Spanish Geology

Spain has been described by early geographers as being “one big mountain”. And this is in fact quite true of a country that has an average altitude of almost 660m above sea level. 24% of Spain has an altitude of more than 1000m and the rest 76% lies between 500m to 1000m. It is the second highest country on Europe, with Switzerland, at a mean height of almost 1300m being the first. In fact, at a height of more than 650 metres, the capital of Spain, Madrid also has the distinction of being the highest capital in Europe.

As far as Spanish Geology is concerned, then the bedrock of Spain can be broadly divided into two major categories. One is the bed of hard and crystalline rocks that the siliceous Spain is made up of in the West and the North. The rock bed consists of hard rocks like schist, gneiss and granites in this region. The other major kind of bed rock is characterized by the region of the Meseta, where the rock bed is made primarily of sedimentary rocks like limestone etcetra.

Apart from the characteristically divided geology of in land Spain, the beaches and coastlines of the country lend another interesting and different aspect to the geology of Spain. The coastline of the country, which is shared by both the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, varies in character based on the water body that it touches. So while the Atlantic coasts of Heulva and Cadiz are characterized by beaches of fine sand, the coastline from Almeria to the Strait of Gibraltar, which touches the Mediterranean Sea, is characterized by golden beaches and rocky outcrops. The climate of this region is also more temperate and this area is characterized by warm waters and a calm climate as compared to the area bordering the Atlantic.

In spite of having quite a long coastline, the Spanish peninsula is landlocked with its neighbours France, Portugal, Andorra and Gibraltar. The boundaries with Morocco are shared at the cities that Spain has in North Africa, namely Ceuta and Melilla. Not quite content with having two cities on the continent of Africa, Spain also possesses three islands off the coast of Morocco - Peñon de Velez de la Gomera, Islas Chafarinas, and Peñon de Alhucemas. In Europe, the country occupies more than eighty per cent of the total Iberian Peninsula with 493,514 square kilometers of its total 505,955 square km of area falling in Iberia. The Canary Islands and the Balearic Islands complete the total picture of Spain with its plateaus, mountains, coasts and islands. However, Spanish geology is incomplete without a mention of its numerous caves and mountains, which are responsible for lending the land a lot of character and interest.

Spain boasts of a hugely varying landscape, especially considering its total area, which is not very large when compared to some of the larger countries in Asia and America. Its diverse landscapes offer its residents and tourists loads of variety, what with deserts, snow peaked mountains, beautiful beaches, grasslands and caves all being found in one country. The climate is extremely conducive to relaxation and holidaying, with the country receiving the maximum amount of sun shine in the whole of Europe. The country’s benign climate, coupled with its friendly people and diverse geology, have made it one of the best holiday spots and one of the most attractive and beautiful countries of the world.

It offers golden beaches and white snow covered mountains, coupled with highly interesting flora and fauna to its visitors. The rich folklore, traditions and handicrafts of the region further increase the liveliness and the timelessness of its natural beauty.