Spain’s Landscapes: Oceanic, Mediterranean, Subtropical & Mountain

Posted on Feb 26, 2025 in Geography

Oceanic Landscape of Spain

The Oceanic landscape is located in the north and northwest of the Iberian Peninsula, an area known as “wet Spain”.

Relief: Characterized by several mountain ranges. The coast is rugged and rocky.
Rivers: Short, abundant, and with a regular flow.
Climate: Oceanic, with mild winters and cool summers. Rainfall is abundant throughout the year.
Vegetation: Consists of deciduous forests, moors, and meadows.
Fauna: Includes animals like deer, wolves, and wild cats.

The Mediterranean Coastal landscape extends to the south and east of the peninsula.

Relief: Mountainous, except in the coastal plains and the Guadalquivir valley. The coast features wide bays and long beaches alternating with cliffs. The Balearic Islands also have beaches.
Rivers: Short and with irregular flow, experiencing severe droughts in summer.
Climate: Mediterranean, with mild winters and hot, dry summers.
Vegetation: Characterized by Mediterranean forest and scrub. In areas with extreme drought, steppe vegetation develops.
Fauna: Includes animals like the golden eagle and peregrine falcon.

The Mediterranean Interior landscape is located in the interior of the peninsula.

Relief: Varied, but predominantly plains of the Meseta and the Ebro valley.
Rivers: Long and with irregular flow.
Climate: Mediterranean interior climate: cold winters, hot summers, and low rainfall.
Vegetation: Consists of oak forests and scrub, such as thyme.
Fauna: Composed of golden eagles, partridges, storks, and wild boar.

The Subtropical landscape is located in the Canary Islands.

Relief: Mountainous, of volcanic origin. The western islands are steeper than the eastern ones.
Rivers: There are no rivers, and streams are scarce.
Climate: Subtropical, characterized by mild temperatures throughout the year and low rainfall.
Vegetation: In arid areas, the vegetation is typical of desert regions, while in more humid areas, laurel forests grow.
Fauna: Includes animals like the great spotted woodpecker and the *Columba junoniae* (laurel pigeon).

The Mountain landscape is located in mountainous areas.

Relief: Abrupt, with the highest mountains varying in altitude.
Rivers: Several rivers originate in some mountain systems.
Climate: High mountain climate: cold winters and cool summers. Rainfall is higher at lower altitudes.
Vegetation: Distributed in tiers or altitudinal zones.
Fauna: Includes the griffon vulture and the wild goat.

A natural resource is a characteristic of the physical environment that is useful to humans. Spain’s main natural resources are:

Relief: Its features impact communications.
Soils: Their fertility influences farming.
Climate: It has a great influence on agricultural activities because it may enhance or limit them. It also promotes beach and sun tourism.
Water: Water is drawn from rivers, lakes, and underground aquifers. It is a scarce but essential resource, important for agricultural and industrial production of hydroelectric power and for human consumption. Given Spain’s climatic characteristics, periods of drought are frequent.
Vegetation: Forests improve environmental quality and have great economic value, providing food, raw materials, and energy sources. They are also attractive spaces for leisure and tourism.
The Sea: The sea is important for the water supplies it contains, usable by desalination plants. It provides food, mineral, and energy resources, and is a space for the development of tourism and an important means of communication.