UNIT 2: THE PHYSICAL MAP OF SPAIN

1 THE LAND FELIEF OF THE IBERIAN PENINSULA

1.1 The Spanish territory
Spain covers most of the Iberian Peninsula, the Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean
Sea, the Canary Islands in the Atlantic Ocean and cities of Ceuta and Melilla, which are
on the northern coast of Africa
1.2. Land relief forms on the Peninsula
The Meseta Central has an altitude of 600 to 700 metres. Two ancient, low mountain
ranges run across it. The Central Sierra, which divides the Meseta into two, the northern
sub-plateau and the southern sub-plateau; and Toledo Mountains, dividing Southern
sub-plateau into two.
The mountains that surround the Meseta are the Massif, the Cantabria Mountains, The
Iberian Mountains and the Sierra Morena.
The land relief away from the Meseta includes various young mountain ranges the
Basque Mountains, the Pyrenees, the Catalan coastal range and the Baetic Mountains;
and two depressions: Ebro and the Guadalquivir,
1.3. The coastal land relief of the Peninsula
The peninsula has Straight coastlines which are determined by the land relief of the
interior:
The Cantabrian coasts are relatively straight and consist mainly of cliffs, with some
beaches and estuaries'. Galicia has the jagged coastline in Spain,
Atlantic Coast of Andalusia is low and sandy. It is characterised by its marshes and
other sand formations such as bars dunes, or mounds of sand created by the wind.
The Mediterranean coasts are lined with cliffs' where the mountain ranges reach the
coast, such as the Baetic Mountains and the Catalan coastal range.
2. THE LAND FELIEF OF THE ARCHIPELAGOS
2.1. The land relief of the Balearic Islands

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The Balearic archipelago, in the Mediterranean Sea, is composed of islands of Majorca,

Ibiza, and Menorca, and Some 144 Smaller islets.

The land relief of the islands Of Majorca, Ibiza and Formentera is an extended part of
the relief of the Baetic mountain ranges. The terrain of the Island of Menorca, on the
other hand, is a continuation

of the Catalan

coastal mountain range.

The main mountain range is the Tramuntana Range on Majorca, Which is Where the
highest of the archipelago.
The Balearic coasts are cliffs in the north of Mallorca and Menorca where the
mountains reach the sex In the rest of the islands, long, sandy beaches alternate with
small coves, created by torrents.
2.2. The land relief of the Canary Islands
The Canary Islands lie in the Atlantic Ocean, near the African continent.
The archipelago is composed of seven main islands: La Palma, El Hierro, La Gomera,
Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura and some smaller islands.
The land relief is volcanic in origin, and it is formed from the lava from open fractures
at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean. This created different volcanic forms such as ash
cones, lava needles and badlands, or, deeply eroded, jagged landscapes, The Volcano in
Tenerife, is highest in the archipelago and Spain
On the Coasts, predominate, though there are also sandy beaches, especially on the
eastern islands.
3. THE CONTINENTAL WATERS
3.1. The rivers and their watersheds
The rivers of the Peninsula are grouped into three watersheds, depending on the sea, or
ocean they flow into:

The rivers of the Cantabrian watershed are short with a regular flow, they flow
across steeps terrain, descending rapidly down the mountains near the Cantabrian
Sea. The Main ones include the Naln, the and Bidasoa,

The rivers of the Atlantic watershed are long and course over wide plains before
flowing into the Atlantic Ocean. In general, they carry a of Water are irregular, The
most important include Mio, the Duero, the Tagus, the Guadiana and the

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Guadalquivir

The rivers Of the Mediterranean Watershed, the Ebro, are short, descend Steep
terrain in the mountains near the Mediterranean Sea. In general, they do not carry
much water and they are very irregular. The main ones include the Llobregat, the
Ebro, the Mijares, the Turia, the Jcar and the Segura.

We find short streams and torrents, in the Balearic and Canary Islands, which only carry
water after heavy rainfall.
3.2 Lakes, wetlands and aquifers
Spanish lakes are small and not Very One of the most important is Lake Sanabria. There
are also lagoons that are less deep than the lakes, which dry out in summer.
Wetlands are areas of land covered by Waters, The most notable ones are the marshes of
Guadalquivir, the Ebro Delta and the lagoon in Valencia.
Aquifers or groundwater predominate in the northern and southern sub-plateaus and in
the Balearic and Canary Islands.
4 THE CLIMATES AND VEGETACION
4.1 Climate
Spain is located in the temperate zone, but there are different climates due to the
influence of the following factors:

Latitude that the temperature increases as you travel south precipitation in the north.
Affected all year round by fronts and storms, is higher than in the south, where the
influence of anti-cyclones is greater.

The altitude Causes temperatures to fall and precipitation to rise.

Distance to the Sea makes coastal temperatures milder and increases the Contrasts in
temperature in the interior of the peninsula; it is also very arid inland, as it is
surrounded by mountains.

4.2. The climate types and vegetation

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The oceanic climate is located in the and north-west of the peninsula.

It is characterised by regular, abundant and by mild temperatures the vegetation is
characterised by deciduous forest of oak and beech, heath and natural meadows.

The Mediterranean Climate extends throughout rest of the peninsula, the Balearic
Islands, Ceuta and Melilla. Precipitation is moderate and irregular. With droughts in
summer. The temperatures do not vary greatly on the coast, but there are sharp
seasonal contrasts in the interior. The vegetation includes evergreen forest of Holm
oaks and cork trees

The mountain climate is found in the mountain systems of the peninsula above an
altitude of 1,000 metres. Precipitation is high, normally above 1,000 a year and
temperatures are cold, with low winters of around O C. The vegetation comprises
successive tiers of forest.

4.4. Climate and vegetation of the Canary Islands

The Subtropical Climate of the Canary Islands is due to its proximity to the tropics.
Precipitation is very sparse, between and 150 and even lower in certain desert areas. The
temperatures do not vary greatly, with warm winters of around 17 C and hot summers.
The vegetation includes some exclusive species: dragon trees and palm trees
predominate; in the more humid mid-altitude areas, laurisilva or laurel forest, faya tree
abound; and in the highest, coldest areas, the is mainly scrubland.

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