Spain and its 66 important Details for UPSC, PSC and Other Competitive Exams
Spain and its Details for UPSCSpain and its Details Like , Capital, GDP, Currency, Geography, Economy, Defence, Culture, Natural resources, Habitat, Sports and all you want to know for UPSC, PSC and Other Competitive Exams.
Spain and its Basic Details :
| Category | Information |
|---|---|
| Name of the Country | Spain |
| Capital | Madrid |
| Independence Day | October 12, 1492 |
| Major Religions | Roman Catholicism (predominant), Islam, others |
| Currency | Euro (€) |
| Continent | Europe |
| Top 5 Famous Cities | Barcelona, Valencia, Seville, Zaragoza, Malaga |
| Top 10 Famous Persons | Pablo Picasso, Antoni Gaudí, Salvador Dalí, Miguel De Cervantes, Rafael Nadal, Penelope Cruz, Andrés Iniesta, Diego Velázquez, Pedro Almodovar, |
| Type of Government | Parliamentary Constitutional Monarchy |
| Main Wars Fought | Spanish Civil War, Peninsular War, War of Spanish Succession, Reconquista, Spanish-American War |
| GDP | Approximately $1.4 trillion (2021) |
| 5 Popular Tourist Places | Sagrada Familia (Barcelona), Alhambra (Granada), Park Guell (Barcelona), Prado Museum (Madrid), La Rambla (Barcelona) |
Geography of Spain :
| Details | Description |
|---|---|
| Area of the Country in Square Kilometers | 505,990 square kilometers |
| Population of that country | Approximately 47 million people |
| 5 Main mountain ranges | Pyrenees, Cantabrian Mountains, Sistema Central, Sierra Nevada, Sistema Ibérico |
| 5 Main mountain peaks | Pico Aneto, Torre de Cerredo, Mulhacén, Posets, La Munia |
| 5 Main Rivers | Tagus (Tajo), Ebro, Duero, Guadalquivir, Júcar |
| Main lakes | Lake Alcántara, Lake Sanabria, Lake Banyoles, Lake Cijara, Lake Gallocanta |
| Deserts, plateaus, and volcanoes | Tabernas Desert, Mesa de Ocaña, Teide (volcano), Timanfaya (volcano), La Garrotxa (volcanic region) |
| 5 Main Crops and vegetation | Olive trees, grapevines, cereals (wheat, barley), citrus fruits (oranges, lemons), vegetables (tomatoes, peppers) |
| Main Beaches | La Concha Beach (San Sebastián), Playa de Rodas (Cíes Islands), Playa de Ses Illetes (Formentera), La Barrosa Beach (Chiclana de la Frontera), Playa de Muro (Mallorca) |
| Neighboring countries sharing boundaries | Portugal, France, Andorra, Gibraltar, Morocco (via the Spanish exclaves of Ceuta and Melilla in North Africa) |
| Nearby Seas and Oceans | Mediterranean Sea, Atlantic Ocean, Bay of Biscay, Alboran Sea |
| Length of Coastline | Approximately 4,964 kilometers (3,084 miles) |
| Top 5 Natural Resources | Arable land, minerals (coal, lignite, iron ore, copper, lead, zinc, uranium, tungsten, mercury, pyrites, magnesite), forests, renewable energy resources (wind, solar) |
Economy of Spain :
| Category | Description |
|---|---|
| 5 Major Industries of the country | Tourism, automotive, manufacturing, agriculture, renewable energy |
| 5 Main revenue sources of that country | Taxes, social security contributions, value-added tax (VAT), corporate income tax, excise duties |
| Top 10 Companies | Inditex, Banco Santander, Telefónica, BBVA, CaixaBank, Iberdrola, Repsol, Siemens Gamesa, Ferrovial, Red Eléctrica |
| Per capita income | Approximately $30,000 (as of 2021) |
| Top 5 Imports | Machinery, motor vehicles, mineral fuels, electrical machinery, pharmaceutical products |
| Top 5 Exports | Machinery, motor vehicles, mineral fuels, pharmaceutical products, medical instruments |
| Total Gold Reserves | Approximately 282.3 metric tons (as of September 2021) |
Defence Power of Spain :
| Category | Details | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Defense Policy | Defence Policy | Spain maintains a moderate-sized military with a focus on regional security and NATO commitments. |
| Defense Budget | €19.18 billion | This represents approximately 1.2% of Spain’s GDP. |
| Total Army Personnel | 120,000 active personnel | This includes regular forces and reservists. |
| Total Air Force Personnel | 21,000 active personnel | This includes pilots, ground crew, and other support personnel. |
| Total Navy Personnel | 24,000 active personnel | This includes sailors, marines, and other support personnel. |
| Total Defence Imports | €12.4 billion (2021) | This includes weapons, vehicles, and other military hardware. |
| Total Defence Export | €2.2 billion (2021) | This includes arms sales to other countries. |
Cultural of Spain :
| Category | Details | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Culture | Cultural Aspects | This Country is known for its rich and diverse culture, which includes festivals, religious places, arts, dances, languages, cuisine, and UNESCO-protected buildings. |
