c






 

 
grain, vegetables, olives, wine grapes, sugar beets, citrus; beef,
pork, poultry, dairy products; fish



textiles and apparel (including footwear), food and beverages,
metals and metal manufactures, chemicals, shipbuilding,
automobiles, machine tools, tourism, clay and refractory
products, footwear, pharmaceuticals, medical equipment

c

$268.3 billion (2010 est.)


 



 18
$224 billion (2009 est.)

c





machinery, motor vehicles; foodstuffs, pharmaceuticals,
medicines, other consumer goods

c
 
France 19.27% , Germany 11.11% , Portugal 9.21% , Italy 8.24% ,
UK 6.18% (2009)



$324.6 billion (2010 est.)


 



 14
$286.8 billion (2009 est.)







machinery and equipment, fuels, chemicals, semifinished goods,
foodstuffs, consumer goods, measuring and medical control
instruments


 
Germany 15.02% , France 12.82% , Italy 7.17% , China 5.8% ,
Netherlands 5.22% , UK 4.7% (2009)
Y

c




Madrid: Cuatro Torres Business Area

Barcelona: finance centre

Spain's capitalist mixed economy is the twelfth largest worldwide and the sixth
largest in Europe. It is also the third largest world investor.[76]
The centre-right government of former prime minister José María Aznar worked
successfully to gain admission to the group of countries launching the euro in
1999. Unemployment stood at 7.6% in October 2006, a rate that compared favorably
to many other European countries, and especially with the early 1990s when it stood
at over 20%. Perennial weak points of Spain's economy include high inflation,[77] a
large underground economy,[78] and an education system which OECD reports place
among the poorest for developed countries, together with the United States and UK.[79]
However, the property bubble that begun building from 1997, fed by historically low
interest rates and an immense surge in immigration, imploded in 2008, leading to a
rapidly weakening economy and soaring unemployment. By the end of May 2009
unemployment already reached 18.7% (37% for youths).[80][81]

Spain is part of a monetary union, the Eurozone (dark blue), and of the EU single
market.

Before the current crisis, the Spanish economy was credited for having avoided the
virtual zero growth rate of some of its largest partners in the EU.[82] In fact, the
country's economy created more than half of all the new jobs in the European Union
over the five years ending 2005, a process that is rapidly being reversed.[83] The
Spanish economy has been until recently regarded as one of the most dynamic within
the EU, attracting significant amounts of foreign investment.[84]
The city of Valencia

The most recent economic growth benefited greatly from the global real estate boom,
with construction representing an astonishing 16% of GDP and 12% of employment in
its final year.[85]
According to calculations by the German newspaper È
 , Spain was on course to
overtake countries like Germany in per capita income by 2011.[86]However, the GDP
per capita of Spain was still lower than the European Union average at US$29,875 in
2010, making it the second lowest in the Western Europe after Portugal.[87]The
downside of the now defunct real estate boom is also a corresponding rise in the levels
of personal debt: as prospective home owners struggled to meet asking prices, the
average level of household debt tripled in less than a decade. This placed especially
great pressure upon lower to middle income groups; by 2005 the median ratio of
indebtedness to income had grown to 125%, due primarily to expensive boom time
mortgages that now often exceed the value of the property.[88]
In 2008/2009 the credit crunch and world recession manifested itself in Spain
through a massive downturn in the property sector. Fortunately, Spain's banks and
financial services avoided the more severe problems of their counterparts in the USA
and UK, due mainly to a stringently enforced conservative financial regulatory regime.
The Spanish financial authorities had not forgotten the country's own banking crisis of
1979 and an earlier real estate precipitated banking crisis of 1993. Indeed, Spain's
largest bank, Banco Santander, took part in the UK government's bail-out of part of
the UK banking sector.[89]
A European Commission forecast predicted Spain would enter a recession by the end
of 2008.[90] According to Spain·s Finance Minister, ´Spain faces its deepest recession in
half a centuryµ.[91] Spain's government forecast the unemployment rate would rise to
16% in 2009. TheESADE business school predicted 20%.[92]
V


During the last four decades the Spanish tourism industry has grown to become the
second biggest in the world, worth approximately 40 billion Euros, about 5% of GDP,
in 2006.[85][93] Today, 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. The
Spanish hotel star rating system has requirements much more demanding than other
European countries, so at a given rating Spanish accommodations worth higher.[94]

PS10 Seville solar power tower

c 
]
 
   


