Geography of Spain: Relief, Soil, and Location
Geographical Location of Spain
Spain is a European country located in the northern temperate hemisphere. The Spanish state comprises the following areas:
- The majority of the Iberian Peninsula in southwestern Europe, positioned away from the center of the continent. Its natural boundaries are the Bay of Biscay and the Pyrenees to the north, the Strait of Gibraltar to the south, the Mediterranean Sea to the east, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west.
- The Balearic Islands, located in the Mediterranean Sea, off the east coast.
- The Canary Islands, located in the Atlantic Ocean off the African coast, just over 100 km away, and near the Tropic of Cancer.
- The cities of Ceuta and Melilla, and several small islands in northern Africa.
Relief and Soil of Spain
Peninsular and Insular Relief
The peninsular relief presents the following characteristics:
- High average altitude (660 m) due to the presence of numerous mountain ranges and a large central plateau.
- Compartmentalized structure: mountain systems separate blocks and are arranged peripherally around the plateau.
Major Relief Units
Plateau
Located in the center of the Iberian Peninsula, the plateau organizes the relief around it. It covers a large area and features highlands and plains. Two mountain ranges are located within the plateau:
- Central System: Divides the plateau into the North and South Submeseta.
- Montes de Toledo: Bisects the South Submeseta, north of the Tagus River basin and south of the Guadiana River, with gentle peaks.
Coasts
The peninsular coasts are diverse. The Atlantic and northeast coasts are rocky and jagged, while the Mediterranean and southern Atlantic coasts alternate between rocky and sandy sections.
Plateau Edges
The plateau is surrounded by mountain ridges:
- Galician-Leonese Massif: Occupies the northwest peninsula with a fractured relief of sunken and raised blocks, forming estuaries on the coast. The mountains have rounded shapes and low altitudes, mostly below 1000 m.
- Cantabrian Mountains: Runs parallel to the Cantabrian Sea, isolating the plateau from maritime influence.
- Iberian System: A set of hills forming a compact range.
- Sierra Morena: A rugged plateau separating the southern peninsula.
Outer Depressions
- Ebro Depression: A broad sedimentary plain crossed by the Ebro River. It has a continental, arid nature due to the surrounding mountains isolating it from the Mediterranean’s influence.
- Guadalquivir Depression: A large triangular plain open to the Atlantic’s influence and crossed by the Guadalquivir River. Fertile valleys and rolling plains give way to marshes where the river meets the Atlantic Ocean.
Outer Mountain Ranges
- Basque Mountains: Located between the Cantabrian Mountains and the Pyrenees, formed by steep but not very high hills and numerous valleys.
- Pyrenees: A major mountain range connecting the Iberian Peninsula to the rest of Europe.
- Catalan Coastal Ranges: Two mountain ranges parallel to the Mediterranean coast, enclosing the Ebro basin.
- Baetic System: Extends along the southeast peninsula, consisting of two ranges: the Cordillera Penibética, parallel to the Mediterranean coast, and the Cordillera Subbética, inland with lower altitudes.