SOCIAL

SCIENCE
GEOGRAPHY OF
SPAIN

6TH GRADE

CEIP PEDRO DUQUE

1
 INDEX
0. CONTENTS AND LEARNING STANDARDS _________________________________________________ 3

1. INTRODUCTION_________________________________________________________________________ 4

2. PHYSICAL AND POLITICAL LIMITS OF SPAIN_____________________________________________ 4

3. SPAIN POLITICAL GEOGRAPHY__________________________________________________________ 5

- Autonomous communities (and their capitals) and Autonomous cities.

- Provinces and their capitals.

4. SPAIN PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY___________________________________________________________ 8

- Inland relief

- Coastal relief

- Islands relief

5. WATERSHEDS OF SPAIN ________________________________________________________________ 12

6. LAKES AND RESERVOIRS OF SPAIN ____________________________________________________ 13

7. RELIEF, RIVERS AND CLIMATE OF THE COMMUNITY OF MADRID ________________________ 14

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CONTENTS AND LEARNING STANDARDS

3
1. INTRODUCTION
Spain is known as the Little Europe because of the diversity of its landscapes. It is located in the
Southwest of Europe and it occupies an area of 505,370 km2 (including Spanish island territories) of
which 499,542 km2 is land and 5,240 km2 is water. It lies between latitudes 36° and 44° N, and
longitudes 19° W and 5° E.

2. PHYSICAL AND POLITICAL LIMITS OF SPAIN

The territory of Spain covers most of the Iberian Peninsula, the Balearic Islands, the Canary Islands and the
autonomous cities of Ceuta and Melilla in North Africa.

The Spanish peninsula is bordered to the South and East by the Mediterranean Sea; to the North by France,
Andorra, and the Bay of Biscay; and to the West by the Atlantic Ocean and Portugal.



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ACTIVITIES
1. Why is Spain called the "Little Europe"?
2. Where is Spain located?

3. What territories does Spain include?

4. What landforms / countries border Spain?

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3. SPAIN POLITICAL GEOGRAPHY
The autonomous communities were created in Spain with the Spanish Constitution of 1978. There are 17
autonomous communities and two autonomous cities (Ceuta and Melilla). The autonomous communities are
divided into provinces and municipalities.

There are seven Autonomous Communities that are "uniprovincial": Principality of Asturias, Balearic Islands,
Cantabria, La Rioja, Community of Madrid, Region of Murcia, and Navarre.

The Canary Islands are subdivided into two provinces (Santa Cruz de Tenerife and Las Palmas). 


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Autonomous Communities I

Autonomous Communities II

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Autonomous Communities III

Autonomous Communities IV

Autonomous Communities V

a
Autonomous Communities VI

Provinces I

Provinces II

Provinces III

Provinces IV

Provinces V

Provinces VI
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AUTONOMOUS CAPITAL OF THE AUTONOMOUS
PROVINCES PROVINCES CAPITAL CITY
COMMUNITY COMMUNITY