Spanish territory lacks petroleum so alternative sources of energy is a strategic point.
It has reached important records. In 2010 Spain overtook United States as the solar
power world leader, with a massive power station plant called La Florida,
near Alvarado, Badajoz.[95][96] In 2009, more than 50% of the produced energy in Spain
was generated by wind mills, and the highest total production record was reached with
11.546 eolic Megawatts.[97]
V 

]
 
  




AVE Barcelona-Madrid

The Spanish road system is mainly centralized, with 6 highways connecting Madrid to
the Basque Country, Catalonia, Valencia, West Andalusia, Extremadura and Galicia.
Additionally, there are highways along the Atlantic (Ferrol to Vigo), Cantabrian
(Oviedo to San Sebastián) and Mediterranean (Girona to Cádiz) coasts.
Spain currently has a total of 1272 km of high speed train
linking Málaga, Seville, Madrid,Barcelona and Valladolid. Should the aims of the
ambitious AVE program (Spanish high speed trains) be met, by 2020 Spain will have
7000 km (4300 mi) of high-speed trains linking almost all provincial cities to Madrid
in less than 3 hours and Barcelona within 4 hours.
The busiest airport in Spain is the airport of Madrid (Barajas), with 50.8 million
passengers in 2008, being the world's 11th busiest airport. The airport
of Barcelona (El Prat) is also important, with 30 million passengers in 2008. Other
airports are located in Gran
Canaria, Málaga, Valencia,Seville, Mallorca, Alicante and Bilbao.
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 efficiency.[98]The Minister of
Industry Miguel Sebastian said that "the electric vehicle is the future and the engine of
an industrial revolution."[99]

Sectors of the economy

[edit]V


 
 




During the last four decades the Spanish tourism industry has grown to become the
second biggest in the world, worth approximately 40 billion Euros, about 5% of GDP,
in 2006.[52] Being the second tourism destination in the world, Spain has a tourism
industry sector which contributes nearly 11% to the country's GDP, employing about
2 million of the total labor force.[53]
[edit]




 
 







SEAT's Martorell plant near Barcelona.

The automobile industry in Spain is a large employer in the country, employing 9% of

the total workforce in 2009 and contributing to 3.3% of the Spanish GDP, despite the
decline due to the economic recession of the past couple of years. In 2009, Spain was
in the top ten of the largest automobile producer countries in the world.[54]
Apart from its domestic brand SEAT which is the major contributor to the automotive
sector of the country and Santana Motor, many suppliers and foreign car and truck
makers - like Volkswagen,Nissan, Daimler Mercedes-
Benz, Ford, Renault, GM/Opel, PSA Peugeot/Citroën, Iveco etc. - have facilities and
plants in Spain today developing and producing vehicles and components, not only for
the needs of the internal market but also for exportation purposes,[55] with the
contribution of the automobile industry in 2008 rising up to the second place with
17,6% out of the country's total exports.[56]
6


Automotive industry in Spain

Hispano-Suiza 1924 H6B ultra-luxurious automobile.

Pegaso Z-102 BS 3.2 litres sport car Competition Touring Spyder.

Barreiros-Dodge 3700 made in Spain

SEAT Exeo flagship sedan model

In 2009 LLAMA, the automotive industry is generating the 3.5 per cent of
Spain's GDP [1], and gives employment about nine per cent of the working population.
Spain has become the fifth country of the world to manufacture cars, but in 2008 and
2009 the production decreased.
The reduction tendency started ten years ago, when a government policy was
abandoned. The result was the loss of all cars brands and manufacturers, which are
now in the hands of foreign companies or closed.
[edit]Historic and present brands

 
 

 
 

[edit]  
Francisco Abadal, who used to work for Hispano-Suiza, produced two luxury models
between 1912 and 1923. They were fitted with either a 3,104cc four-cylinder engine or
a 4,521 cc six-cylinder engine. From about 1917 Buick engines were fitted and these
cars were called Abadal- Buicks. Approximately 170 Imperia-Abadals were built in
Belgium, including a 2,992 cc sports model.
[edit]

The Authi Car Company, which was formed in 1965, was the result of a collaboration
agreement between Nueva Montana Quijano and the British Motor Corporation. The
company produced the following models: Authi Mini (1968-1975), Authi Mini Cooper
(1973-1975), Morris 1100/1300 (1966-1972), Austin Victoria (1972-1975) and the
Austin de Luxe (1974-1975). In 1976 the company was purchased by the SEAT Car
Company.
[edit] 


