Statements

- Officially the Kingdom of Spain, member of European Union.

- Prime Minister: Jose Maria Aznar

- Spain is the world’s 51st largest country.

-Second largest country in Western Europe and the European Union after France.

- It has both Atlantic and Mediterranean coast lines.

- Spain’s capitalist mixed economy is the twelfth largest economy in the world and fifth largest in the EU.

- Mainland Spain is a mountainous country. The highest peak, 3478 meters high. Highest elevation in the Iberian peninsula. 

- The highest point is the Teide, a 3718 meters high, active volcano.

- Member of the United Nations and European Union.

- Tenth largest quality of life index rating in the world.

- Social life is very important in spain, they cherish there time till the sun comes up. Between midnight and dawn they call it Madrugada which means when the city streets are often still lively.

- Spain has more bars and restraunts per head then any other country.

- Most Spaniards place their family at the center of there lives.

Three main climatic zones can be separated, according to geographical situation and orographic conditions:

- The Mediterranean climate, characterized by dry and warm summers. According to the Köppen climate classification, it is dominant in the peninsula, with two varieties: Csa and Csb.

- The semiarid climate (Bsh, Bsk), located in the southeastern quarter of the country, especially in the region of Murcia and in the Ebro valley. In contrast with the Mediterranean climate, the dry season extends beyond the summer.

- The oceanic climate (Cfb and partly Cwb - subtropical highland variety), located in north quarter of the country, especially in the region of Basque Country, Cantabria, Asturias and Galicia. In contrary to the Mediterranean climate, winter and summer temperatures are influenced by the ocean.

- High pollution of the Mediterranean sea from raw sewage and effluents from offshore production of oil and gas.

- Pour water quality and the amount of water they can receive nationwide.

- Deforestation - the destruction of vast areas of forest without planting new growth.

- Enviroment was a major issue in past elections for 20 years and finally got brought up to popular parties in office, Finally They created an evriomental ministry, the ministry will handle the concerns the were formly handeled by Public works, transport, and environment.

- As democracy grew in Spain, so did the population’s awareness and interest in ecological concerns. Since 1976, 

membership in environmental organizations has increased dramatically. Adena’s membership is up by 123%. Seo’s membership has increased by 385% and Aedenat’s membership is up by an incredible 21,245%. Despite the fact that organizations such as Greenpeace Spain and Fapas did not exist until the 1980’s, their membership has increased by an average of 157,500 percentage points.

- Internationally, Spain’s role in matters related to the environment is being recognized. In the past 20 years, several conferences focusing on ecological issues have been held there. Spain is also home to environmentally beneficial experiments which, if successful, could be models for the world.

- Spain among the countries contributing least to global overpopulation. Drinking water for the Spanish population of 39.4 million is 100% safe.

- A string of oil spills in the past 20 years have plagued the country. In 1976 the Spanish tanker Urquiola exploded, after running aground off the northwestern coast near the port of La Coruña.  The 30 million gallons spill damaged 130 miles of beach. 

- When the Greek owned Andros Patria sank in 1978, it spilled 12 million gallons only 20 miles offshore. 

- In 1992 a Greek oil tanker,  Aegean Sea, ran aground in a sudden storm not far from where the Urquiola accident occurred nearly 16 years before. The ship later broke in two spilling 21.5 million gallons of crude. Coming only days after the final compensations were made from the Urquiola spill, the Aegean Sea spill covered 60 miles in two days. The total environmental impact from these oil spills was devastating.

- Another incident that will have a long-term impact on the environment was the 1989 accident at the nuclear power station Vandellos-I. The Vandellos-I accident reminded the public that they were not immune from accidents such as those at Three Mile Island and Chernobyl.  Despite the closing of Vandellos-I the following year, nine more reactors with performance and design problems are still in use. There is pressure from environmentalists to close these possibly hazardous reactors. 

- Spain also joins with other Mediterranean countries in the need to improve the cleanliness and maintaining the bio-diversity of the Mediterranean Sea.

- By the end of May 2009, unemployment reached 18.7% and 37% for the youngsters.

- The most recent economic growth benefited greatly from the global real estate noo, with construction representing an astonishing 16% of GDP and 12% of employment.

- Spanish tourism industry has grown to become the second biggest in the world, worth approximately 40 billion Euros, about 5% of GDP.

- The climate of Spain historical and cultural monuments and its geographic position together with its facilities make tourism one of Spain’s main national industries and a large source of stable employment and development.

- Spain one of the world’s leading countries in the development and production of renewable energy.

- 2010 Spain became the solar power world leader when it overlooked the US with a massive power station plant called La Florida near Alvarado, Badajoz. Spain is also Europe’s main producer of wind energy.

- Wind energy reached historic peak covering 53% of main land electricity demand and generating amount of energy that is equivalent to that of 14 nuclear reactors.

- Other renewable energies that are used in Spain are, hydro-electric, biomass and marine.

- Spain has 6 highways that are along the Atlantic.

- Spain has the most extensive rail network in Europe, and it is the second most extensive after China.

- Spain aims to put 1 million electric cars on the road by 2014 as part of the government’s plan to save energy and boost energy effiency. The minister of Industry says “the electric vehicle is the future and the engine of an industrial revolution”.