La Coruña
Orense
La Coruña
Orense

Galicia Santiago de Compostela

Lugo Pontevedra Lugo Pontevedra

Albacete
Albacete

Castile-La- Guadalajara
Guadalajara

Ciudad Real
Ciudad Real
Toledo
Mancha Toledo Toledo
Cuenca Cuenca

Ávila
Ávila

Segovia
Segovia

Burgos
Burgos

Soria
Soria

Castile-Leon León
León

Valladolid
Valladolid

Palencia
Palencia
Valladolid
Zamora Zamora
Salamanca Salamanca

Castellón
Castellón de la Plana

Community of
Valencia
Valencia

Valencia Valencia
Alicante Alicante

Jaén
Granada
Jaén
Granada

Cádiz
Seville
Cádiz
Seville

Andalusia Seville
Huelva
Málaga
Huelva
Málaga

Córdoba Almería Córdoba Almería

Cáceres
Cáceres

Extremadura Mérida
Bádajoz Badajoz

Barcelona
Lérida
Barcelona
Lérida

Catalonia Barcelona
Tarragona Gerona Tarragona Gerona

Álava
Vitoria

Basque Country Vizcaya Bilbao Vitoria-Gasteiz

Guipúzcoa San Sebastián

Principality of
Asturias Oviedo Oviedo
Asturias

Balearic Islands Balearic Islands Palma Palma

Cantabria Cantabria Santander Santander

La Rioja La Rioja Logroño Logroño

Community of
Madrid Madrid Madrid
Madrid

Region of Murcia Murcia Murcia Murcia

Navarre Navarre Pamplona Pamplona

Huesca
Huesca

Aragon Zaragoza Zaragoza Zaragoza

Teruel Teruel

Las Palmas
Las Palmas
Las Palmas de Gran Canaria

Canary Islands
Sta. Cruz de Tenerife Santa Cruz de Tenerife Santa Cruz de Tenerife

ACTIVITIES
1. When were the Autonomous Communities created?
2. When was Spain divided into 17 Autonomous Communities?

3. How are the Autonomous Communities divided?

4. How many Autonomous Communities are divided into two or more provinces? Can you
name these Autonomous Communities?

5. Name the provinces you drive through if you travel from Almería to Santander by car.

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4. SPAIN PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY

RELIEF OF SPAIN: MOUNTAIN SYSTEMS

AND RIVER BASINS.

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A. INLAND RELIEF

The inland relief of Spain is divided into:

a) Inner Plateau: it is a very big plateau in the centre of Spain with an average height between 600-700 metres
above sea level. It covers the Autonomous Communities of Castile-Leon, Castile-La Mancha, Madrid and
Extremadura. There are two mountain ranges that cross the Inner Plateau:

1. The Central Mountain Chain (or Central System): it has mountains of about 2,000 m high grouped in
mountain ranges (Gata, Gredos and Guadarrama ranges). Its highest peak is Almanzor (2,591 m).

It divides the Inner Plateau in two:

- The Northern Sub-Plateau

- The Southern Sub- Plateau

2. The Mountains of Toledo: they are in the centre of the Southern Sub-Plateau and they are not very high.
They separate the River Tajo from the River Guadiana.

Three of the longest rivers of the Iberian Peninsula cross the Inner Plateau from east to west: the Duero, the
Tajo and the Guadiana.

b) Surrounding the Inner Plateau:

1. The Mountains of Leon: are in the northwest and they separate Castile-Leon from Galicia. It is formed
by mountains about 2,000 high. The highest peak is Mount Teleno (2,183 m).

2. The Cantabrian Range: is in the north. They separate Castile-Leon from Asturias and Cantabria. They
are mountain ranges such as the Picos de Europa. The highest peak is Torre de Cerredo (2,650 m).

3. The Iberian Mountain Chain: is in the northeast. It extends across the Autonomous Communities of
Castile-Leon, La Rioja, Aragon, Castile-La Mancha and the Community of Valencia. It is a chain of
mountain ranges. Its highest peak is Moncayo (2,313 m).

4. Sierra Morena: is in the south. They are not very high (less than 1,300 metres) and there are no valleys.
Its highest peak is Bañuela (1,332 m).

c) Beyond the Inner Plateau: there are five mountain ranges:

1. The Galician Massif: is in the northwest of the Iberian Peninsula. It is formed by low mountains with
rounded peaks. Its highest peak is Cabeza de Manzaneda (1,781 m).

2. The Basque Mountains: are in the north, between the Basque Country and Navarre. They aren´t very
high. The highest peak is Aitxuri (1,551 m).

3. The Pyrenees: are in the northeast. They form a very extensive mountain range which extends from the
Cantabrian to the Mediterranean Sea and crosses Navarre, Aragon and Catalonia. They form a natural
border between Spain and France. They are high (over 3,000m) and irregular. The highest peak is Aneto
(3,404m).

4. The Catalan Coastal Chain: is in the north-east. It is formed by two mountain ranges which are parallel
to the Mediterranean coast: The highest peak is Turo de l´home (1,712 m).

5. The Baetic Mountain Chain: is in the southeast. It runs through Andalusia, Castile-La Mancha, the
Region of Murcia and the Community of Valencia.

