Climate+&+Geographic+Factors

-Spain has an average altitude of 660m ( [] ) -Spain covers 505,955km² ( [] ) -Occupies 85% of Iberian Peninsula ( [] ) -Spain’s mainland coast is 5,755 km long ( [] )

**__ Sub tropical climate __** Example: The Canary Islands has an average winter temperature of 14 °C and an average summer temperature of 22°C .Rainfall patterns tend to vary widely. (http://www.iberianature.com/)
 * Due to Spains geographical position, the climates in Spain are very diverse ( [] )
 * They can be sumed to five major climate types ( [] )

Description: A subtropical region is defined to have at least eight months with a mean temperature of 10° C and having a coldest month of between 6 °C and 18 °C. ("Georgraphy of Spain." //Wikipedia//. Web.11 May 2009. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geography_of_Spain.) In subtropical climates the winters tend to be relatively warm, but no where near hot as the summers. These climates rarely if not at all see frost or snow and rainfall patterns tend to vary widely, where some island might receive mass storms others might not even get rain. ("Georgraphy of Spain." //Wikipedia//. Web.11 May 2009. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geography_of_Spain.)

**__ Mediterranean climate __** Example: Eastern and southern coast and much of Guadalquivir valley maintains an average winter temperature of 11 °C and an average summer temperature of 23°C. The annual rainfall is 250mm-600mm.There is no snow or frost due to warm temperatures (http://www.iberianature.com/)

Description: This climate has warm even hot, dry summers and wet, cool winters. ("Georgraphy of Spain." //Wikipedia//. Web.11 May 2009. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geography_of_Spain.)

**__ Continental Mediterranean climate  __** Example: The interior of the Iberian Peninsula (the Meseta and the Ebro valley). With low temperatures like - 20°C being normal in the winter and summers averaging 24°C.The annual rainfall of 400mm and heavy snowfalls in the winter. (http://www.iberianature.com/)

Description: It is just like a Mediterranean climate, but with some things, like cold and dry winters and warm summers. The difference between average temperatures in winter and summer is 18.5°C. In summer, temperatures are often above 30°C, and frosts are common in winter. Similar to the Mediterranean climate the annual rain fall is 400-600 mm. The aspects that are Continental of this climate are more regarded to the higher altitudes. ("Georgraphy of Spain." //Wikipedia//. Web.11 May 2009. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geography_of_Spain.)

__Oceanic climate__
Example: Northern part of the country, which is often referred o as green Spain. It extends from the Pyrenees to the northwest region. Average temperatures in the winter 9°C, while 18°C in the summers. This is the wettest part of the peninsula with annual rainfalls of 800-1599mm.summers are cooler and wetter than the rest of Spain here. (http://www.iberianature.com/)

Description: known for having mild winters, warm summers, and a fair rainfall throughout the year. Autumn, the wettest season, while the driest month July. ("Georgraphy of Spain." //Wikipedia//. Web.11 May 2009. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geography_of_Spain.) (an example of oceanic) **__ Alpine climate  __** Example: The highest section of the Pyrenees and Sierra Nevada (http://www.iberianature.com/)

Description: where the climate gets colder at higher elevations ("Georgraphy of Spain." //Wikipedia//. Web.11 May 2009. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geography_of_Spain.)

**__ Bodies of water  __** ** - ** The biggest lake in Spain, Lake Sanabria(370 ha. & 51m in depth) in Zamora which is fed by the River Tera ("Georgraphy of Spain." //Wikipedia//. Web.11 May 2009. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geography_of_Spain.) -There are 150,000 wetlands in Spain (most of which are small and tiny) ("Georgraphy of Spain." //Wikipedia//. Web.11 May 2009. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geography_of_Spain.) -The largest inland lagoon in Spain is Gallocan(1,400 ha. & 46.4m in depth) in Zaragoza ("Georgraphy of Spain." //Wikipedia//. Web.11 May 2009. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geography_of_Spain.)
 * Lakes and wetlands in Spain **

** - ** 1800 rivers in Spain ("Georgraphy of Spain." //Wikipedia//. Web.11 May 2009. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geography_of_Spain.) -172,888km of natural watercourses (but many are dry for much of the year) ("Georgraphy of Spain." //Wikipedia//. Web.11 May 2009. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geography_of_Spain.) -longest river in Spain is the river Tagus its source, Albarracin and its outlet lisboa. It is 1,007km in length. ("Georgraphy of Spain." //Wikipedia//. Web.11 May 2009. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geography_of_Spain.)
 * Rivers in Spain **

-Most of Spain receives and average of around 600mm precipitation a year. ("Georgraphy of Spain." //Wikipedia//. Web.11 May 2009. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geography_of_Spain.)
 * Rain in Spain **

**__ Factors that affected the peoples  __** ** - ** Spain is a stormy country with an average of 10,000 a year (5,000 in the summer, 2,500 in the spring, 2,000 in autumn and 500 in winter) ("Georgraphy of Spain." //Wikipedia//. Web.11 May 2009. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geography_of_Spain.) -Hail is a costly factor, causing damage to agriculture every year. ("Georgraphy of Spain." //Wikipedia//. Web.11 May 2009. Back to "The Decline of the People – the Later Years" page