Page 56 - Northern Spain & Portugal: Pilgrimage into the Past

DEMOGRAPHICS & HISTORY

Europe

Spain

Facts & Figures

• Area: ?SP XLTYWLYO ZNN`[TP^ L[[]ZcTXL_PWd $ ! ^\`L]P XTWP^ :ʬ >[LTYɪ^ PL^_
coast in the Mediterranean are the Balearic Islands (1,936 square miles), the largest of
which is Majorca. Sixty miles west of Africa are the Canary Islands (2,808 square miles).

• Capital: Madrid

• Languages: Spanish, Basque, Catalan, and Galician. In resort areas, many people also
speak English, French, and German.

• Geography: Spain’s topography consists of a broad central plateau that slopes to the
south and east, crossed by a series of mountain ranges and river valleys. It is a land of
both towering peaks and endless beaches, as well as fertile landscapes and high, dry
plains. Principal rivers are the Ebro in the northeast, the Tajo in the central region, and
the Guadalquivir in the south.

• Population: 48,958,159 (estimate)

• Religions: Roman Catholic 67.8%, atheist 9.1%, other 2.2%, non-believer 18.4%,
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• Time Zone: Spain is six hours ahead of U.S. Eastern Time.

National Holidays: Spain

In addition to the holidays listed below, 05/01 Labor Day
Spain celebrates a number of national
08/15 Assumption of Mary
holidays that follow a lunar calendar,
^`NS L^ 0L^_P] ?Z ʭYO Z`_ TQ dZ` bTWW MP 10/12 Hispanic Day
traveling during these holidays, please visit
www.timeanddate.com/holidays. 11/01 All Saints Day

01/01 New Year’s Day 12/06 Constitution Day

01/06 Epiphany 12/08 Immaculate Conception
12/25 Christmas

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