Peek at Spain

A chance to visit Spain is a chance to see some of the most beautiful landscapes in the world, as well as some of the most varied. In the north, one can see the Pyrenees, the natural border between France and Spain. The highest peak in the range is Aneto, which is Spain’s third-highest mountain. Aneto is covered by Spain’s largest glacier, although it has been shrinking in recent years due to increasing temperatures and decreasing winter precipitation.The northern mountains are where you’ll find the most rainfall in the country. These mountains are characterized by an alpine climate, defined as the climate above the tree line. The temperature becomes increasingly colder with elevation, and is usually accompanied by snow and strong winds.A number of islands are included in the country of Spain, including the Canary Islands, the Balearic Islands, and a number of uninhabited isles off the Strait of Gibraltar. The Balearic Islands and Canary Islands are both popular tourist locations. The climate at Balearic sites like Majorca and Ibiza can be described as Mediterranean, characterized by mild winters and hot summers. However, the climate is less hot than it is on the mainland. The Canary Islands have a sub-tropical climate, which has hotter summers and cooler days in winter.In Spain’s mainland, you’ll find more dizzying heights, both on plateaus and mountain ranges. The Sierra Nevada runs through the provinces of Granada and Almeria and contains Spain’s highest point, Mulhacen (3,478.6 m high). A number of rivers have their origins in these peaks, including the Tagus, Duero, Guadiana, Guadalquivir, and Ebro rivers. The Guadalquivir is the only Spanish river which allows navigation, and also has created an impressive alluvial plain (formed from sediment deposited over a long period) in Andalusia.Apart from the Mediterranean climate which prevails in Spain, two other climate zones are often referred to. The first is the semiarid climate, found in the south-east in regions like Murcia and the Ebro valley. The semiarid climate has a dry season which extends into the winter, unlike the Mediterranean. The Oceanic climate can be found along the coastal strip in the north (especially in the Basque Country). There is no seasonal drought in this climate, and the temperatures are lower than in the other climate zones.