Spain

Spain-Kristin

SPAIN



~ Location: Southwestern Europe, bordering the Bay of Biscay, Mediterranean Sea, North Atlantic Ocean, and Pyrenees Mountains, southwest of France ~ Spain is a democratic parliamentary constitutional monarchy. The monarch is the head of state, and the president of the government is the head of government. There are multiple parties and free elections. 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 legislative powers. ~ Natural resources: coal, lignite, iron ore, uranium, mercury, pyrites, fluorspar, gypsum, zinc, lead, tungsten, copper, kaolin, potash, hydropower, arable land. Exports: $215.7 billion (2009 est.): machinery, motor vehicles; foodstuffs, pharmaceuticals, medicines, other consumer goods. Imports: $293.2 billion (2009 est.): machinery and equipment, fuels, chemicals, semifinished goods, foodstuffs, consumer goods, measuring and medical control instruments. Major trading partners: France, Germany, Portugal, Italy, UK, Netherlands (2004). [|http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0107987.html?pageno=5#ixzz1rqpVNNu7] ~ Ruler: King Juan Carlos I (1975) ~ Prime Minister: Mariano Rajoy (2011) ~ Land area: 192,819 sq mi (499,401 sq km); total area: 194,896 sq mi (504,782 sq km)1 ~ Population (2010 est.): 40,548,753 (growth rate: 0.0%); birth rate: 9.5/1000; infant mortality rate: 4.1/1000; life expectancy: 80.2; density per sq mi: 210 ~ 17 autonomous communities (comunidades autonomas, singular—comunidad autonoma); Andalucia, Aragon, Asturias, Baleares (Balearic Islands), Canarias (Canary Islands), Cantabria, Castilla-La Mancha, Castilla y Leon, Cataluna, Communidad Valencian, Extremadura, Galicia, La Rioja, Madrid, Murcia, Navarra, Pais Vasco (Basque Country) note: there are five places of sovereignty on and off the coast of Morocco: Ceuta and Melilla are administered as autonomous communities; Islas Chafarinas, Penon de Alhucemas, and Penon de Velez de la Gomera are under direct Spanish administration ~ Land use: arable land: 30% permanent crops: 9% permanent pastures: 21% forests and woodland: 32% other: 8% (1993 est.) ~ Irrigated land: 34,530 sq km (1993 est.) Natural hazards: periodic droughts ~ Environment—current issues: pollution of the Mediterranean Sea from raw sewage and effluents from the offshore production of oil and gas; water quality and quantity nationwide; air pollution; deforestation; desertification ~A hotspot in spain for biodiversity is in Galicia, which is northwest in Spain [] ~ Flag description: three horizontal bands of red (top), yellow (double width), and red with the national coat of arms on the hoist side of the yellow band; the coat of arms includes the royal seal framed by the Pillars of Hercules, which are the two promontories (Gibraltar and Ceuta) on either side of the eastern end of the Strait of Gibraltar ~ Religions: Roman Catholic 99%, other 1% ~Considered a least developed country ~ Languages: Castilian Spanish 74%, Catalan 17%, Galician 7%, Basque 2% ~Age structure: 0-14 years: 15% (male 3,012,907; female 2,835,455) 15-64 years: 68% (male 13,411,046; female 13,406,214) 65 years and over: 17% (male 2,702,654; female 3,799,468) (1999 est.) ~Population growth rate: 0.1% (1999 est.) ~Birth rate: 9.99 births/1,000 population (1999 est.) ~Death rate: 9.69 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.) ~Net migration rate: 0.66 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.) ~Sex ratio: at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female, under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female, 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female, 65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female, total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (1999 est.) ~Infant mortality rate: 6.41 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.) ~Life expectancy at birth: total population: 77.71 years, male: 73.97 years, female: 81.71 years (1999 est.) ~Total fertility rate: 1.24 children born/woman (1999 est.) ~Visitors can generally expect a Mediterranean climate, characterized by hot, dry summers and mild, rainy winters. The vast central plateau, or Meseta, has a continental climate with hot, dry summers and cold winters. Rain generally falls in spring and autumn. The mountains surrounding the plateau have a higher rainfall and often experience heavy snowfalls in winter. ~Spain is a temperate deciduous forest ~Threatened species: ~Pena de Francia Rock Lizard Iberolacerta martinezricai Reptiles Spain ~ Parachondrostoma turiense Parachondrostoma turiense Fishes Spain ~European Mink //Mustela lutreola// ~Mehely's Horseshoe Bat //Rhinolophus mehelyi// ~ A few of Spain's native animals are relatively small like deer, ibex, tortoises, bats, and snakes (including a venomous viper). The native birds are vultures, eagles, kites, bustards, and storks. Native meaning they have thrived and lived there over a long period of time. ~Many national parks, protected areas and reserves have been established over the years. These include the World Heritage sites of Donana National Park and Garajonay National Park. Mont Perdu in the Pyrenees is also on the UNESCO World Heritage List. In addition, around fifty sites are designated by Ramsar as Wetlands of International Importance and over thirty sites are UNESCO MAB Biosphere Reserves. ~Spain has two types of protected natural area: Protected Areas –PA (designated under Law 42/2007, on Natural Heritage and Biodiversity ) and protection granted by inclusion in the Natura 2000 network. ~Spain has a doubling time of ~The growing population of immigrants is the main reason for the slight increase in Spain's fertility rate. From 2002-2008 the Spanish population grew by 8%, of which 6% were foreign. ~Many demographers have linked Spain's very low fertility rate to the country's lack of any real family planning policies. Spain spends the least on family support out all western European countries. A Spanish family would need to have 57 children to enjoy the same financial support as a family with 3 children in Luxembourg. ~Tourism, especially nature tourism, is closely linked to biodiversity and the attractions created. It can also cause loss of biodiversity when land and resources are strained by excessive use, and when impacts on vegetation, wildlife, marine and coastal environments and water resources exceed the carrying capacity. This loss of biodiversity in fact means loss of tourism potential. ~Air pollution is also a problem in Spain. In 1995 industrial carbon dioxide emissions totaled 223.2 million metric tons ranking Spain 20th compared to the other nations of the world. Industrial and agricultural sources contribute to the nation's water pollution problem. Spain is also vulnerable to oil pollution from tankers which travel the shipping routes near the nation's shores. ~Spain's cities produce about 13.8 million tons of solid waste per year.