Geography of Spain:
Spain is located on the Iberian Peninsula, of which it occupies approximately 80% (the remaining 20% are occupied by Portugal), and is bordered by Portugal, France and Andorra. Off its shores and also Spanish territory are situated the Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean Sea, Canary Islands in Atlantic Ocean close to the Moroccan coast, and Ceuta and Melilla, located in northern Africa. Landscapes are extremely varied, with some being almost desert-like while others are green and fertile. One must not forget Spain's long coasts, in the east along Mediterranean Sea from Pyrenees to Gibraltar, and in the west along the Atlantic Ocean and Cantabrian Sea.

Regions of Spain:
Spain is comprised of its Comunidades Autonomas (Autonomous Communities) of Spain, such as Andalucia, Cataluña, Islas Balearicas (Balearic Islands of Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza, etc.), Islas Canarias (Canary Islands of Gran Canaria, Tenerife, Fuerteventura, Lanzarote, La Palma, etc.).

Culture: Spain's historical background covers from Roman aqueducts and Islamic palaces to Gothic cathedrals, making it one of the cultural centers in Europe. It has a variety of odl and modern architectural gems. Spain has been the birthplace of some of the world's great artists including El Greco, Velázquez, Goya, Dalí, Picasso, Tapies, Miró and many others. Its musical heritage contains the dramatic tones of flamenco of the south to Celtic music and gaitas (bagpipes) of the northwest. Population: Approx. 40 million Languages: Castilian Spanish (official language) Other official languages are Catalán (Catalonian), Gallego (Galician), Valenciano (Valencian), Vasco (Basque)

Capital: Madrid

Major Industries: textiles & apparel, food & beverages, metals, chemicals, shipbuilding, tourism

For more information about Spain, visit Lonely Planet.