Spain is a European country located only eight miles
from Africa.
Spain is one of the largest countries in Europe. It is located on a peninsula, which
is a landmass that is surrounded on three sides by water. Spain shares the Iberian
Peninsula with Portugal. The Iberian Peninsula is surrounded by the Atlantic
Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. Spain has a northern border with France
and a very small country called Andorra. To its south, Spain borders the Strait
of Gibraltar. A strait is a narrow area of water linking two larger bodies of water.
This strait is the only way for ships to enter or leave the Mediterranean Sea for the
Atlantic Ocean.
Spain’s southernmost point is only about eight miles from the northern African
country of Morocco. Because of this, Spain has been influenced a lot by North
African and Arabic cultures. The famous castle Alcazaba was built by Arab rulers
more than 1,000 years ago in the Spanish city of Málaga.
Spain’s geography includes several mountain ranges, and a great deal of farmland
for crops such as fruits and vegetables, olives, and soybeans. Spain also has areas
that are almost desert-like in their lack of rain, as well as lovely beaches.
Last year, King Felipe the Sixth took over from his father, Juan Carlos. But he has
almost no power. Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy is in charge of the government, at
least until this year’s elections.
Spain, once a world power, now faces challenges
from inside its own borders.
For centuries, Spain was made up of different kingdoms. This changed in 1469,
when King Ferdinand of Aragon married Queen Isabella of Castile. Their marriage
unified Spain as a Catholic nation. Ferdinand and Isabella also gave money to
Christopher Columbus. He and other explorers claimed territory all over North
and South America, forming the Spanish Empire. Although Spain no longer has an
empire, it has had a lasting influence on many places in the world. Spanish is the
second-most spoken language in the world.
Today, Spain is the one of the world’s most popular tourist destinations. People go
to see Spain’s mountains and beaches, and to enjoy the country’s music, food, art,
and architecture. Spain’s economy was once one of the biggest in Europe. In 2008,
however, Spain’s economy collapsed. Today, more than 20 percent of Spaniards are
unemployed. This has led to protests all around Spain, including in the northern
region of Catalonia. People in this area still speak the ancient language of Catalan.
On September 27th, Catalonians will vote on whether to become independent
from Spain. If it breaks away, Spain would lose its second-largest city, Barcelona.
Barcelona is the home of some of the country’s most beautiful architecture,
including the Familia Sagrada Church. Architect Antoni Gaudí designed the
church in 1883. However, his design was so complicated that it is still not finished
— and won’t be until 2026!