L'Espagne vue par les grecs

SPAIN

Capital city: Madrid

Official language: Spanish

Local dialects:

· Aranese, in Catalonia

· Basque in the Basque country

· Catalan in Catalonia, the Balearic Islands and in the Valencian Community.

· Galician in Galicia

Extent: 504.782 km²

Population: 40,7 million

Geographic location: it is extended between northern geographic width 35 until 43 degrees and 47 first and geographic length of 9 degrees and 12 first westerner up to 3 degrees and 19 first Eastern.

Political system: Parliamentary democracy, constitutional monarchy

Religion: Christian Roman Catholic

Currency: Euro (€)

National Flag: three horizontal bands in red and yellow (yellow intermediate it is double in width from each red). Also, a simplified publication of the Spanish national device appears on the yellow band.

National Anthem: Marcha Real

DESCRIPTION

In continental Spain, high plateau and mountain ranges dominate, like the Pyrenees and the Sierra Nevada, where important rivers spring, like Ebro, the Duero, the Tagus and the Guadalquivir. In the open sea out of the Eastern coasts towards the Mediterranean Sea lie the Balearic Islands, while the Canary Islands are near the coast of Africa.

The basic economic sectors of Spain include the agriculture (mainly fruits and vegetables, olive oil and wine), the fishery, the textile industry, the car industry and the tourism. Spain has a rich cultural heritage, from Velazquez in the 17th century, Goya in the 18th and 19th century, up to Picasso and Dali in the 20th century

Spanish music and the flamenco dance have admirers all around the world, while Cervantes novel, Don Quixote, is a landmark in modern European literature. Spanish directors such as Pedro Almodovar, Alejandro Amenabar and Luis Bunuel have been honoured with international awards.

The Spanish cuisine is famous for the paella (which is made with rice, chicken, seafood and vegetables), the Tortilla (omelette with potatoes) and sangria (refreshing wine that is served with fruits).