Editing Spain (section)

== Geography ==
{{Main|Geography of Spain}}
[[File:Spain topo.jpg|thumb|Topographic map of Spain (excluding Canary Islands)]]

At {{convert|505992|km2|sqmi|0|abbr=on}}, Spain is the world's [[List of countries and outlying territories by area|fiftieth largest country]] and [[Area and population of European countries|Europe's fourth largest country]]. At {{convert|3715|m|abbr=on}}, Mount [[Teide]] ([[Tenerife]]) is the highest mountain peak in Spain and is the third largest volcano in the world from its base. Spain is a [[List of transcontinental countries|transcontinental country]], having territory in both [[Europe]] and [[Africa]].

Spain lies between latitudes [[27th parallel north|27°]] and [[44th parallel north|44° N]], and longitudes [[19th meridian west|19° W]] and [[5th meridian east|5° E]].

On the west, Spain is bordered by [[Portugal]]; on the south, it is bordered by [[Gibraltar]] and [[Morocco]], through its [[exclave]]s in North Africa ([[Ceuta]] and [[Melilla]], and the peninsula of [[Peñón de Vélez de la Gomera|de Vélez de la Gomera]]). On the northeast, along the [[Pyrenees]] mountain range, it is bordered by [[France]] and [[Andorra]]. Along the Pyrenees in [[province of Girona|Girona]], a small exclave town called [[Llívia]] is surrounded by France.

Extending to {{convert|1214|km|mi|abbr=on}}, the [[Portugal–Spain border]] is the [[List of countries and territories by land borders|longest uninterrupted border]] within the [[European Union]].<ref>Medina García, Eusebio (2006). [http://www.dip-badajoz.es/cultura/ceex/reex_digital/reex_LXII/2006/T.%20LXII%20n.%202%202006%20mayo-ag/RV000827.pdf «Orígenes históricos y ambigüedad de la frontera {{Not a typo|hispano-lusa}} (La Raya)»] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170525185331/http://www.dip-badajoz.es/cultura/ceex/reex_digital/reex_LXII/2006/T.%20LXII%20n.%202%202006%20mayo-ag/RV000827.pdf|date=25 May 2017 }}. ''Revista de Estudios Extremeños''. Tomo LXII (II Mayo-Agosto). {{ISSN|0210-2854}}, pp. 713–723.</ref>

=== Islands ===
{{Main|List of islands of Spain}}
[[File:Mallorca_Schönste_Strände_Cala_D_Or_(181610303).jpeg|thumb|Aerial view of [[Mallorca]] island]]

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 {{lang|es|[[plazas de soberanía]]}} ("places of sovereignty", or territories under Spanish sovereignty), such as the [[Chafarinas Islands]] and [[Peñón de Alhucemas|Alhucemas]]. The peninsula of [[Peñón de Vélez de la Gomera|de Vélez de la Gomera]] is also regarded as a ''plaza de soberanía''. The isle of [[Alboran Island|Alborán]], located in the Mediterranean between Spain and North Africa, is also administered by Spain, specifically by the municipality of [[Almería]], Andalusia. The little [[Pheasant Island]] in the River [[Bidasoa]] is a Spanish-French [[condominium (international law)|condominium]].

There are 11 major islands in Spain, all of them having their own governing bodies ([[Cabildo insular|Cabildos insulares]] in the Canaries, [[Balearic Islands#Administration|Consells insulars]] in Baleares). These islands are specifically mentioned by the Spanish Constitution, when fixing its Senatorial representation (Ibiza and Formentera are grouped, as they together form the [[Pityusic Islands|Pityusic islands]], part of the Balearic archipelago). These islands include [[Tenerife]], [[Gran Canaria]], [[Lanzarote]], [[Fuerteventura]], [[La Palma]], [[La Gomera]] and [[El Hierro]] in the Canarian archipelago and [[Mallorca]], [[Ibiza]], [[Menorca]] and [[Formentera]] in the Balearic archipelago.

