Mainland Spain is dominated by high plateaus and mountain ranges
such as the Pyrenees or the Sierra Nevada. Running from these heights
are several major rivers such as the Tajo, the Ebro, the Duero, the
Guadiana and the Guadalquivir. Alluvial plains are found along the
coast, the largest of which is that of the Guadalquivir in Andalusia,
in the east there are alluvial plains with medium rivers like Segura,
Júcar and Turia. Spain is bound to the south and east by Mediterranean
Sea (containing the Balearic Islands), to the north by the Cantabrian
Sea and to its west by the Atlantic Ocean, where the Canary Islands
off the African coast are found.
Due to Spain's own geographical situation which allows only its
northern part to be in the way of the Jet Stream's typical path and
due to its own orographic conditions, its climate is extremely
diverse. It can be roughly divided in the following areas:
The Northern and Eastern Mediterranean coast (Catalonia, Northern
half of the Valencian Community and the Balearic islands): Warm to hot
summers with relatively mild to cool winters. Precipitation averaging
600 mm (23.6 in) a year. These show an average Mediterranean climate.
The South East Mediterranean coast (Alicante, Murcia and Almería):
Hot summers and mild to cool winters. Very dry, virtually sub-desertic,
rainfall as low as 150 mm (5.9 in) a year in the Cabo de Gata which is
reported to be the driest place in Europe. These areas qualify mostly
as Semiarid climate in terms of precipitation.
Southern Mediterranean coast (Málaga and Granada's coastal areas):
Warm summers, very mild winters. Average yearly temperatures close to
20 degrees Celsius (68°F) and wet. Close to Subtropical climate.
The Guadalquivir valley (Seville, Cordoba): Very hot and dry
summers and mild winters. Relatively dry climate.
South West Atlantic coast (Cadiz, Huelva): Pleasant summers, very
mild and temperate winters. Relatively wet climate.
The inner land plateau (Madrid, Valladolid, Toledo) and the Ebro
Valley (Zaragoza): Cold winters (depending mostly on altitude) and hot
summers, close to the Continental climate. Relatively dry weather
(400-600mm or 15.7 - 23.6 in per year).
Northern Atlantic coast or "Green Spain" (Galicia, Asturias,
Coastal Basque country): A very wet climate with mild summers
and mild to cool winters. These show mostly an Oceanic climate.
The Pyrenees: overall wet weather with cool summers and cold
winters, the highest part of it has an Alpine climate.
The Canary Islands: Subtropical climate in terms of temperature,
being these mild and stable (18 °C to 24 °C; 64 °F to 75 °F)
throughout the year. Desert-like in the Eastern islands and moister in
the westernmost ones.
