The natural resources of Spain and their use

Spain is a beautiful and stunningly diverse European country that cares about its natural resources. Where is this state located? What minerals are rich in Spain?

The natural conditions and resources of this country are extremely diverse. This allowed Spain to effectively develop its industrial complex, as well as to take a worthy place among the states that provide tourist services on the world market.

Kingdom of Spain: general information about the country

España (the name of the country in Spanish) is an independent state located on the Iberian Peninsula, the third largest in Europe. In administrative terms, the country is divided into 17 autonomous regions and includes 50 provinces. In addition, the subordination of Spain is a number of so-called sovereign territories (plazas de soberania). They are located in North Africa and the Mediterranean Sea.

The year 1515 is considered the year of the founding of the Spanish kingdom. Today it is a parliamentary (constitutional) monarchy.

Spain, whose natural conditions and resources are quite diverse, has for many years been kept in the top twenty countries of the world at a general rate of economic development. In addition, in Europe the country is the largest producer of agricultural products. Here, plant growing, livestock, viticulture, and also fish farming are successfully developing.

Natural conditions and resources of Spain (briefly)

In what climatic conditions does the population of this country live? What is the difference between the natural resources of Spain? Briefly try to answer these questions in this section.

Spain is one of the most mountainous countries in Europe. About 35% of its territory is at an altitude of over 1000 meters above sea level. True, too high peaks not to be found here. The highest point of the mainland of Spain is Mount Mulachen (3480 m).

In general, the relief of the state can be described as follows: the central elevated and hilly part is surrounded almost from all sides by chains of mountains that separate it from the sea. Lowlands in Spain occupy small areas. They mostly stretched along the largest river valleys and the Mediterranean coast.

The climatic natural resources of Spain are unique. The country can be considered the warmest and sunniest in Europe. The average number of sunny days here ranges from 260-280. In winter, the air temperature rarely falls below zero, and in summer the thermometer can rise to +40 degrees Celsius. The largest rivers of Spain are Tahoe, Duero, Ebro and Guadalquivir.

The natural resources of Spain (mineral in particular) are dispersed throughout its territory extremely unevenly. With this feature, a rather acute problem of the unequal economic development of the regions of the country is connected. So, the northern part of Spain is more developed industrially, and the southern part, on the contrary, is considered backward. Here we see the highest level of unemployment for the country.

Detailed description of the natural resources and conditions of Spain

The natural resources of Spain, like any other state on the planet, should be described according to the following plan:

• relief;
• climate;
• inland waters;
• Soil cover;
• Flora and fauna;
• Minerals and their geography;
• Economic use of natural conditions and resources.

Relief and landscape diversity

Spain is often called the most mountainous country in Europe. About 90% of its territory is occupied by mountains and plateaus. Almost half of the surface of Spain is the plateau of Meseta (the largest in Europe). Its eastern part is leveled and covered with a powerful ball of sedimentary rocks. But the western part of Meseta is strongly dissected by faults and river valleys.

In the north, Meseta is bounded by the Cantabrian mountains, which, in turn, are a continuation of the Pyrenees. This powerful mountain system consists of several parallel ridges with a length of up to 450 kilometers. Overcoming the Pyrenees is very difficult: all passes here are located at an altitude of more than 1500 meters. That is why all the railways connecting Spain with other countries of Western Europe, bypass this mountain system from the east or from the west. In the central areas of the Pyrenees, you can find relief forms of glacial origin: carrion, circuses and troughs.

From the north-east, the Iberian mountains border the Meseta. It is here that many large rivers of Spain originate. This is one of the least populated regions of the country.

In the southern part of Spain, along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea, the Andalusian mountains stretch. Within them lies an array of Sierra Nevada with the highest point of the country - Mulasen peak. The height of the Sierra Nevada in Europe can be compared only with the Alps.

Plains and lowlands occupy only 10% of the total area of Spain. All of them are composed of alluvial materials, and therefore their soils are extremely fertile. The largest lowland is located in the south-west of the country (Andalusian).

The relief often helped to protect Spain's natural resources and its wealth. The powerful mountain ranges of the Iberian Peninsula often played the role of reliable and insurmountable borders, protecting the country from hostile conquerors.

Climatic features

The climate in Spain varies from northwest to southeast. The average annual temperatures here range from 14 to 20 degrees. By the number of sunny days per year, Spain shares the first place in Europe with Greece.

The climate of the central part of the country is distinguished by its intensified continentality. Summer here is more hot, and winters are colder. "Three months of cold and nine months of hell" - this is one of the popular sayings among the inhabitants of the plateau of Meseta.

In the distribution of atmospheric precipitation, significant contrasts are also observed. Climatologists conditionally divide Spain into "dry" and "wet". The border between these two regions runs along the Cantabrian mountains. So, within the "wet" Spain, which includes the Basque Country, Galicia, Asturias and part of the Pyrenees, an average of about 900-1000 mm of precipitation a year. The rest of the country ("dry" Spain) receives no more than 500 mm of precipitation a year.

The peculiarities of Spain's natural resources (above all, climatic) create considerable difficulties for the development of agriculture, as well as for the water supply of many settlements in the country. About 60% of the state's land scientists estimate as droughty.

Inner waters and soil cover

The country has a fairly extensive river network. However, most of the Spanish rivers are characterized by low-water and unstable water regime. Many of them wither in summer or dry up altogether. In addition, the hydrological resources of Spain are extremely unevenly distributed throughout the country, which leads to significant disparities in the water supply of its various regions.

