Geography & environment — Spain
Location, land area, terrain, climate, and natural resources.
Profile updated 2026-06-02
⚡ Geography & environment at a glance
Location, land area, terrain, climate, and natural resources. Key figure for Spain: Europe
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Location & size
- Geographic Location
Europe
- Geographic Coordinates
40 00 N, 4 00 W
- Total Area
195,123 Square Miles 505,370 Square Kilometers
- Land Area
192,656 Square Miles 498,980 Square Kilometers
- Water Area
2,467 Square Miles 6,390 Square Kilometers
- Land Boundaries
1,192 Miles 1,918 Kilometers
- Border Countries
Andorra 63.7 km, France 623 km, Gibraltar 1.2 km, Portugal 1,214 km, Morocco (Ceuta) 6.3 km, Morocco (Melilla) 9.6 km
- Coastline
3,084 Miles 4,964 Kilometers
Physical geography
- Terrain
large, flat to dissected plateau surrounded by rugged hills; Pyrenees Mountains in north
- Highest Point
3,718 Meters
- Highest Point Location
Pico de Teide (Tenerife) on Canary Islands 3,718 m
- Lowest Point Location
Atlantic Ocean 0 m
- Natural Resources
coal, lignite, iron ore, copper, lead, zinc, uranium, tungsten, mercury, pyrites, magnesite, fluorspar, gypsum, sepiolite, kaolin, potash, hydropower, arable land
- Irrigated Land
13,398 Square Miles 34,700 Square Kilometers
Climate & time
- Time Zone
UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) time zone note: Spain has two time zones, including the Canary Islands (UTC 0)
- Daylight saving time
+1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
Climate
- Climate
Madrid's climate is predominantly dry, sunny, and agreeable. Because of its elevation (about 2,000 feet above sea level) and its proximity to mountains, Madrid often experiences wide variations in temperature between winter and high summer. In winter, temperatures drop slightly below freezing and many winter days can be uncomfortably cold. Summers are quite warm with average midday temperatures of 95°F to 100°F. Except at the height of summer, evenings and nights are cool. Daily mean temperature ranges from 50°F to 68°F during 8 months of the year. Rainfall is scarce, except during a brief rainy season in October and November and again in spring. Snow, uncommon in Madrid, usually becomes rain and slush within hours.
- Terrain
large, flat to dissected plateau surrounded by rugged hills; Pyrenees Mountains in north
- Location
Southwestern Europe, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, North Atlantic Ocean, Bay of Biscay, and Pyrenees Mountains; southwest of France
- Total Area
195,123 Square Miles 505,370 Square Kilometers
- Border Countries
Andorra 63.7 km, France 623 km, Gibraltar 1.2 km, Portugal 1,214 km, Morocco (Ceuta) 6.3 km, Morocco (Melilla) 9.6 km
Environment
- Environment - Current Issues
pollution of the Mediterranean Sea from raw sewage and effluents from the offshore production of oil and gas
water quality and quantity nationwide
air pollution
deforestation
desertification
- Environment - International Agreements
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants