Part 691

@Spain -----

Map ---

Location: 40 00 N, 4 00 W -- Southwestern Europe, bordering the Bay of Biscay, Mediterranean Sea, and North Atlantic Ocean, southwest of France

Flag ----

Description: three horizontal bands of red (top), yellow (double width), and red with the national coat of arms on the hoist side of the yellow band; the coat of arms includes the royal seal framed by the Pillars of Hercules, which are the two promontories (Gibraltar and Ceuta) on either side of the eastern end of the Strait of Gibraltar

Geography ---------

Location: Southwestern Europe, bordering the Bay of Biscay, Mediterranean Sea, and North Atlantic Ocean, southwest of France

Geographic coordinates: 40 00 N, 4 00 W

Map references: Europe

Area: total area: 504,750 sq km land area: 499,400 sq km comparative area: slightly more than twice the size of Oregon note: includes Balearic Islands, Canary Islands, and five places of sovereignty (plazas de soberania) on and off the coast of Morocco - Ceuta, Mellila, Islas Chafarinas, Penon de Alhucemas, and Penon de Velez de la Gomera

Land boundaries: total: 1,903.2 km border countries: Andorra 65 km, France 623 km, Gibraltar 1.2 km, Portugal 1,214 km note: excludes the length of the boundary between the places of sovereignty and Morocco

Coastline: 4,964 km

Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm

International disputes: Gibraltar question with UK; Spain controls five places of sovereignty (plazas de soberania) on and off the coast of Morocco - the coastal enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla, which Morocco contests, as well as the islands of Penon de Alhucemas, Penon de Velez de la Gomera, and Islas Chafarinas

Climate: temperate; clear, hot summers in interior, more moderate and cloudy along coast; cloudy, cold winters in interior, partly cloudy and cool along coast

Terrain: large, flat to dissected plateau surrounded by rugged hills; Pyrenees in north lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Pico de Teide on Canary Islands 3,718 m

Natural resources: coal, lignite, iron ore, uranium, mercury, pyrites, fluorspar, gypsum, zinc, lead, tungsten, copper, kaolin, potash, hydropower

Land use: arable land: 31% permanent crops: 10% meadows and pastures: 21% forest and woodland: 31% other: 7%

Irrigated land: 33,600 sq km (1989 est.)

Environment: current issues: pollution of the Mediterranean Sea from raw sewage and effluents from the offshore production of oil and gas; air pollution; deforestation; desertification natural hazards: periodic droughts international agreements: party to - Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Wetlands, Whaling; signed, but not ratified - Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Desertification, Law of the Sea

Geographic note: strategic location along approaches to Strait of Gibraltar

People ------

Population: 39,181,114 (July 1996 est.)

Age structure: 0-14 years: 16% (male 3,237,942; female 3,055,881) 15-64 years: 68% (male 13,380,956; female 13,352,582) 65 years and over: 16% (male 2,566,728; female 3,587,025) (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate: 0.16% (1996 est.)

Birth rate: 10.04 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate: 8.86 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Net migration rate: 0.44 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)