The company was founded in 1954 as Barreiros Diesel S.A and initially it produced
diesel engines. In 1963 a licensing agreement was reached with Chrysler to build the
Dodge Dart in Spain. Between 1965 and 1977 a total of 17,589 Barreiros Darts were
produced. These were based on the Dodge Dart GL, the Dodge Dart GT (´sporty"
version) and the Dodge 3700GT. A diesel version called the ´Barreiros Diesel" was also
produced. In 1969 Chrysler Europe took over the company. From the mid-1970s
Barreiros started manufacturing the Chrysler 180 and later the Simca 1307 (called the
Chrysler 150 in Spain) and the Simca Horizon. In 1978, PSA
Peugeot Citroën purchased Chrysler Europe and former models were renamed;
the Chrysler 150 becoming the V 
. Barreiros later produced the Talbot
Solara and Talbot Samba.
[edit]
 
In the late 1940s Gabriel Voisin (French) designed a small car called the Biscooter.
The license to build the vehicle was obtained by Autonacional S.A. The
first 
  car was launched in Spain in 1953 and was called the Series 100 or
the  
 (little shoe). The original models did not have doors, windows or a
reverse gear. It was powered by a one cylinder, 197 cc, two-stroke 9 hp (7 kW) engine
which supplied power only to the right front wheel. The Biscúter car was produced for
about ten years.
[edit]c
! 
In 1909 Arturo Elizalde Rouvier started a company was called "Sociedad Mercantil J.
M. Vallet y Cia" to manufacturer car parts. A prototype called the Tipo 11 was
launched in mid 1914. In 1915, King Alfonso XIII owned a 20cv Biada-Elizalde
cabriolet Tipo 20. A 25cv sports version of the Tipo 20 was produced in 1919 as the
Reine Victoria (name of the Queen consorts). It is believed to be the first Spanish car
to feature four-wheel brakes. In 1920 the company started production of the four-
cylinder, 3,817 cc, Model 29. Variants of this model were built until 1927. Production
of the 8,143 cc straight-eight model, known as the Tipo 48, also began in 1920. The
car had a built in tire pump which could also be used as a vacuum cleaner. A 5,181 cc
straight-eight Gran Sport version of the Tipo 48 model, capable of 100 mph (160
km/h), was also produced. Production of Elizalde cars ceased in 1928.
[edit]c"
ENASA sort of (Empresa Nacional de Autocamiones S.A.) was a Spanish truck
manufacturing company, incorporated in 1946 having bought the automotive assets of
the Spanish arm of Hispano-Suiza. It produced trucks, buses sport-cars and military
armored vehicles under thePegaso brand and, for a short
while, Sava brands. Pegaso built about a hundred high-end Z-102 sports cars in the
1950s. The cars were in many ways advanced for the time, as they had all wheel
independent suspension, a five-speed gearbox, very powerful supercharged engines,
and were offered with the choice of Touring, Saoutchik, Serra or Enasa's own luxury
bodies. Enasa belonged to the state-owned INI industrial holding. In 1990 Enasa was
sold to Iveco.
[edit]c

The Eugenio Cortes SA (company) manufactured cars from 1945 to 1951.Or 1953?
The first Eucort model, which was based on a pre WW2 Germany Dampf Kraft Wagen
(DKW) design, was fitted with 764 cc twin-cylinder two stroke engine. Four-door sedan
and a three door estate versions were available. In 1950 the company started
production of its final model, the two stroke 1,034 cc Victoria. By the time the
company ceased car production in 1951 (1953?) about 1,500 Eucort cars (including
taxis) had been built.
[edit]#
 

