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Kingdom of Spain
History:
The Iberian peninsula
was characterized by a variety of independent kingdoms prior to the
Moslem occupation that began in the early 8th Century A. D. and lasted
nearly seven centuries; the small Christian redoubts of the north began
the reconquest almost immediately, culminating in the seizure of Granada
in 1492; this event completed the unification of several kingdoms and
is traditionally considered the forging of present-day Spain
The powerful world
empire of the 16th and 17th centuries ultimately yielded command of
the seas to England. Subsequent failure to embrace the mercantile and
industrial revolutions caused the country to fall behind Britain, France,
and Germany in economic and political power. Spain remained neutral
in World Wars I and II, but suffered through a devastating civil war
(1936-39). In the second half of the 20th century, Spain has played
a catch-up role in the western international community; it joined the
EU in 1986. Continuing concerns are Basque Fatherland and Liberty (ETA)
terrorism and further reductions in unemployment.
Geography:
- Mainland
Spain: Located in Southwestern Europe, bordering the Bay of
Biscay, Mediterranean Sea, North Atlantic Ocean, and Pyrenees
Mountains, area: 505,000 sq km; coastline: 5,000 km
- Border
countries: Andorra 63 km, France 623 km, Gibraltar 1.2 km, Portugal
1,214 km, Morocco (Ceuta) 6.3 km, Morocco (Melilla) 9.6 km
- Islands:
19 autonomous communities including Balearic Islands and Canary
Islands, and three small Spanish possessions off the coast of
Morocco - Islas Chafarinas, Penon de Alhucemas, and Penon de
Velez de la Gomera ; area: 500,000 sq km
- Maritime
claims: contiguous zone: 24 NM; exclusive economic zone: 200
NM (applies only to the Atlantic Ocean); territorial sea: 12
NM
- Climate:
temperate; clear, hot summers in interior, more moderate and
cloudy along coast; cloudy, cold winters in interior, partly
cloudy and cool along coast
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Population:
- 40.3 million;
Median age: 38.7 years; Population growth rate: 0.16% (2003)
- Infant
mortality rate: 4.54 deaths/1,000 live births; Life expectancy
at birth: 79 years
- People
living with HIV/AIDS: 130,000 (2001)
- Religions:
Roman Catholic 94%, other 6%
- Literacy:
age 15 and over can read and write: 97.9%
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Government
- Capital:
Madrid ; Administrative divisions: 19 autonomous communities
(comunidades autonomas, singular - comunidad autonoma); Andalucia,
Aragon, Asturias, Baleares (Balearic Islands), Ceuta, Canarias
(Canary Islands), Cantabria, Castilla-La Mancha, Castilla y
Leon, Cataluna, Communidad Valencian, Extremadura, Galicia,
La Rioja, Madrid, Melilla, Murcia, Navarra, Pais Vasco (Basque
Country)
- Three small
Spanish possessions are located off the coast of Morocco: Islas
Chafarinas, Penon de Alhucemas, and Penon de Velez de la Gomera;
Ceuta and Melilla gained limited autonomous status in 1994
- Chief of
state: King JUAN CARLOS I (since 22 November 1975)
- Head of
government: President of the Government; cabinet: Council of
Ministers designated by the president
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Economy:
Spain's
mixed capitalist economy supports a GDP that on a per capita basis
is 80% that of the four leading West European economies. A general
strike in mid-2002 reduced cooperation between labor and government.
Growth of 2.4% in 2003 was satisfactory given the background of
a faltering European economy.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $850.7 billion (2002); per capita:
purchasing power parity - $21,200 (2002); composition by sector:
agriculture: 4% - industry: 31% - services: 65% (2000); Unemployment
rate: 11.3% (2002) |
Disputes - international:
- Gibraltar:
residents vote overwhelmingly in referendum against "total
shared sovereignty" arrangement worked out between Spain
and UK to change 300-year rule over colony;
- Morocco:
protests Spain's control over the coastal enclaves of Ceuta,
Melilla, and Penon de Velez de la Gomera, the islands of Penon
de Alhucemas and Islas Chafarinas, and surrounding waters;
- Morocco:
rejected Spain's unilateral designation of a median line from
the Canary Islands in 2002 to set limits to undersea resource
exploration and refugee interdiction; Morocco allowed Spanish
fishermen to fish temporarily off the coast of Western Sahara
after an oil spill soiled Spanish fishing grounds;
- Portugal:
has periodically reasserted claims to territories around the
town of Olivenza, Spain.
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2004 March 11th - Spain,
Madrid: during Thursday morning rush hour at 7.39
seven explosions hit the Atocha train station in the heart of
the Spanish capital. Four bombs exploded on an approaching train
approximately 500 yards outside the station (62 deaths), three
others on a train inside the station (34 deaths). Atocha train
station connects long distance inter-city, commuter, and subway
trains.
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