Spanish language and culture

The official language of Spain (español) is also the official language of most countries in Latin America and one of the working languages of the United Nations. In addition, several states in the southern United States, the Philippines and parts of Africa (including Equatorial Guinea, Western Sahara, and Spain’s African territories, Ceuta and Melilla, etc.

Land), there are also a considerable number of users. It belongs to the western branch of the Romance language family in the Indo-European language family. Spanish (español or castellano), that is, Castilian, is the third largest language in the world, and some sources say it is the second or fourth largest language. In seven continents, about 400 to 500 million people use it, most of which use Spanish in Latin American countries.

Spanish Spanish is the official language of the African Union, the European Union and the United Nations. Countries that use Spanish as an official language in the 21st century are: Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Spain , Uruguay and Venezuela. Spanish is also spoken in Belize, Gibraltar, the Philippines, Trinidad and Tobago, and Western Sahara.

Spain (Spanish: Reino de Españ) is a country located in southwestern Europe. It borders Portugal on the Iberian Peninsula to the west, the Bay of Biscay to the north, France and Andorra to the northeast, and the Strait of Gibraltar to the south. Africa and Morocco face each other. Its territory also includes the Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean Sea, the Canary Islands in the Atlantic Ocean, and Ceuta and Melilla in Africa. The coastline is about 7,800 kilometers long. The territory is mountainous, one of the highest mountain countries in Europe. In modern history, Spain is an important cultural birthplace. It became a global empire that influenced the world in the 16th century. When it became a global empire, it brought a huge impact to the world. Spain is a developed country in the world today, has a relatively complete market economy, and its gross national product ranks among the top European countries.

Chinese name: Kingdom of Spain

English name: The Kingdom of Spain

Abbreviation: Spain

Continent: Europe

Capital: Madrid

Major cities: Valencia, Barcelona, Seville

Official language: Spanish Currency: Euro

Population: 47,190,493 people (2011)

Population density: 93 people/km2 (2011)

Main ethnic group: Spanish

Main religion: Catholic

Land area: 505,925 square kilometers

Total GDP: US$1.413 billion (2011)

GDP per capita: US$30,625 (2011)

National Flower: Carnation

Natural environment

Climate: The central Meseta Plateau has a continental climate, the north and northwestern coasts have a maritime temperate climate, and the south and southeast have a Mediterranean subtropical climate. The northwest is relatively humid, and the inland and southeast are drier.

The average temperature in the Spanish capital Madrid (12 photos) is from north to south: January 9.4-10.3℃; July 19.1-28.1℃. The annual precipitation is generally 350-500 mm, and the mountainous area is as high as 1,500 mm. The central Madrid region has a plateau climate, with hot and dry summers and dry and cold winters. The Barcelona area in the northeast has a more typical Mediterranean climate. The climate is mild and humid throughout the year, and the summer is hot and dry. The precipitation is dominated by winter, and it can guarantee more than 250 days of sunshine a year.

National borders: Spain has a land border of 2013 kilometers, of which the border with France and Andorra is 720 kilometers, the border with Portugal is 1,292 kilometers, and the border with Gibraltar is 1 kilometers.

Spain is located in southwestern Europe and shares the Iberian Peninsula with Portugal. Spain is located between 36 degrees to 44 degrees north latitude, 9 degrees 18 minutes west longitude and 3 degrees 19 minutes east longitude, spanning 840 kilometers from north to south and 1,000 kilometers from east to west. The country covers an area of 504,750 square kilometers, and the Spaniards say that their country is shaped like a piece of cooked cowhide. Spain ranks fourth in Europe after Russia, Ukraine and France, equivalent to one-twentieth of the total area of Europe. Outside of the peninsula, Spain’s territory includes the Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean Sea and the Canary Islands in the Atlantic Ocean.

The northern coast of Spain is the Bay of Biscay, which borders France and Andorra to the northeast. The towering Pyrenees separates these countries; the east and southeast face the Mediterranean Sea, and it crosses the Strait of Gibraltar, which is only 14 kilometers wide. It can reach Morocco in Africa; Portugal, which is rectangular, is the neighbor to the west of Spain. The Strait of Gibraltar is the main route from the Mediterranean to the Atlantic, and its strategic position is extremely important. Spain and the United Kingdom have long been competing for sovereignty over this place.

Excluding the Balearic Islands and the Canary Islands, the coastline of Spain, which is surrounded by the sea on three sides, is about 3,904 kilometers long, but the coast is relatively straight. The real natural harbors are concentrated in the north, such as Ferrol, Pontevedra and Vigo and others. Cartagena is a natural harbour in the Mediterranean. The coastline of the southeast is not known as a port, but as a scenic beach resort. The famous bays in Spain are the Gulf of Cadiz and the Gulf of Valencia.

Spain not only has the famous Spanish Costa del Sol, but also towering mountains. In Europe, she is a country other than Switzerland. Most of Spain is an ancient plateau. The famous Central Plateau stands in the middle of Spain, accounting for about 60% of the country, with an altitude of 600-700 meters. The central plateau is blocked by high mountains on three sides: the Cantabrian Mountains in the north, the Morena Mountains in the south, and the Iberian Mountains in the east that separate the central plateau from the Aragonese plains. The western side of the plateau stretched slowly, the terrain gradually flattened, and then disappeared along the Atlantic coast. If you travel around Spain by car, you will see snow-capped peaks and undulating hills from time to time.