There are two mountain ranges of different altitudes:

• The Penibetic Range: runs parallel to the Andalusian coast and has the highest peaks on the
Peninsula. Mulhacen (3,479 m) and Veleta (3,396 m).

• The Subbetic Range: has mountains of around 2,000 m high.

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 RIVER BASINS (DEPRESSIONS)

There are two large river basins. They are large, triangular valleys and dominated by fertile farmland.
They are low plains crossed by rivers and surrounded by mountains.

a) Ebro river basin: is in the northeast. It lies between the Pyrenees, the Catalan Coastal Chain and the
Iberian Mountain Chain. It opens onto the Mediterranean sea.The river Ebro flows through it.

b) Guadalquivir river basin: in the southwest. It opens onto the Atlantic Sea. It has wetlands such as
the Doñana marshes. The river Guadalquivir flows through it.

ACTIVITIES
1. Guess the landform:

a. It is a mountain range in the centre of the Southern Sub-plateau.

b. It is a mountain chain which surrounds the Inner Plateau to the north-east.

c. The highest peak on the Peninsula is in this mountain chain.

d. It is triangular in shape and the River Ebro flows through it.

e. It is an archipelago formed by seven islands, in the Atlantic Ocean.

2. Name the mountain ranges that you may drive through when you go from Cádiz to Bilbao.

3. What mountain range do you need to cross if you want to go to France?

4. What is a river basin? What are marshes? What river basin in Spain can you find marshes in?

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B. COASTAL RELIEF.

The Spanish coasts are divided into three groups:

a) CANTABRIAN COAST:

It is high and rocky with many cliffs and estuaries. It extends from the Estaca de Bares Point to the French
border. The coasts of the Basque Country, Cantabria, Asturias and a part of the Galician coast are bathed by
the Cantabrian Sea.

Main landforms: Cape Matxixako, Bay of Biscay, Aviles estuary, Cape Ajo and Estaca de Bares Point.

b) ATLANTIC COAST:

The coast is divided into three areas:

1). The Galician coast: from Estaca de Bares Point to the Miño estuary. It is a high rocky coast with many
inlets.

Main capes: Finisterre and Ortegal.

Main estuaries: Rías de Arousa and Vigo.

2). The Andalusian coast: from the Portuguese border to the Straight of Gibraltar. It is a flat, low coast with
sandy beaches, wetlands and dunes.

Main landforms: Gulf of Cádiz, Cape Trafalgar and Tarifa Point.

3). The coasts of the Canary Islands: they can be divided into three different groups.

- The islands in the centre of the archipiélago (Tenerife and Gran Canaria) have rocky coasts in the north
and sandy beaches in the south.

- The islands in the west have high rocky coasts.

- The islands in the east have low-lying coasts.

c) MEDITERRANEAN COAST: it is the longest coast in Spain. There are four main areas:

1) Andalusia: it has extensive, flat areas such as the beaches of Málaga. These areas alternate with cliffs, such
as Cape Gata.

2) Murcia and the Community of Valencia: it has low sandy beaches, but there are also some rocky areas
such as Cape Palos and Cape Nao.

3) Catalonia and the Balearic Islands: high rocky areas such as Cape Creus. Alternation of low, sandy
beaches.

4) The coast of Ceuta (low and irregular) and the coast of Melilla (high and rocky).
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C. ISLAND RELIEF.

There are two archipelagos:

1. The Balearic Islands: in the east of the Peninsula in the Mediterranean Sea. There are five main
islands: Mallorca (the largest and most mountainous island. The main range is the Tramuntana Range,
Ibiza, Menorca, Formentera and Cabrera.

2. The Canary Islands: in the west of Africa in the Atlantic Ocean. There are seven main islands:
Tenerife (Mount Teide is the highest peak in Spain), Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura, Lanzarote, La
Palma, El Hierro and La Gomera. They are of volcanic origin. The relief is very mountainous.

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ACTIVITIES
1. How many groups of coasts are there in Spain?

