Spain: Difference between revisions

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==References==
==References==
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==See also==
*[[Ceuta and Melilla]]
*[[Europe]]
*[[European Union]]


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[[Category:CZ Live]]
[[Category:Geography Workgroup]]
[[Category:Geography Workgroup]]

Revision as of 02:16, 6 October 2007

Kingdom of Spain
Flag of Spain.svg     Escudo oficial de España.png
Motto "Plus Ultra"
National anthem La Marcha Real / Marcha Granadera[1]
Capital Madrid
Official language Spanish
Government type constitutional monarchy
King Juan Carlos I (before: Francisco Franco (Generalísimo))
President José Luís Rodríguez Zapatero (before: José María Aznar)
Area 505 990 [2] km²
Population 44 873 567[2]
(2006 estimate)
Population density 88.68/km²
HDI 0.938[3] (high) (19th) (2006)
Currency Euro (EUR)
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
Summer:CEST (UTC+2)
Country codes Internet TLD : es
Calling code : +34

Spain is a Western European country, officially known under the name 'Spanish Kingdom'. It also comprises various overseas islands and small territories located on Africa. It is a member of the European Union, the United Nations and NATO.

Geography

Spain extends from the Mediterranean Sea to the Atlantic Ocean, called Cantabrico Sea, and from the Atlantic Occean to the The Pyrenees. Metropolitan Spain is also referred as the 'Bull fur'.

The direct neighbors of Spain are :

Spain also shares land borders with Morocco (bordering Ceuta and Melilla).

Politics

The Kingdom of Spain is a democracy. It has a bicameral parliament ('Las Cortes' in spanish) which is divided into the Congress and the Senate. The Congress or 'Camara Baja' has 349 [4] Diputados 'deputies', elected every 4 years, while the senate or 'Camara Alta' has 259 senators[5], elected for a 4-year term.

Economy

Spain has a highly-developed industrial economy, between the eighth and ninth largest economies in the world. Spanish most powerfull sectors are: turism, construction and manufacturing.

International relations

Spain is a member of the European Union (since 1986), a member of the United Nations, as well as a member of NATO and the Western European Union.

References

  1. Presidencia del Gobierno, [1], last visit 27/8/2007
  2. 2.0 2.1 Instituto Nacional de Estadística,[2], 1/7/2007
  3. HDR06, UN, [3], last visit 27/8/7
  4. Congreso de los Diputados, [4], last visit 2007/8/27
  5. EL Senado de España, [5], last visit 2007/8/27

See also