Spain

Country

Spain, situated in South-western Europe, is a member of the European Union. Spain is bordered by Mediterranean Sea, Gibraltar, France, Andorra, Bay of Biscay, Atlantic Ocean and Portugal. Apart from small exclave in France most of Spain lies on the Iberian Peninsula.Spain is the 2nd largest country in Western Europe, and the 5th in Europe. Aside from the mainland, Spain's territory includes several islands which include the Balearic Islands on the Mediterranean, Canary Islands on the Atlantic, Cueta, Melilla, 3 exclaves in North Africa, and several islands and rocks of the Perejil, Alhucemas, Alboran, and Chafarinas.

Business Economy

Spain’s robust economic expansion is defying concerns that a political impasse, now in its ninth month with no end in sight, would tarnish one of Europe’s economic bright spots.Long a largely agricultural country, Spain produces large crops of wheat, barley, vegetables, tomatoes, olives, sugar beets, citrus fruit, grapes, and cork. Spain is the world's largest producer of olive oil and Europe's largest producer of lemons, oranges, and strawberries. The best-known wine regions are those of Rioja, in the upper Ebro valley, and of Málaga and Jerez de la Frontera, in Andalusia. Cattle, pigs, and poultry are raised. Agriculture is handicapped in many places by lack of mechanization, by insufficient irrigation, and by soil exhaustion and erosion.

Natural Resources

The natural resources of Spain are coal, lignite, ironore, tungsten, uranium, zinc, copper, lead, mercury, fluorspar, kaolin, sepiolite, gypsum, magnesite, pyrites,hydropower, potash and arable land.

Higher Education

In Spain, higher education institutions are classified according to whether they organise university or non-university provision. The later are further subdivided into centres which offer advanced vocational training cycles and specialised education institutions.

University education

This type of provision is organized by universities, which may be public or private.

Public universities and private universities are founded pursuant to a specific act passed by the Legislative Assembly of the region where the institution will be located, or an act approved by the Spanish Parliament, at the proposal of the central government and in accordance with the relevant Autonomous Community Council. A report from the General Conference for University Policy is also mandatory.

Higher Vocational Training may be offered in different types of institutions, namely, in secondary education schools, which also organise Compulsory Secondary Education (ESO) provision and Bachillerato programmes, in national reference centres and in integrated vocational training centres.

Tourism

Spain, a country on Europe’s Iberian Peninsula, includes 17 autonomous regions with diverse geography and cultures. Capital city Madrid is home to the Royal Palace and Prado museum, housing works by European masters. Segovia has a medieval castle (the Alcázar) and an intact Roman aqueduct. Catalonia’s capital, Barcelona, is defined by Antoni Gaudí’s whimsical modernist landmarks like the Sagrada Família church.

Climate Weather

There are three different climate zones in Spain, due to its large size. Visitors can generally expect a Mediterranean climate, characterized by hot, dry summers and mild, rainy winters. The vast central plateau, or Meseta, has a more continental influenced climate with hot, dry summers and cold winters. Rain generally falls mostly in spring and autumn. The mountains surrounding the plateau have a higher rainfall and often experience heavy snowfalls in winter.

Required clothing

Light- to medium weights and rainwear, according to the season.