Spain is divided into five geographic regions:

Northern mountainous area: Here is the famous Pyrenees Mountains in Europe, the whole mountain range stretches for thousands of miles, the scenery is picturesque. Throughout the year, no matter the mountains or the plains, there is verdant green everywhere. Especially in Asturias, the mountains are endless, the pine waves are vast, and the forest sea is lush.

The Cantabrian Mountains, close to the Pyrenees, are more than 2,000 meters above sea level, and border the boundless Bay of Biscay to the north. The land is rich in forests and the scenery is very charming. Many broad river valleys are placed in between, and the lake is as clear as a mirror. What's more worth mentioning is that there are countless waterfalls there, pouring down from a height, and the mist is filled with mist all day, which is spectacular. Here is not only an important cork producing area, but also a pastoral and industrial area full of cattle and sheep.

Central Plateau: The Cordillera Mountains located in the middle of the plateau divide the Meseta Plateau into the Old Castile Plateau in the north and the New Castile Plateau in the south. In this vast and undulating land, there are large tracts of famous olive groves and animal sanctuaries. Most of the northwestern part of the Central Plateau and the northern Atlantic coast are high mountains. Mountain roads are connected end to end, and cars sometimes drive in the mountains for a long time, as if they are still in their original positions.

Plain of Aragon: The Plain of Aragon is located in the Ebro River valley southeast of the Pyrenees. It is a roughly triangular wavy plain. In the paleo-geological period, it used to be a vast inland lake. Later, the lake water flowed into the Mediterranean Sea and slowly turned into dry land. The Aragon Plain has a pleasant climate all year round, abundant rains, and fertile soil. It is known as a fertile "treasure land". It is not only a natural granary in Spain, but also an important producer of grapes, oranges and other fruits.

Mountains along the Mediterranean Sea: The mountains along the coast span from Andalusia in the southeast to Catalonia in the northeast, and are 1,500 kilometers long. Walking on the soft sandy beach, the sea and the sky are the same color, and there are waves of tourists. At the southern end of the Andalusian Mountains, Murasa Mountain is steep and towering, 3,478 meters above sea level. It is the highest point of the Iberian Peninsula and is known as the “backbone of the nation” of Spain. The mountain is full of clouds and mellow breeze all year round. It is a good place to escape the summer heat.

Andalusian Plain: Located between the Molina Mountains and the Andalusian Mountains. Here is a plain, open and open; the Guadalquivir River runs across the entire plain from west to east, irrigating tens of thousands of acres of fertile land. Because the towering Andalusian mountains block the moist air from the ocean, the climate here is dry and the sun is scorching in midsummer.

Important city

capital

The emblem of the Spanish capital of Madrid is a bear standing and eating strawberries. It is located in a mountain basin at an altitude of 670 meters, and is one of the European capitals. The scenery here is beautiful, the sun is shining, and the air is fresh. The number of sunny days every year ranks first among major European capitals.

Madrid is now a modern city. 10% of Spain’s total industrial output value comes from the capital’s machinery manufacturing, chemical industry, construction, leather and wood processing, and food industries. Since the opening of a railway in Madrid in 1851, Madrid has opened air routes with more than 20 domestic cities such as the Arc de Triomphe of Barcelona and major cities in the world. Spain’s road network extends to all parts of the country with Madrid as the center. Subway transportation is the main mode of transportation in Madrid. The total length of the subway is about 100 kilometers, and 1 million people go in and out every day.

Numerous places of interest are scattered throughout Madrid. With more than 1,000 triumphal arches, more than 3,000 squares, and 50 museums, this ancient city, which was named "European Cultural City" in 1992, is permeated with a strong historical atmosphere. The triangle between the three main squares-Puerta del Sol, the central square and the Plaza de España is the center of Madrid. Puerta del Sol is known as the center of Spain, where there is a sign that the Spaniards use as a base point to calculate the mileage of cars, trains, and planes to all parts of the country. On the Plaza de España, there is the famous Cervantes Monument in Spain. On one side of the monument is the statue of Isabel, the founding queen of Spain, and two pools that symbolize the calm Mediterranean Sea and the turbulent Atlantic Ocean. On the other side is the world-famous bronze statues of Lords and Servants of Dongui River and Sancho . The Columbus Monument is erected in Columbus Square. The statue of Columbus and the three-masted fountain at his feet are also one of Madrid's landmarks. The image of the sculpture "Lion Chariot" on the Plaza of the Goddess of Earth is often used to mark the city of Madrid. This square is the place where fans of the famous football club Real Madrid celebrate.

With the development of tourism in the past ten or twenty years, Madrid has not only built many new offices and commercial buildings, but also built many magnificent restaurants and hotels mainly for foreign tourists to rest. In the new building, the "European Gate" is impressive both architecturally and aesthetically. Two symmetrical parallelogram towers are located on both sides of the highway, leaning sharply towards each other. This is a building built for the European Union meeting held in Madrid, showing a kind of courage and boldness.