! 
In 1898 Emilio de la Cuadra started a company in Barcelona called ´La Cuadraµ to
produce electric cars. Four years later it was acquired by J. Castro. He changed the
name to ´Fábrica Hispano-Suiza de Automóvilesµ (Spanish-Swiss Car Factory). By the
end of 1903 this company went bankrupt, re-emerging in 1904 as ´La Hispano-Suiza
Fábrica de Automóvilesµ. In 1906 Hispano-Suiza produced two models of 3.8 and 7.4
litres. Between 1907 and 1914 the company mass-produced a range of cars, plus a
number of hand-built racing models, including the Type A (1907), Type 15 (1910) and
the four-cylinder 3,620 cc 65 hp (48 kW) Alphonse XIII (1911-14). In 1911 a factory
called ´Hispano Franceµ was established just outside Paris, moving to another location
in 1914, when they took the name "Hispano-Suizaµ. The 
$statuette fitted on top of
each car·s radiator was based on the squadron emblem painted on the side of the
aircraft used by a WWI French ace, who owned a Hispano-Suiza car.
The Hispano-Suiza H6 range was introduced in 1919. It was mainly built at the Paris
factory. A few model built in Spain were called the T41. About 2,350 of these  
 models were made up to 1933; the 6,597 cc H6B (1919-32), and H6C (1926-
33). Between 1924 and 1927 about 50 H6Bs were built under license
by Skoda of Czechoslovakia. The H6 was one of the first cars to be fitted with power-
assisted brakes and originally came with a 6.5 litre engine. An 8 litre engine was fitted
to the H6C model.
In 1923 the French part of Hispano-Suiza became known as the Societé Française
Hispano-Suiza . The 8 litre T56 model was produced from 1928, plus a 3,750 cc T49
model. Other models produced in Spain the 1920s include the 4.7 litre T30 4.7 (1914-
24) and the 3,089 cc T16 (1921-24). In 1930 Hispano-Suiza took over Ballot, the
French car manufacturer. The six-cylinder 4,580cc Junior model was produced from
about 1930 to 1934. It was replaced by the 5.1 litre 120 hp (89 kW) K6 (1934-37). The
9,425 cc Type 68, which was produced in 1931, later evolved into an 11,310 cc version.
A six-cylinder version, the K6, succeeded the Junior in 1934. During the 1930s the
company produced a range of luxury cars, including the 4.5 litre 95 hp (71 kW) HS26
(1932), the 9.4 litre 210 hp (160 kW) and 11.3 litre 260 hp (190 kW) J12 model (1932-
38) The last model produced by the company in Spain was the T6ORL. The car was
produced from 1934 to about 1943. After the Second World War, #
 

! 
%   was primarily an aerospace firm. from 1955 Their attention turned
increasingly to jet engine manufacturing and, in 1968, they became a division
of SNECMA. In 1999, they moved their turbine engines operations to a new factory
inBezons, outside of Paris, using the original factories for power transmissions and
accessory systems for jet engines. In 2005, SNECMA merged with SAGEM to
form SAFRAN.
In Spain the Hispano-Suiza company sold in 1946 their automotive assets to
´Empresa Nacional de Autocamiones S.Aµ (Enasa), a Spanish vehicle manufacturing
company. Its become Pegaso brand.
[edit]& 

Automóviles y Autoscooter Kapi produced cars from 1950 to 1955.
The first model was a three-wheeled two door car that was powered by a 125 cc single-
cylinder two-stroke engine.
Other models include the Chiqui, a three wheeler with single wheel at the rear, the
Platillo Volante, a four wheel coupé and the M190 with miniature Mercedes 190 body.
[edit]cV
SEAT's Martorell plant near Barcelona.

SEAT is a subsidiary of the Volkswagen Group, which was formed in 1950 by the
Instituto Nacional de Industria (INI) and six Spanish banks with Fiat assistance,
under a name that stands for 

 c '
 
()

V

(Spanish Saloon/Sedan Car Company). In 1953 the company produced their
first model, the SEAT 1400. This 44 hp (33 kW) four-door saloon car had a top speed
of 75 mph (120 km/h). When production ceased in 1964 over 98,000 had been made.
Models produced licenced by Fiat in the 1960s include the 600, 850, 1500 and 124.
815,319 of the 800 models were made between 1964 and 1967. SEAT produced its one
millionth car in 1968. By 2003 this figure had risen to more than 14 million. During
the 1970s SEAT produced the 67 hp (50 kW) 1200 model (1975 to 1980) and over 1.5
million 131 models (1974 to1984). The SEAT 1200 Sport was a 2-door coupé produced
by SEAT from 1975 to 1979. The car was known as the "Bocanegra" because of the
shape of its always black plastic nose panel, which embraced the front grille and the
headlights and incorporated, by 1970s standards, a prominent front bumper. "Boca
negra" means "black mouth" in Spanish. Other models produced at this time include
the 127, 128, 132, 133 and the Ritmo. Fiat·s assistance ended in 1981 and was
replaced by a cooperation agreement with the Volkswagen Group in 1982.
Up to 1981 most SEAT cars resembled Fiat models. The 1982 Ronda model was the
first car produced by SEAT without assistance from Fiat. SEAT became a subsidiary of
the Volkswagen Group in 1986.
Other cars produced during the 1980s include the Fura (1981-86), Marbella (1986-
98), Málaga (1985-92) and Ibiza. Three generations of theIbiza model were made
between 1985 and 2007. Models produced between 1990 and 2007 include
the Arosa, León, Córdoba, Toledo,Alhambra and the Altea. In 2008 the company
introduced the 1.4 litre, 170 hp (127 kW) Bocanegra (4th generation Ibiza) concept car.
2009 models include the León Mk2, Córdoba Mk2, Toledo Mk3, Alhambra Mk1, Ibiza
Mk4 and Altea and the new flagship sedan model Exeo. The Exeo being derived from
the Audi A4, shares the same fundamental powertrain layout and platform.