The soil cover in Spain is also very diverse, due to its complex terrain, its diverse geological structure and significant climatic contrasts. So, podzolic brown soils and peat bogs prevail in the north of the country, in the west - acid soils of the Mediterranean type, and in the east and in the Balearic islands - soils of arid type (brown soils and sierozems). The most fertile soils are concentrated in the lowlands and valleys of large rivers. It is in these areas that the plant growing of the country is most actively developing.

Flora and fauna

For the plant and animal kingdom of the state is characterized by a richness of species. In floristic respect, Spain is considered the richest country in Europe. Forest tracts occupy about 30% of its territory. However, in the past there were much more.

Evergreen oak forests grow in the north-western regions of the country. In mountainous areas the most common deciduous species of oaks, as well as beech, ash, chestnut and birch. Within the inner plateaus of Spain, there have been preserved arrays of dry evergreen forests and shrubs. Semidesert landscapes can be found on the Aragonese plateau and in New Castile.

In the fauna of Spain, traces of both the European and African fauna are clearly traced. Here are found the brown bear, wolf, fox, forest cat, deer and other mammal species typical of central and western Europe. In Spain, you can also meet an eagle-burial ground, genetta or an Egyptian mongoose. All these species of animals are found on the other side of the Strait of Gibraltar.

Special attention should be paid to the Spanish (or Pyrenean) lynx - one of the rarest species of mammals on Earth. It has no more than one hundred individuals to this day. This animal is found only in mountainous and remote areas of southern Spain. From the common Pyrenean trot is smaller and brighter in color.

Mineral Resources of Spain: an overall assessment

The country is not among the world's leaders in terms of mineral resources. Many minerals Spain is forced to import (including energy). Nevertheless, the mining industry is quite developed here, especially in the east and south-west of the country.

The five most important minerals in Spain can be outlined as follows:

• Iron ore.
• Coal.
• Copper.
• Lead.
• Mercury.

However, the reserves of most of the deposits are rather modest. Therefore, in general, Spain can be called dependent on the import of mineral resources by the country.

Ore Minerals

The country's interior, first of all, is rich in metal minerals. So, in Spain, the richest deposits of zinc, lead, mercury, manganese and copper pyrite have been discovered . The total reserves of iron ore in Spain are about 2.5 billion tons. In the north of the country there are significant deposits of tungsten and tin.

According to the explored reserves of uranium ores, Spain is in second place in Europe, and in mercury reserves - in the first place in the world. Rich cinnabar deposits are located in the province of Ciudad Real and on the banks of the Baldeasage River.

In addition, the depths of Spain are extremely rich in pyrite. In particular, they are mined on the southern slopes of the Sierra Morena. Also in Spain there are reserves of silver, gold, molybdenum and titanium.

Fuel and energy minerals and other raw materials

Energy resources of the territory of Spain, alas, is not so rich. Minor coal deposits are being developed in the north of the country (in the provinces of Oviedo and Leon), in the Basque Country and Asturias. Spanish coal, as a rule, is of poor quality.

Oil is produced in comparatively small amounts in Catalonia and Burgos, natural gas in Aragon and Cadiz. The explored reserves of gas in Spain are no more than two billion cubic meters.

In the country there are quite large reserves of potassium salts, refractory clays, kaolins and fluorspar. In many provinces of Spain (Galicia, Asturias, Valencia, Guadalajara and others), raw materials are actively extracted for the construction industry. These are dolomites, limestones, marble and chalk of rather high quality.

The natural resources of Spain and their use

Actively to use natural resources on an industrial scale in Spain began only in the second half of the twentieth century. Before that, the country remained an underdeveloped agrarian state. Rational use and an adequate assessment of the natural conditions and resources of Spain made it possible to turn it into an industrial-agrarian country that, in terms of its industrial development, is not inferior to many European states.

Today, mining, textile, food processing, shipbuilding, and alternative energy are quite developed in Spain. The agriculture of the country is dominated by crop production. Here, wheat, rice, maize, barley, olives, dates, pomegranates and other crops are grown. In arid regions, goats and sheep are successfully bred, and in the north - large cattle. In coastal areas, fisheries are developing. Spain is among the top ten countries in the world for catching and processing fish.

Spain and tourism

Spain today is the largest center of international tourism. Over one million inhabitants of the country are employed in this sector of the national economy. Every year, not less than 50 million foreign tourists visit Spain.

The most popular resort areas in Spain: Costa Brava, Costa Blanca, as well as the Canary Islands. The main tourist centers of the country are Barcelona, Madrid, Bilbao and Valencia. The last city is gaining popularity among tourists and travelers. This is facilitated by numerous attractions, historical and architectural monuments, museums, as well as the recreational natural resources of Valencia.

Spain is also a major festival center in Europe. At the famous Seville fair, colorful Carnival in Cadiz or Tomatino in Bunyola, tourists from all over the world are eager to come.

Conclusion

The territory of the Kingdom of Spain is extremely rich in natural resources: mineral, fuel, climatic and biological. The country is characterized by a mild, warm climate and has a wide access to the World Ocean.

The economic evaluation of Spain's natural conditions and resources is quite high. On their basis, the mining industry, electric power industry, agriculture and the tourism industry are successfully developing.