2. Which coast extends from the Estaca de Bares Point to the French border?

3. Which sea or ocean bathes the Cantabrian coast?

4. How many areas are there in the Atlantic coast?. Describe them.

5. What is a cape? In which coast can you find the following capes?

• Cape Finisterre

• Cape Ajo

• Cape Trafalgar

• Cape Gata

• Cape Ajo

• Cape Nao

• Cape Creus

6. Which is the longest coast in Spain?

7. Describe the areas of the Mediterranean coast and look for photographs of them on the internet.

8. How many archipelagos are there in Spain? Where are they located?

9. Where can you find the Tramuntana Range?

10. Which islands are of volcanic origin?

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5. WATERSHEDS OF SPAIN
There are three watersheds in Spain. The Cantabrian watershed, the Atlantic watershed and the Mediterranean.
watershed.

ACTIVITIES
1. How many watersheds are there in Spain? What are their names?

2. Complete the table.

WATERSHED CHARACTERISTICS MAIN RIVERS SEA / OCEAN WHERE THE

RIVERS FLOW INTO

3. Where do the following rivers start? Duero, Ebro, Guadiana, Guadalquivir, Júcar, Miño, Nalón, Segura and
Tagus. Find out the name of their main tributaries.

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6. LAKES AND RESERVOIRS.

Rivers, lakes and

seas of Spain

In Spain there are many lakes, lagoons and reservoirs.

ACTIVITIES
1. Who is responsible for the creation of glacial lakes?

2. What is the difference between a rainwater or a saline lake? Where are the most important ones in Spain?

3. What do you need to build to create a reservoir? What are they built for?

4. Where can you find coastal lagoons in Spain?

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7. RELIEF, RIVERS AND CLIMATE OF THE COMMUNITY
OF MADRID.
The Community of Madrid is bordered to the south and east by Castile-La Mancha
and to the north and west by Castile-Leon. It was formally created in 1983, based on
the limits of the province of Madrid.

A) RELIEF

In Madrid there are mountain peaks rising above 2,000 m, holm oak dehesas and
low-lying plains.

The map of the Province of Madrid shows an almost equilateral triangle, in whose centre is the city. In the
western side, it borders the Central System (the Guadarrama mountain range), the southern border features a
protrusion following the Tagus River in order to include the royal site of Aranjuez in the region; the eastern edge of
the triangle comes from the rupture of the fluvial river basins.

In the Community of Madrid there are two regions:

• A mountainous region: in the north and west. It consists of three mountain ranges that form the Central
System: Somosierra, Guadarrama and Gredos.

• A lowland region: in the south and east.

Between these regions, there is an area with flat plains and low elevations.

The Central Mountain Chain is in the North and west of the community and is divided into:

a) Sierra de Somosierra: in the north.

- Highest Peak: Peña Cebollera (2,128 m).

b) Sierra de Guadarrama: in the centre of the mountainous area. It

is the highest mountain range.

- Highest peaks: Peñalara (2,430m), Cabeza de Hierro (2,381 m)

and Siete Picos (2,138 m).

c) Sierra de Gredos: in the southwest.

- Highest peak: Almanzor (2,592m).

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B) HYDROGRAPHY.

The rivers are short, with low volume of flow and variable water flow. Almost all the
rivers are tributaries of Tajo or other rivers that flow into it.

The most important river is Tajo. Other important rivers are: Guadarrama, Lozoya,
Alberche, Jarama, Manzanares, Henares, Guadalix or Tajuña.

C) CLIMATE.

The Community of Madrid has two kinds of climate:

• Continental: in the lowlands. There are extreme temperatures (hot in the summer and cold in the winter).
Little and sporadic rainfall.

• Mountain: in the highest regions of the mountain ranges. There are very cold temperatures in winter and
cool temperatures in summer. The rainfall is abundant almost all year.

A. GAMES - GEOGRAPHY OF SPAIN

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ACTIVITIES
1. Copy and complete the table about the Community of Madrid.

MOUNTAIN RANGE MOUNTAIN HEIGHT

2. How are the rivers in the Community of Madrid? Name two of them.

3. What climates can we find in the Community of Madrid? How are they different?
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