Tourism in Spain

Alhambra, Court of the Lions, Granada

Tourism in Spain was developed during the last years of Francisco Franco·s
dictatorship, when the country became a popular place for summer holidays,
especially for tourists from the United Kingdom,France, Germany and Scandinavia. In
2007, Spain became the second most visited country of the world after France. That
year, almost 60 million foreign tourists were received, according to the World Tourism
Organization, which has its headquarters in Madrid. In 2010, Spain dropped to the
fourth most visited country in the world after France, the United
States and China with 53 million visitors.[1]Spain's tourism spending annually is over
£1478 Billion ($68 Billion), the highest tourism spending in any nation worldwide
except the United States with $74 Billion.
[edit]Transport

AVE train in Córdoba.

]
 
  




Spain's national airline is Iberia (or Iberia Airlines), but the country can also be flown
into on many international passenger airlines such as Spanair, Air
Europa, Vueling, Air Berlin, Clickair and charter airlines, both of which fly to many
tourist spots in the region. The main train operator is RENFE; theAVE (Spanish high
speed train) or Talgo are the intercity services for tourists. Many freeways link the
touristic cities.
[edit]Summer Resorts and Beaches
The Teide National Park, on the island of Tenerife is the most visited national park in
Spain.[2][3]

This type of Tourism was the first to be developed in Spain, and today, generates the
most income for the Spanish economy. The mild climate during the whole year and the
extensive sandy beaches of the Mediterranean and Atlantic Ocean as well as of its two
archipelagoes (the Balearic Islands andthe Canary Islands respectively) have been
attracting tourists from the cold territories of Northern Europe for decades. Summer
resorts are popular with Spaniards too.
The Spanish coasts suitable for summer vacations include, from north to south:

>Y The Costa Brava, the Costa Daurada and the Costa del Maresme, in the
autonomous community of Catalonia, very popular between tourist from inland
Spain and France, including famous resorts like Salou and the city of Barcelona,
that also has the largest harbour of Spain.
>Y The Costa del Azahar, Costa de Valencia, whose capital city is Valencia and
the Costa Blanca, (one of the most developed coastal areas of Spain, extremely
popular for tourists from the United Kingdom and Germany, with Benidorm as the
leading summer city of Spain), all in the Valencian Community.
>Y The Costa Calida in Region of Murcia, Mediterranean Coasts and the Mar
Menor (Small Sea), an inner salt lake separated to the Mediterranean by a large
sandy strip.
>Y The Costa de Almería, the Costa Tropical, the Costa del Sol and the Costa de la Luz,
all in Andalucía. Some of its summer towns are famous worldwide,
like Marbella in Málaga Province or Sotogrande in San Roque, Cádiz, both
destinations of tourists and summer residents with big purchasing
power. Málaga is also one of the largest harbours in Spain.
Spain also has two archipelagoes, the volcanic Canary Islands, in the Atlantic, and
the Balearic Islands, in the Mediterranean, both very popular with Spaniards and
foreigners. In the Canary Islands archipelago in the same tourist island is Gran
Canaria.
In addition to the summer tourism, other modalities like cultural and monumental
tourism congresses, sport or fun tourism have been developed in these areas,
including such famous cities as Barcelona and Valencia, the biggest harbours of the
Spanish Mediterranean coast.
The Beach Tourism also has been involved in the development of nightlife, present in
all the coastal or island cities, as well as the excellent gastronomy.
Many coastal or island places also have great ecological and natural
importance. Theme Parks like Port Aventura, Terra Mitica or diverse Water-fun parks
are also popular.
[edit]Cultural Tourism, Business Tourism

Guggenheim Museum Bilbao.