=== Mountains and rivers ===
[[File:Teide von Nordosten (Zuschnitt 1).jpg|thumb|[[Teide]], still an [[active volcano]] in [[Tenerife]], Canary Islands, is the tallest peak in Spain.]]

Mainland Spain is a rather [[mountainous]] landmass, dominated by high [[plateau]]s and mountain chains. After the Pyrenees, the main mountain ranges are the [[Cantabrian Mountains|Cordillera Cantábrica]] (Cantabrian Range), [[Sistema Ibérico]] (Iberian System), [[Sistema Central]] (Central System), [[Montes de Toledo]], [[Sierra Morena]] and the [[Sistema Bético]] (Baetic System) whose highest peak, the {{convert|3478|m|ft|adj=mid|abbr=off|-high}} [[Mulhacén]], located in [[Sierra Nevada (Spain)|Sierra Nevada]], is the highest elevation in the Iberian Peninsula. The highest point in Spain is the [[Teide]], a {{convert|3718|m|ft|adj=on}} active [[volcano]] in the Canary Islands. The [[Meseta Central]] (often translated as 'Inner Plateau') is a vast plateau in the heart of peninsular Spain split in two by the Sistema Central.

There are several major [[rivers in Spain]] such as the [[Tagus]] (''Tajo''), [[Ebro]], [[Guadiana River|Guadiana]], [[Douro]] (''Duero''), [[Guadalquivir]], [[Júcar River|Júcar]], [[Segura (river)|Segura]], [[Turia River|Turia]] and [[Minho River|Minho]] (''Miño''). [[Alluvial plain]]s are found along the coast, the largest of which is that of the Guadalquivir in [[Andalusia]].

=== Climate ===
{{Main|Climate of Spain}}
[[File:Spain_Köppen.svg|thumb|[[Köppen climate classification]] map of Spain]]
[[File:Urriellu desde el Pozo de La Oracion.jpg|thumb|Urriellu peak ([[Naranjo de Bulnes]]) from Pozo de La Oracion, [[Picos de Europa]]]]
Three main climatic zones can be separated, according to geographical situation and [[orography|orographic]] conditions:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.schweizerbart.de/resources/downloads/paper_free/55034.pdf|title=World Map of the Köppen-Geiger climate classification updated – (see p.3)|access-date=30 April 2011|archive-date=12 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190412021016/http://www.schweizerbart.de/resources/downloads/paper_free/55034.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>
* The [[Mediterranean climate]] is characterised by warm/hot and dry summers and is the predominant climate in the country. It has two varieties: ''Csa'' and ''Csb'' according to the [[Köppen climate classification]].
** The ''Csa'' zone is associated with areas with hot summers. It is predominant in the Southern Mediterranean (except southeastern) and Southern Atlantic coast and inland throughout [[Andalusia]], Extremadura and much of the centre of the country. Some areas of Csa, mainly those inland, such as some areas of [[Castilla–La Mancha|Castilla-La-Mancha]], [[Extremadura]], Madrid and some parts of Andalusia, have cool winters with some continental influences, while the regions with a Mediterranean climate close to the sea have mild winters.
** The ''Csb'' zone has warm rather than hot summers, and extends to additional cool-winter areas not typically associated with a Mediterranean climate, such as much of central and northern-central of Spain (e.g. western [[Castile and León|Castile–León]], northeastern Castilla-La Mancha and northern Madrid) and into much rainier areas (notably [[Galicia (Spain)|Galicia]]).
* The [[semi-arid climate]] (''BSk'', ''BSh'') is predominant in the southeastern quarter of the country, but is also widespread in other areas of Spain. It covers most of the [[Region of Murcia]], southern and central-eastern [[Valencian Community|Valencia]], eastern Andalusia, various areas of Castilla-La-Mancha, Madrid and some areas of Extremadura. Further to the north, it is predominant in the upper and mid reaches of the [[Ebro]] valley, which crosses southern [[Navarre]], central [[Aragon]] and western [[Catalonia]]. It is also found in a small area in northern Andalusia and in a small area in central Castilla-León. Precipitation is limited with dry season extending beyond the summer and average temperature depends on altitude and latitude.
* The [[oceanic climate]] (''Cfb'') is located in the northern quarter of the country, especially in the Atlantic region ([[Basque Country (autonomous community)|Basque Country]], [[Cantabria]], [[Asturias]], and partly Galicia and Castile–León). It is also found in northern Navarre, in most highlands areas along the [[Sistema Ibérico|Iberian System]] and in the [[Pyrenees|Pyrenean]] valleys, where a humid subtropical variant (''Cfa'') also occurs. Winter and summer temperatures are influenced by the ocean, and have no seasonal drought.

