FREE ESSAY ON SPAIN

SPAIN

The country of Spain lies on the continent of Europe. It is located forty degrees north
and four degrees west. The capital of Spain, Madrid, is located in the central region
known as the Centro-Meseta. The country of Spain is made up of four regions: El norte, El
este, El sur, and Centro-Meseta. Spain's large area of 195,988 square miles covers about
five sixths of the Iberian Peninsula. It is one of the largest countries in Western
Europe. 
At its widest point, Spain stretches 635 miles from east to west. It stretches about 550
miles north to south. Spain's longest coastline lies along the Mediterranean Sea and
stretches for almost 1700 miles from the eastern end of the Pyrenees mountain chain to
the strait of Gibraltar. The Pyrenees, one of Europe's largest mountain chains, is 270
miles long. They are practically impassable to humans because are formed from only steep
gorges that lead higher summits.Spain is surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean called the Gulf
of Cadiz. The Huelva, Rota, and Cadiz ports lie on this coast and further up the
Guadalquivir River is the ancient transportation center Seville. Some other major rivers
in Spain are the Douro, Tagus, and Ebro rivers. 
Spain's currency is the peseta and is currently equal to one hundred centimos. The
exchange rate has one U. S. Dollar for 134.61 pesetas.
More that thirty-nine million people reside in the country of Spain. That is because it
is made up of a large ethnic diversity. Its location between Europe and Africa has
resulted in a great mixing of races and cultures. The only distinct minority group
generally recognized as outside the racial-cultural mainstream of Spanish society is made
up of Gypsies, many of whom still follow nomadic life-style along the roads and highways.
Fairly large communities of settled Gypsies are found in the cities of Mucia, Granada,
Barcelona, and Madrid. Spain is overwhelmingly urban, with seventy-six percent of its
people living in towns and cities. This concentration of Spain's people heightens the
impression of emptiness that so often is commented on by the travelers, specially those
who cross the Meseta. Most of the Spanish portion of the Iberian Peninsula is very thinly
populated. In the Centro-Meseta region only the areas around Madrid and Saragossa have
dense settlement. 
There are many different kinds of languages spoken in Spain. Modern Spanish also referred
to as Castilian, is spoken throughout Spain and is the official language. Castilian is
often a second language, not a mother tongue. In el norte two regional languages are
widely spoken. One, the language of Basque people, is called Euskara. It is on of
Europe's oldest languages but is different from the Indo-European and Uralic languages
spoken across the rest of Europe. The constitution of 1978 made Euskara an official local
language and afforded increased political autonomy to the Basque provinces. In the region
of Galicia a language known as Gallego is widely used, and also since 1978 it too has
been recognized as an official language to be taught in schools. Modern Portuguese
evolved from Gallego, which resembles a cross between Portuguese and Spanish. From eighty
to eighty five percent of Galicia's three million inhabitants speak Gallego. Attempt have
been made to standardize the spelling and grammar, but they have not been entirely
successful. A kind of common Galician language is beginning to emerge as a spoken tongue
in the province's larger towns.Catalan is another language that enjoys a special status
under Spain's constitution. It is a romance language with highly developed literature.
Most of the seven million people who speak Catalan are located in El este. It is the
official language in the three communities Catalonia, Valencia, and Balearics. Catalan
Speakers also live in the eastern fringe of Aragon, Andorra, southwestern France, and
part of Sardinia. Catalonia's government promotes its official language both at home and
in other countries. 
Religion is very important to most Spaniards. Many Spanish people are baptized, married
and buried as members of the Roman Catholic church. Under the 1978 constitution the
church is no longer Spain's official or established faith, though financial support is
still provided by the state. As a result, the church's influence in Spanish society has
declined sharply, though officially more than ninety four percent of the population is
reported as being Roman Catholic. The church supported the democratic movement and so
helped foster the new attitude of tolerance and personal freedom found in present-day
Spain. Many of Spain's non-Catholic citizens are members of some Protestant Church. Small
Eastern Orthodox congregations are found along with Muslim and Jewish groups. Among
non-Christian Jews form the major community. 
Spain's culture revolves around many different things. Clothing styles are generally not
that much than the ones in the U. S. Most Spaniards dress in modern clothes. The beret is
still widely worn, especially in the Basque country, and Galician men still favor cloth
caps. Jeans, T-shirts, and tennis shoes are now as popular in the Iberian Peninsula as
everywhere else in Europe. 
Cuisine is another important aspect of Spanish culture. The Spanish, like other
Mediterranean people, are particularly fond of sidewalk cafes, where a cup of coffee,
glass of wine, or a meal can be enjoyed with friends. Seafood is particularly favored on
most Spanish menus. Olive oil is used abundantly in cooking, as are garlic, saffron, and
peppers. Rice is popular, especially in el sur and along the Mediterranean coast. Rice
and pulses dried beans, lentils, and chick peas cooked with fish, chicken, or pork are
basics in Spanish cuisine. 
One thing that sets the Spanish apart from most Europeans living beyond the Pyrenees is
their national spectacle of bullfighting. Every city and most towns of any size host a
bullring, where the crowds cheer their favorite but jeer the matador, as he faces the
bull. The matador taunts and teases the bull until the end when he ultimately kills the
bull with his sword. Many Northern Europeans are critically and condemn it as a cruel and
blood sport. Most Spaniards do not see it this way. To them bullfighting is an exciting
test of bravery, skill, and grace. 
Mining activities over most of Western Europe, have declined sharply. In Spain, however
mining continues to play a role in the economy. Spain produces almost all the copper
mined in the twelve countries of the European communities, and it leads in the production
of lead and zinc. Spain is also Europe's leading producer of high-grade iron ore. In
terms of total iron ore produced, Spain follows only France, where most of the ore is of
far lower quality. Spain's coal mines located in Austria and along the Sierra Morena,
showed a steady increase in production from 1975 to 1985. In 1985 Spain was Western
Europe's third largest coal producer, behind Britain and West Germany. In the production
of lignite, a low-quality from of coal, Spain also ranked third. 
Although its position has declined, agriculture a significant part of Spain's national
economy and landscape. Spain has more than twelve millions acres under permanent percent
of Spain's workers are employed in agriculture, and in 1987 they produced about six
percent of the gross domestic product. They produce crops such as sugar cane, cotton,
mulberries, citrus fruits, bananas, dates, figs, almonds, sunflowers, olives, tomatoes,
green beans, avocados, wheat, rice barley, and tobacco.
There are many wild animals that roam the land of Spain. Sheep and cattle are usually
used for livestock. Other animals such as bulls, horses and donkeys often drift around,
unnoticed by the people that pass. 
Bibliography
Microsoft Encarta 98