Spain is also a popular destination of cultural tourism due to its historical importance,
especially cities like Seville, Granada, Córdoba and Toledo. Thirteen Spanish cities
have been declared World Heritage Cities by the UNESCO: Alcalá de
Henares, Ávila, Cáceres, Córdoba, Cuenca, Ibiza,Salamanca, San Cristóbal de la
Laguna, Santiago de Compostela, Segovia, Tarragona and Toledo. Spain is the country
with most World Heritage sites designated by UNESCO along with Italy, each with 42
sites. Cultural tourism contemplates to the two big metropolis of Spain: Madrid and
Barcelona, both with great historical importance. Madrid is the most touristic city of
Spain, and the fourth-most touristic of Europe[4]. In addition, there are other
important cultural places in Spain, including several cities in North Spain, like A
Coruña and Vigo,
in Galicia, Santander in Cantabria,Oviedo and Gijón in Asturias, Bilbao and San
Sebastián in the Basque Country. North Spain is usually called "Green Spain" due to
its lush green landscape, similar to the United Kingdom andIreland. It is important in
terms of folklore, nature, cuisine and even summer holidays, although beaches of the
North are notably colder than the Mediterranean's. A big number of congresses and
conventions take place in Madrid and Barcelona. In addition, Madrid is considered the
major financial centre of Southern Europe, attracting a big number of business
tourists too.
Holy Week in Astorga.

[edit]å



Spain is an important place for Christianity, Islam Judaism. In fact, some of the
holiest places for theCatholic Church are in Spain: city of Santiago de
Compostela in Galicia (North-West Spain), the third holiest place after the Vatican
City in Rome and Jerusalem. It's also the end of the Way of Saint James or Camino de
Santiago in Spanish. Santo Toribio de Liébana, Cantabria (also at the North) is the
fourth, followed by the Sanctuary of the Vera Cruz in Caravaca de la Cruz at the
South-East,Region of Murcia (fifth holiest place). These places attract tourists from all
the world.
[edit]%
) 
The running of the bulls in Pamplona.

Also important are the numerous festivities and festivals in Spanish cities, such as
the Holy Week in cities like Seville. Very popular are the Seville Fair or Feria de Abril
in Spanish or the world-famous festival of San Fermin in Pamplona, the Fiestas del
Pilar in Zaragoza and many more in every town.
Spain enjoys a lot of culture festivals too, including the Carnival all over Spain, but
especially in theCanary Islands and Cadiz. Movie festivals can be found in San
Sebastian, Málaga and Sitges. Music festivals includes: the FIB, Festimad, Primavera
Sound, Bilbao Live Festival... among others. Several cities have hosted international
events, including: Universal Fair of 1888 and 1929 in Barcelona, the1992 Summer
Olympics, also in Barcelona, the Universal fair of 1992 in Seville, the America's Cup in
Valencia, and the Expo 2008 in Zaragoza.
[edit]Nightlife

The nightlife in Spain is very attractive to both tourists and locals. Spain is known to
have one of the best night lives of any country. Big cities such as Madrid and
Barcelona are favorites amongst the large and popular discothèques. For instance,
Madrid is known as the number one party city for clubs such as Pacha and Kapital
(seven floors), whereas Barcelona is famous for less famous clubs. The discothèques in
Spain are open until odd hours such as 7am. The Baleraric Islands, such as Ibiza and
Mallorca, are known to be major party destinations, as well as favored summer resorts.
Formigal, Spain's biggest ski resort.

[edit]Winter Tourism

Spain, as the second most mountainous country of Europe, is full of high mountains
and good ski resorts, with famous ski slopes all over Spain, including the Pyrenees,
the Sistema Central, TheSistema Ibérico and Sierra Nevada.
 
 






[edit]Nature and Rural Tourism

The Picos de Europa National Park in the Green Spain.

Spain enjoys a diverse landscape and is full of places with great ecologic value all over
the Spanish territory, including the Ordesa Valley and Monte Perdido between the
autonomous community ofAragon and France, in the Pyrenees. Spain is a very
mountainous country, but also has plains. The largest plain is the Meseta Central,
with a "Castilian" landscape, full of prairies. There are also several wetlands with
ecologic value, including the Picos de Europa National Park, the Doñana National Park,
the Albufera of Valencia, theLago de Sanabria (one of the largest lakes of Spain),
the Lagunas de Ruidera and the Tablas de Daimiel National Park. North Spain is
usually called the Green Spainbecause of its lush landscape, due to wet and rainy
weather. However, the Canary Islands have an exotic volcanic landscape (including
the Teide volcano, that is also the highest peak of Spain). Spain has a lot of
importance in terms of archeology and paleontology including Atapuerca and the cave
ofAltamira.