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Spain. Lots of information & facts.Learn Spanish in Spain Spain is the ideal place to learn Spanish. It has everything! Sun, mountains and beaches and lots of Spanish speaking! In fact many different varieties of Spanish – plus the use of the ‘vosotros’ form on ‘you’ address which is not used in Latin America but important for the student of Spanish who wants to fully understand and appreciate Spanish literature and writings.
Immersion is especially valuable if you combine it with: • an accelerated learning vocabulary learning system learning Spanish vocab at 200 words a day you are using an outdated system) . . .take a few days to catch up on the vocab before you set off! • . . . and an onsite course with a good teacher. See some of the Spanish language schools in the list. • a decent system for learning grammar, • a good pc course , • a good grammar learning system. For more information on how to learn Spanish in Spain click on the link.
Information on Spain and HistoryIn the 16th and 17th centuries Spain had a powerful world empire conquering most of South America. England eventually gained control of the oceans. Spain did not embrace the mercantile and industrial revolutions and then lagged behind Britain, Germany, France in economic, industrial, exporting, political and military power. Neutral in the First and Second World Wars, a devastating civil war took place from 1936 to 1939. Joining the European Union in 1986 has allowed Spain to catch up in economic terms. Geography SpainGeographical Position: Southwestern Europe, Bay of Biscay to the north, Mediterranean Sea to south, North Atlantic Ocean to the west and Canaries, bordering France is the Pyrenees Mountains. Latitude & Longitude: : 40 00 N, 4 00 W Area Total: 504,782 square kilometres Land border lengths: Total: 1,917 kilometres Length of Coast: 4,964 kilometres Maritime claims contiguous zone: 24 NM exclusive economic zone: 200 NM (applies only to the Atlantic Ocean) territorial sea: 12 NM Climate information on Spain: temperate; hot summers inland; moderate, sunny, warm and cloudy on coast; cloudy, cold winters in interior. cool winters on the coast, warm in south. Terrain Features: large plateau and rocky hills; Pyrenees mountains northeast Elevation highs & lows: lowest elevation: Atlantic Ocean at sea level Country’s Natural resources: coal mining, lignite, iron ore mining, uranium mining, mercury, zinc ore, lead, tungsten, copper mining, kaolin, potash, hydroelectric power, arable land Land use: People information on SpainTotal Population: 40,217,000 (July 2003 estimate) Population rate growth: 0% (2003 estimate) Life Expectancy: total population: 79 years male: 75 years Racial groupings: Mediterranean and European Religions Roman Catholic 94%, other 6% Languages: Castillano Spanish (official) 74%, Catalan 17%, Galiciano 7%, Vasco - Basque 2% Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write Total population: 97% male: 98% female: 97% (2003 estimate) Government information on SpainKingdom of Spain System of Government -Parliamentary Monarchy. Capital: Madrid Independence: Moors - Moslems occupied in early 700’s AD for 700 years.Christians of the north countered during the period and in 1492 wrested control with the capture of Granada, unifying several kingdoms to what is now Spain National holiday: Hispanic Day, 12 October Constitution: 6 December 1978, effective 29 December 1978 Legal & Law System: : Spanish Civil Law; different regions have their own laws and applications. Voting systemUniversal at 18 years Head of State President. Cabinet of country: Council of Ministers chosen by president Election system:hereditary Monarhcy; Economy SpainUnemployment still high at 11%. Gross Domestic Product: - $USD828 billion (2002 estimate) Labour force: 17 million (2001) Labour force - by occupation: services 64%, manufacturing, mining, and construction 29%, agriculture 7% (2001 estimate) Exports : $USD : 122 billion (2002 estimate) Imports : $USD156 billion (2002 estimate) Currency : euro – EUR. Communications SpainRadio Stations AM 208, FM 715, shortwave 1 (1998)TV Stations 224 (plus 2,105 repeaters) note: these figures include 11 television broadcast stations and 88 repeaters in the Canary Islands (1995) Internet Code .es Transport, Travel to Spain & TourismRailways Total: 14,100 kilometres Roading Total: 347,000 kilometres Navigable Waterways 1,045 kilometres Pipeline Distances crude oil 265 kilometres; petroleum & petroleum by-products 1,800 kilometres; natural gas 1,700 kilometres Commercial Harbours/Ports Puerto Aviles, Puerto Bilbao, Barcelona, Cadiz, Cartagena, Castellon de la Plana, Puerto Ceuta, Huelva, La Coruña, Las Palmas – Islas de Canarias, Malaga, Melilla, Pasajes, Puerto Gijon, Santa Cruz de Tenerife Islas de Canarias, Santander, Tarragona, Perto Vigo, Puerto Valencia, Airports-Aerodromes 152 (2002) Spanish Military informationMilitary groupings & departments - Spanish Army, Spanish Air Force, Spanish Marines, Spanish Navy Armada, Guardia Civil, National Police, Civil Coast Guard Military Spending - dollar figure: $USD8 billion (2002) Military Spending - percent of Gross Domestic Product: 1% (2002) International Issues SpainGibraltans rejected "total shared sovereignty" arrangement between Spain and United Kingdom. Morocco claims Ceuta, Melilla, and Penon de Velez de la Gomera, Penon de Alhucemas and Islas Chafarinas. Portugal claims area around Olivenza, Spain. Spanish FlagClick here for the Spanish Flag and its history, information and facts.Maps of SpainClick here for the Spanish Map and its history and facts.Spanish HistoryClick here for the History of Spain and historical facts.Info sourced and adapted from the CIA Factbook . Andorra | Argentina | Belize | Bolivia | Colombia | Chile | Costa Rica | Cuba | Dominican Republic | Ecuador | El Salvador | Gibraltar | Guatemala | Honduras | Mexico | Nicaragua | Panama | Peru | Puerto Rico | Uruguay | Venezuela | Learn Spanish Help. Copyright 2011. 32 Alverton, Great Linford, Milton Keynes, United Kingdom |
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