| Main Festivals | 1. La Tomatina, 2. Running of the Bulls, 3. Semana Santa, 4. Las Fallas, 5. San Fermín | This Country hosts various vibrant festivals, including the famous La Tomatina and Running of the Bulls. |
| Main Religious Places | 1. Sagrada Família, 2. Santiago de Compostela Cathedral, 3. Mosque-Cathedral of Córdoba, 4. Alhambra, 5. Basilica of the Sagrada Família | This Country is home to several significant religious places, including the Sagrada Família and Santiago de Compostela Cathedral. |
| Main Arts and Dances | 1. Flamenco, 2. Spanish Guitar, 3. Spanish Steps Dance, 4. Salvador Dalí’s Surrealism, 5. Francisco Goya’s Art | This Country has a rich artistic heritage, with contributions like Flamenco music and dance, Spanish guitar, and renowned artists like Salvador Dalí and Francisco Goya. |
| Main Languages | Spanish | The primary language spoken in this country is Spanish, but there are also regional languages like Catalan, Basque, and Galician. |
| Famous Food and Cuisine | 1. Paella, 2. Tapas, 3. Jamón Ibérico, 4. Gazpacho, 5. Churros con Chocolate | Spanish cuisine is famous for its diverse dishes, including Paella and Tapas, along with delicacies like Jamón Ibérico and Churros con Chocolate. |
| UNESCO Protected Buildings | 1. Park Güell, 2. Historic City of Toledo, 3. Works of Antoni Gaudí, 4. Historic Centre of Cordoba, 5. Historic Walled Town of Cuenca | This Country has several UNESCO-protected buildings and sites, including Park Güell and the Historic City of Toledo. |
Sports in Spain :
| Category | Details | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Sports | Sports in This Country | This Country has a rich sporting culture, with various sports, top athletes, and notable sports achievements. |
| National Game | Football (Soccer) | The National Game of this country is football. Football is the most popular spectator sport and mass activity in the nation. |
| Main Sports | 1. Football (Soccer), 2. Basketball, 3. Tennis, 4. Cycling, 5. Bullfighting | Football (soccer) is the most popular sport in this country, followed by basketball, tennis, cycling, and bullfighting. |
| Top Athletes | 1. Rafael Nadal (Tennis), 2. Fernando Alonso (Formula 1), 3. Pau Gasol (Basketball), 4. Sergio Ramos (Football), 5. Carolina Marín (Badminton) | This Country has produced top athletes in various sports, including tennis, Formula 1, basketball, football, and badminton. |
| Top Sports Achievements | 1. FIFA World Cup 2010 (Football), 2. UEFA European Championship (Euro) 1964, 2008, 2012 (Football), 3. Davis Cup (Tennis), 4. Tour de France Wins, 5. Olympic Medals (Various) | This Country has achieved significant success in various sports, including winning the FIFA World Cup and UEFA European Championships in football. |
Natural Habitat and wild life of Spain :
| Category | Details | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Natural Habitat and Wildlife | Diverse ecosystems, including forests, wetlands, mountains, and coastline, supporting a rich variety of wildlife. | This Country is home to a wide range of wildlife, with diverse habitats such as the Pyrenees mountains, wetlands like Doñana National Park, and the Mediterranean coastline. This diversity supports various animal species, including the Iberian lynx, Spanish imperial eagle, and many others. |
| National Animal | Iberian Lynx | The Iberian lynx is an endangered species and serves as the national animal of this country. Efforts are being made to conserve and protect this iconic feline species, which is found in specific regions of the country. |
| National Bird | Spanish Imperial Eagle | The Spanish imperial eagle, also known as the Iberian imperial eagle, is recognized as the national bird of this country. This majestic raptor is native to the Iberian Peninsula and plays a vital role in Spain’s natural heritage and conservation efforts. |
| Main Forests | 1. Pyrenees Forest, 2. Cazorla, Segura, and Las Villas Natural Park, 3. Monfragüe National Park, 4. Picos de Europa National Park, 5. Sierra de las Nieves Natural Park | This Country boasts a variety of forests, including those in the Pyrenees, Cazorla, Monfragüe, Picos de Europa, and Sierra de las Nieves. These forests support diverse flora and fauna and provide vital ecological services. |
| Main Recognized Natural Habitats for Wild Animals | 1. Doñana National Park, 2. Tablas de Daimiel National Park, 3. Aiguamolls de l’Empordà Natural Park, 4. Sierra de Guadarrama National Park, 5. Cabo de Gata-Níjar Natural Park | This Country is home to several recognized natural habitats that provide crucial shelter and breeding grounds for various wild animals. Notable habitats include Doñana, Tablas de Daimiel, Aiguamolls de l’Empordà, Sierra de Guadarrama, and Cabo de Gata-Níjar. These areas support biodiversity and are vital for wildlife conservation. |
