Reading Spain: Relief, Rivers and Coast Iberian Peninsula

READING SPAIN: RELIEF, RIVERS AND COAST

IBERIAN PENINSULA AND THE ARCHIPELAGOS The Iberian Peninsula is located in south-west Europe. It is bordered by the Bay of Biscay, the Mediterranean Sea, the Atlantic Ocean and the Pyrenees. The Strait of Gibraltar separate Europe from Africa.

Much of the Peninsula sits at a high altitude and there are many mountains and a large plateau, the Meseta. The most important geographical features include:

 The Meseta, the interior mountain ranges (the Sistema Central and the Montes de Toledo) and the surrounding mountain ranges (the Montes de León, the Cordillera Cantábrica, the Sistema Ibérico and the Sierra Morena).

 Mountain ranges far from the Meseta (the Macizo Galaico, the Cordilleras Béticas and the Cordilleras Costeras Catalanas) and extensive, fertile plains (the Ebro and Guadalquivir river basins).

The two main archipelagos in Spain are the Balearic Islands and the Canary Islands.

COASTS AND RIVERS The coastline along the Peninsula is mainly regular, with the exception of Galicia, which has many high, rocky cliffs. There are low, sandy stretches of coast in the Bay of Cádiz, the Bay of Valencia and the Bay of Alicante.

Spanish rivers can be divided into three groups, according to the ocean or sea that they flow into:

- The Bay of Biscay. These rivers are short with strong currents, as the mountains where they begin are close to the Bay of Biscay. They have a heavy discharge due to the abundant rainfall in the area. The main rivers are the Bidasoa, Deva, Nervión, Sella, Nalón, Narcea and Navia.

- The Atlantic Ocean. These rivers are long and begin far from the Atlantic Ocean. They have many tributaries and a heavy discharge, although water levels fall in the summer. The main rivers are the Miño, Duero, Guadiana, Guadalquivir and Tagus, the longest river on the Peninsula.

- Mediterranean Sea. These are short rivers with light, irregular discharge (except for the Ebro). In summer, water levels drop and the rivers can run dry. The main rivers are the Ebro, Júcar, Ter, Llobregat, Mijares, Turia, Segura, Almanzora and the Guadalhorce.

ACTIVITIES

1. Where is the Iberian Peninsula located?

2. What are the two main archipelagos in Spain?

3. How are the rivers in the Bay of Biscay, the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea? Describe them.

4. Write the following names on the map: Atlantic Ocean, Bay of Biscay, Gulf of Valencia, Mediterranean Sea, Strait of Gibraltar, Gulf of Cádiz, Gulf of Lion, Macizo Galaico, Sistema Central, Sistema Ibérico, Sierra Morena, Cordilleras Béticas, Canary Islands, Balearic Islands, Mount Mulhacen, Guadalquivir River, Ebro River, Pyrenees.