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'''The Kingdom of Spain''' is a country located in the extreme southwest of ]. It shares the ] with ]. In the northeast it borders ] and the tiny principality of ], along the ] mountain range. It includes the ] off the Atlantic coast of Morocco, and the enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla in northern Morocco. The "rock of ]" has been held by ] since the end of the ] in ]. | '''The Kingdom of Spain''' is a country located in the extreme southwest of ]. It shares the ] with ]. In the northeast it borders ] and the tiny principality of ], along the ] mountain range. It includes the ] off the Atlantic coast of Morocco, and the enclaves of ] and ] in northern ]. The "rock of ]" has been held by ] since the end of the ] in ]. | ||
Spain is a parliamentary monarchy with a constitution dating from 1978. Spain joined ] in 1981 and is a member of the ] since 1986. The ] became Spain's currency on ], ]. | Spain is a parliamentary monarchy with a constitution dating from 1978. Spain joined ] in 1981 and is a member of the ] since 1986. The ] became Spain's currency on ], ]. |
Revision as of 05:38, 2 August 2002
The Kingdom of Spain is a country located in the extreme southwest of Europe. It shares the Iberian Peninsula with Portugal. In the northeast it borders France and the tiny principality of Andorra, along the Pyrenees mountain range. It includes the Canary Islands off the Atlantic coast of Morocco, and the enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla in northern Morocco. The "rock of Gibraltar" has been held by Great Britain since the end of the War of the Spanish Succession in 1714.
Spain is a parliamentary monarchy with a constitution dating from 1978. Spain joined NATO in 1981 and is a member of the European Union since 1986. The Euro became Spain's currency on January 1, 1999.
Administratively, Spain is divided into 17 autonomous communities with various levels of self-government. The capital is Madrid.
Four major languages are spoken in Spain, each is official in certain regions:
- Spanish (Castellano), official language throughout Spain, as mandated by the current Constitution of 1978
- Catalan (Català) in Catalonia (Catalunya), Valencia (València) and the Balearic Islands (Illes Balears)
- Basque (Euskara) in Basque country (Euskadi).
- Galician (Galego) in Galicia (Galiza).
Catalan, Galician and Spanish are all descenced from Latin and have their own dialects; there are also some surviving dialects of Latin such as Bable in Asturias, Leonés in León and Aragonés in Aragón. The Spanish spoken in America is descended from the dialect of Spanish spoken in southwestern Spain.
Spain was the most powerful country in the 16th century. The Spanish Empire extended all over the world.
National Parks
See also: History of Spain, Spanish euro coins
From the CIA World Factbook 2000. Not Wikified.
Spanish Cities