Biggest in the Spain :
| Category | Description |
|---|---|
| Biggest City | Madrid, the largest city in Spain by population, with an estimated 3.3 million inhabitants. |
| Richest Person | Amancio Ortega, a Spanish fashion magnate and co-founder of Inditex, the world’s largest clothing retailer. His net worth is estimated at €64.4 billion (as of October 26, 2023). |
| Biggest Company | Inditex, the largest company in Spain by revenue, operating popular clothing brands like Zara, Bershka, and Pull&Bear. |
| Tallest Building | Torre Cepsa, the tallest building in Spain, with a height of 249 meters (817 feet). |
| Tallest Statue | Cristo del Otero, the tallest statue in Spain, depicting Jesus Christ with an outstretched hand and a height of 20 meters (66 feet). |
| Biggest Bridge | Viaducto de Millau, the largest cable-stayed bridge in the world and the tallest bridge in Europe, located in Millau, Spain. |
| Tallest Mountain | Teide, the highest mountain in Spain and the Canary Islands, located on the island of Tenerife with an elevation of 3,718 meters (12,200 feet). |
| Longest River | Tajo River, the longest river in the Iberian Peninsula, flowing for 1,007 kilometers (626 miles) from its source in the Montes Universales to its mouth in the Atlantic Ocean. |
| Biggest Forest | Sierra de Cazorla Natural Park, the largest forested area in mainland Spain, covering an area of 214,300 hectares (827 square miles). |
| Biggest Lake | Laguna de Gallocanta, the largest endorheic lake in Spain, located in the province of Zaragoza with an area of 35 square kilometers (14 square miles). |
Brief History Of Spain :
A brief history of Spain, including its key periods:
Ancient Spain:
- Spain’s history dates back to ancient times when it was inhabited by various indigenous peoples, including the Iberians, Celts, and Basques.
- The Phoenicians and Greeks established colonies on the Spanish coast around the 8th century BC.
- The Carthaginians later gained control of parts of Spain, but it eventually became a Roman province known as Hispania in the 2nd century BC.
- The Romans left a significant cultural and architectural legacy in Spain.
Medieval Period:
- In the 5th century AD, the Western Roman Empire fell, and Spain was invaded by various Germanic tribes, including the Visigoths, who established a kingdom on the Iberian Peninsula.
- In the early 8th century, the Moors, North African Muslims, conquered most of Spain, leading to the Islamic rule of Al-Andalus.
- The Christian Reconquista, a centuries-long campaign, began in the 8th century and continued into the late Middle Ages, gradually pushing the Moors south.
- The marriage of Ferdinand II of Aragon and Isabella I of Castile in 1469 united much of Spain, setting the stage for the eventual Reconquista.
Modern Era:
- In 1492, the Catholic Monarchs Ferdinand and Isabella completed the Reconquista by capturing the Emirate of Granada from the Moors.
- Christopher Columbus, sponsored by Spain, embarked on his famous voyage, leading to the discovery of the Americas.
- Spain became a global empire during the Age of Exploration, with vast territories in the Americas, Asia, and Europe.
- The 16th century was known as Spain’s Golden Age, marked by cultural flourishing and the dominance of Spanish art and literature.
- However, economic problems and wars with other European powers led to a decline in Spain’s influence.
Recent History:
- Spain became embroiled in various conflicts in the 19th and 20th centuries, including the Peninsular War, the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939), and World War II.
- General Francisco Franco ruled Spain as a dictator from 1939 until his death in 1975.
- After Franco’s death, Spain transitioned to a constitutional monarchy and democracy.
- Spain joined the European Union in 1986, leading to significant economic development.
- In the 21st century, Spain faced economic challenges, including the global financial crisis of 2008, which resulted in high unemployment rates.
- Catalonia, a region in Spain, has seen periodic calls for independence, leading to political tensions.
- Today, Spain is known for its rich cultural heritage, diverse regions, and contributions to art, literature, and cuisine.
This summary provides an overview of Spain’s history, from its ancient origins to its modern era and recent history.
