Geography (Spain)
=================


     Total area:
         504,750 km2
     Land area:
         499,400 km2; includes Balearic Islands, Canary Islands, and five places of
         sovereignty (plazas de soberania) on and off the coast of Morocco - Ceuta,
         Mellila, Islas Chafarinas, Penon de Alhucemas, and Penon de Velez de la
         Gomera
     Comparative area:
         slightly more than twice the size of Oregon
     Land boundaries:
         1,903.2 km total; Andorra 65 km, France 623 km, Gibraltar 1.2 km, Portugal
         1,214 km
     Coastline:
         4,964 km
     Maritime claims:
       Exclusive economic zone:
         200 nm
       Territorial sea:
         12 nm
     Disputes:
         Gibraltar question with UK; Spain controls five places of sovereignty
         (plazas de soberania) on and off the coast of Morocco - the coastal enclaves
         of Ceuta and Melilla, which Morocco contests, as well as the islands of
         Penon de Alhucemas, Penon de Velez de la Gomera, and Islas Chafarinas
     Climate:
         temperate; clear, hot summers in interior, more moderate and cloudy along
         coast; cloudy, cold winters in interior, partly cloudy and cool along coast
     Terrain:
         large, flat to dissected plateau surrounded by rugged hills; Pyrenees in
         north
     Natural resources:
         coal, lignite, iron ore, uranium, mercury, pyrites, fluorspar, gypsum, zinc,
         lead, tungsten, copper, kaolin, potash, hydropower
     Land use:
         arable land 31%; permanent crops 10%; meadows and pastures 21%; forest and
         woodland 31%; other 7%; includes irrigated 6%
     Environment:
         deforestation; air pollution
     Note:
         strategic location along approaches to Strait of Gibraltar