Apart from these main types, other sub-types can be found, like the [[alpine climate]] in areas with very high altitude, the [[humid subtropical climate]] in areas of northeastern Spain and the [[continental climate]]s (''Dfc'', ''Dfb'' / ''Dsc'', ''Dsb'') in the [[Pyrenees]] as well as parts of the [[Cordillera Cantábrica|Cantabrian Range]], the [[Sistema Central|Central System]], [[Sierra Nevada (Spain)|Sierra Nevada]] and the [[Sistema Ibérico|Iberian System]], and a typical [[desert climate]] (''BWk'', ''BWh'') in the zone of [[Almería]], [[Murcia]] and eastern [[Canary Islands]]. Low-lying areas of the Canary Islands average above {{convert|18.0|C|1}} during their coolest month, thus having influences of [[tropical climate]], although they cannot properly be classified as tropical climates, as according to AEMET, their aridity is high, thus belonging to an arid or semi-arid climate.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Evolucion de los climas de Koppen en España: 1951-2020 |url=https://www.aemet.es/documentos/es/conocermas/recursos_en_linea/publicaciones_y_estudios/publicaciones/NT_37_AEMET/NT_37_AEMET.pdf |access-date=2024-02-08 |website=[[Agencia Estatal de Meteorologia]] |archive-date=13 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240213184548/https://www.aemet.es/documentos/es/conocermas/recursos_en_linea/publicaciones_y_estudios/publicaciones/NT_37_AEMET/NT_37_AEMET.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>

Spain is one of the countries that is most affected by the [[Climate change in Spain|climate change]] in Europe. In Spain, which already has a hot and dry climate, extreme events such as [[Heat wave|heatwaves]] are becoming increasingly frequent.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|title=World Bank Climate Change Knowledge Portal|url=https://climateknowledgeportal.worldbank.org/|access-date=2021-08-17|website=World Bank Climate Change Knowledge Portal|language=en}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web|last1=Medina |first1=Miguel Ángel |first2=Elisa |last2= Tasca|date=2021-08-12|title=Weather experts on Spain's heatwave: 'A summer like this will be considered cold in 30 years' time'|url=https://english.elpais.com/society/2021-08-12/weather-experts-on-spains-heatwave-a-summer-like-this-will-be-considered-cold-in-30-years-time.html|access-date=2021-08-17|website=EL PAÍS|language=en}}</ref> The country is also experiencing more episodes of drought and increased severity of these episodes.<ref>{{Cite web |first1=Fred|last1= Pleitgen|first2=Claudia|last2=Otto |first3=Laura|last3=Paddison |date=2023-05-02 |title=Disappearing lakes, dead crops and trucked-in water: Drought-stricken Spain is running dry |url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/05/02/europe/spain-drought-catalonia-heat-wave-climate-intl/index.html |access-date=2023-05-30 |website=CNN |language=en}}</ref> [[Water resources]] will be severely affected in various [[climate change]] scenarios.<ref>{{cite journal |author=T. Estrela |author2=M.A. Pérez-Martin |author3=E. Vargas |title=Impacts of climate change on water resources in Spain |journal=Hydrological Sciences Journal |year=2012 |volume=57 |issue=6 |pages=1154–1167 |doi=10.1080/02626667.2012.702213 |doi-access=|bibcode=2012HydSJ..57.1154E }}</ref> To mitigate the [[effects of climate change]], Spain is promoting an [[energy transition]] to [[renewable energy|renewable energies]], such as [[Solar power|solar]] and [[wind energy]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Renewable energies in Spain |website=Institute for the Diversification and Saving of Energy  |url=https://www.idae.es/articulos/renewable-energies-spain}}</ref>

