Spain

Officially the Kingdom of Spain, the country is located in southwestern Europe, bordering the Bay of Biscay, Mediterranean Sea, North Atlantic Ocean and Pyrenees Mountains. It is southwest of France.

Climate: temperate; clear, hot summers in interior, more moderate and cloudy along coast; cloudy, cold winters in interior, partly cloudy and cool along coast

Natural resources: coal, lignite, iron ore, uranium, mercury, pyrites, fluorspar, gypsum, zinc, lead, tungsten, copper, kaolin, potash, hydropower, arable land

Population: 40,037,995

Languages: Castilian Spanish (official) 74%, Catalan 17%, Galician 7%, Basque 2%

Capital: Madrid

Independence: 1492 (expulsion of the Moors and unification)

National holiday: Hispanic Day, October 12