Spain

Spain is a country in southwestern Europe, occupying most of the Iberian Peninsula and sharing borders with Portugal and France. It covers about 506,000 square kilometres and has Madrid as its capital and largest city. Spain also includes the Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean Sea and the Canary Islands in the Atlantic Ocean.

The mainland has a varied landscape, with the Pyrenees along the northern border, the Sierra Nevada in the south and large plateaus covering much of the interior. The Tagus is the longest river on the Iberian Peninsula, while the Ebro flows into the Mediterranean. Spain also has two small autonomous cities, Ceuta and Melilla, on the North African coast.

Spain's climate varies considerably because of its size, relief and position between the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea. Much of the interior has hot summers and colder winters, while northern areas are generally wetter and coastal regions have more moderate temperatures. The country contains several important ecosystems, including Mediterranean forests, wetlands and high mountain environments.

Spanish is the official language throughout the country, and several other languages have co-official status in certain autonomous communities. Spain is a member of the European Union and NATO. Its modern political system is a parliamentary constitutional monarchy, established after the transition to democracy that followed the end of the Franco dictatorship in 1975.