=== Fauna and flora ===
[[File:Iberian Wolf AdF 001.jpg|thumb|The [[Iberian wolf]] in [[Castile and Leon]]. The region has 25% of the land covered by [[Natura 2000]] protected natural spaces.]]
{{main|Wildlife of Spain}}

The [[fauna]] presents a wide diversity that is due in large part to the geographical position of the Iberian peninsula between the Atlantic and the Mediterranean and between Africa and [[Eurasia]], and the great diversity of habitats and [[biotopes]], the result of a considerable variety of climates and well differentiated regions.

The vegetation of Spain is varied due to several factors including the diversity of the terrain, the climate and [[latitude]]. Spain includes different [[phytogeographic]] regions, each with its own floral characteristics resulting largely from the interaction of climate, topography, soil type and fire, and [[Biotic component|biotic]] factors. The country had a 2019 [[Forest Landscape Integrity Index]] mean score of 4.23/10, ranking it 130th globally out of 172 countries.<ref name="FLII-Supplementary">{{cite journal|last1=Grantham|first1=H. S.|last2=Duncan|first2=A.|last3=Evans|first3=T. D.|last4=Jones|first4=K. R.|last5=Beyer|first5=H. L.|last6=Schuster|first6=R.|last7=Walston|first7=J.|last8=Ray|first8=J. C.|last9=Robinson|first9=J. G.|last10=Callow|first10=M.|last11=Clements|first11=T.|last12=Costa|first12=H. M.|last13=DeGemmis|first13=A.|last14=Elsen|first14=P. R.|last15=Ervin|first15=J.|last16=Franco|first16=P.|last17=Goldman|first17=E.|last18=Goetz|first18=S.|last19=Hansen|first19=A.|last20=Hofsvang|first20=E.|last21=Jantz|first21=P.|last22=Jupiter|first22=S.|last23=Kang|first23=A.|last24=Langhammer|first24=P.|last25=Laurance|first25=W. F.|last26=Lieberman|first26=S.|last27=Linkie|first27=M.|last28=Malhi|first28=Y.|last29=Maxwell|first29=S.|last30=Mendez|first30=M.|last31=Mittermeier|first31=R.|last32=Murray|first32=N. J.|last33=Possingham|first33=H.|last34=Radachowsky|first34=J.|last35=Saatchi|first35=S.|last36=Samper|first36=C.|last37=Silverman|first37=J.|last38=Shapiro|first38=A.|last39=Strassburg|first39=B.|last40=Stevens|first40=T.|last41=Stokes|first41=E.|last42=Taylor|first42=R.|last43=Tear|first43=T.|last44=Tizard|first44=R.|last45=Venter|first45=O.|last46=Visconti|first46=P.|last47=Wang|first47=S.|last48=Watson|first48=J. E. M.|display-authors=1|title=Anthropogenic modification of forests means only 40% of remaining forests have high ecosystem integrity – Supplementary Material|journal=Nature Communications|volume=11|issue=1|year=2020|page=5978|issn=2041-1723|doi=10.1038/s41467-020-19493-3|pmid=33293507|pmc=7723057|bibcode=2020NatCo..11.5978G |doi-access=free}}</ref>

Within the European territory, Spain has the largest number of plant species (7,600 vascular plants) of all European countries.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Biodiversity in Spain |url=https://www.climatechangepost.com/spain/biodiversity/ |access-date=24 September 2022 |website=Climatechangepost.com |language=en |archive-date=24 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220924231535/https://www.climatechangepost.com/spain/biodiversity/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

In Spain there are 17.804 billion trees and an average of 284 million more grow each year.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Biodiversidad |first=Fundación |date=18 February 2014 |title=The Foundation |url=https://www.fundacion-biodiversidad.es/en/about-us |access-date=24 September 2022 |website=Fundación Biodiversidad |language=en |archive-date=24 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220924231544/https://www.fundacion-biodiversidad.es/en/about-us |url-status=dead }}</ref>