extremes of heat in the interior and cold in the mountains. Drought is a problem in many areas. In Summer, most of Spain is quite hot, with the exception of the northern coast regions, whose temperatures are moderated by the Bay of Biscay. Weather Underground Current Spain Weather
Spain - Total Area: 504,782 sq km
land: 499,542 sq km
water: 5,240 sq km
note: includes Balearic Islands, Canary Islands, and
five places of sovereignty (plazas de soberania) on and off the coast of Morocco
- Ceuta, Melilla, Islas Chafarinas, Penon de Alhucemas, and Penon de Velez
de la Gomera.
Population of Spain
In July of 2004, the population of Spain was estimated to be 40,280,780 people.
Major UNESCO World Heritage Natural, Geological, and Archaeological Sites
Map of Spain © Mountain High Maps®, Modified
by James Martin
The map shows Unesco Heritage sites outside of the major cities. Many are sites of geological and/or archaeological importance.
Roman Walls of Lugo
"The walls of the town of Lugo were built in the later part of the 3rd century to defend the Roman town of Lucus. The entire circuit survives intact and is the finest example of late Roman fortifications in western Europe." - from the UNESCO World Heritage Center - Roman Walls of Lugo
Muralla Romana de Lugo - Interesting site with pictures and a virtual tour of the Roman walls of Lugo.
Las Médulas
"In the 1st century A.D. the Roman Imperial authorities began to exploit the gold deposits of this region in north-west Spain, using a technique based on hydraulic power. After two centuries of working the deposits, the Romans withdrew, leaving a devastated landscape. Since there was no subsequent industrial activity, the dramatic traces of this remarkable ancient technology are visible everywhere as sheer faces in the mountainsides and the vast areas of tailings, now used for agriculture." from the UNESCO World Heritage Center - Las Médulas
Las Medulas is located in the region of Leon, in the district of El Bierzo (near Caracedo).
Altamira Cave
"This prehistoric site in the province of Santander was inhabited in the Aurignacian period and then in the Solutrean and Magdalenian periods. Most of the stone implements and, in particular, the famous paintings in the great chamber (in ochre, red and black and depicting a variety of wild animals such as bison, horses, fawns and wild boar) date from this latter period." from the UNESCO World Heritage Center - Altamira Cave
Visiting the Caves of Northern Spain
Atapuerca (Archaeological Site)
'The caves of the Sierra de Atapuerca contain a rich fossil record of the earliest human beings in Europe, from nearly one million years ago and extending up to the Common Era. They represent an exceptional reserve of data, the scientific study of which provides priceless information about the appearance and the way of life of these remote human ancestors." from the UNESCO World Heritage Center - Archaeological Site of Atatpuerca
Atapuerca is near the interesting city of Burgos.
Atapuerca - The First Europeans
Monte Perdido / Mont Perdu
"This outstanding mountain landscape, which spans the contemporary national borders of France and Spain, is centred around the peak of Mount Perdu, a calcareous massif that rises to 3,352 m. The site, with a total area of 30,639 ha, includes two of Europe's largest and deepest canyons on the Spanish side and three major cirque walls on the more abrupt northern slopes with France, classic presentations of these geological landforms. The site is also a pastoral landscape reflecting an agricultural way of life that was once widespread in the upland regions of Europe but now survives only in this part of the Pyrénées." from the UNESCO World Heritage Center - Monte Perdido. (Inside the national park of Ordessa and Monte Perdido)
The nearest airport is at Zaraboza. The main village of access to Monte Perdido is the tiny village of Bielsa, with plenty of facilities.
Parador de Bielsa
Monte Perdido Summit Log
The Ghost Villages of Monte Perdido
Côa Valley (Portugal)
"This exceptional concentration of rock carvings from the Upper Palaeolithic (22,000–10,000 B.C.) is the most outstanding example of early human artistic activity in this form anywhere in the world." from the UNESCO World Heritage Center - Côa Valley.
This is a very controversial site. Visiting is still difficult as the sites are remote but the local National Park Office is able to provide complete information.
Rock Art of the Mediterranean Basin on the Iberian Peninsula
"The late prehistoric rock-art sites of the Mediterranean seaboard of the Iberian peninsula form an exceptionally large group. Here the way of life during a critical phase of human development is vividly and graphically depicted in paintings whose style and subject matter are unique." from the UNESCO World Heritage Center - Rock Art of the Mediterranean Basin
Doñana National Park
Doñana National Park in Andalusia occupies the right bank of the Guadalquivir river at its estuary on the Atlantic Ocean. It is notable for the great diversity of its biotopes, especially lagoons, marshlands, fixed and mobile dunes, scrub woodland and maquis. It is home to five threatened bird species. It is one of the largest heronries in the Mediterranean region and is the wintering site for more than 500,000 water fowl each year." from the UNESCO World Heritage Center - Doñana National Park
Other Spain Maps
More on the Geography of Spain and the Iberian Peninsula
- Geography and Map of Spain from Geography at About.com
- For a complete list of the World Heritage Sites in Spain, see UNESCO Spain.
- World Heritage Geology Sites, Europe
