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Spain is a geographically diverse country of snow-capped mountains, sprawling plateaus, vast monuments, sophisticated cities and unique culture. All this has made it a country insanely famous with tourists from across all corners of the globe. From the orchards and snow-capped peaks of Sierra Nevada in the south, mountainous region of Catalonia to the north, and long coastal strips to the east and west; Spain is easily the most geographically diverse country in the whole of Europe. Below is a low down of just about everything you need to know about Spain if you are a traveler looking to tour this amazing country.

Geography.

Spain is a transcontinental country located within the Iberian peninsula in the southwestern tip of Europe. Apart from mainland Spain, the country also encompasses various islands as part of its territory. These include the likes of canary islands, Ceuta and Melilla, and Balearean islands in the Mediterranean. Indeed Spain is the only European country to share a border with an African country: In this case Morrocco.

Measuring in at 505,992 km2, Spain is the fourth largest country in Europe and 52nd in the world. Additionally, with a population of 40 million people, Spain is the fifth largest country in terms of population density with a majority of its population living in is sophisticated cities. As a result of the five different mountain ranges that crisscross Spain, about 50% of its land is considerably higher than sea level.

Location and People.

Together with Portugal, Spain is the only other country that occupies the Iberian peninsula. It is bordered by Gilbratar and Morrocco to the south, Portugal to the west, and France as well as the principality of Andorra to the North.

The people of Spain have diverse ethnic and cultural minorities and majorities. These include the Castilians, Catalans, Basques, Aragonese, Andalusians, Navarrese, Asturians, Valencians, and Galicians. While Spanish is the main language used, the various ethnic groups such as Valencians and basques consider their dialect their main language.

Traveling to Spain.

As an industrialized country, Spain has excellent transport network to all corners of the country. It features about 40 civil airports, 200 ports, 15000 km network of railroad and finally 330, 000 km of roads.

Outdoor attractions.

With the geographical and cultural diversity inside of Spain, it is no wonder that it contains some of the choicest tourist attractions in the whole of Europe. The white sandy beaches, especially in the eastern and southern Mediterranean, are some of the famous attractions in Spain. Some of these areas include Costa Dorada, Costa del Maresme, Costa Brava in the east and Costa del Sol in the south. The Coto Danana natural reserve also belongs to this part of the world. It has a rich diversity of flora and fauna and happens to be the largest in the whole of Europe.

The various cities of Spain such as Cordoba and Sevilla contain rich architecture, cathedrals, and monuments of a bygone era of Moorish and Roman conquest. Make sure to pop into one of the various restaurants and sample Spain's unique cuisine and drink vintage wine sourced straight from its rich vinefields.

UV Safety.

Spain experiences a majorly Mediterranean climate which is characterized by hot and dry summers. This, therefore, means that the sun's intensity and consequently the UV ray output in Spain is higher than in other parts of northern Europe or in milder climates. This, therefore, calls for the following adequate sun protection measures to be undertaken especially while on the beach or walking through the streets.

1. Ensure that you wear UV protected sunglasses so that you may not develop cancer around or in the eye.

2. Make sure to apply enough sunscreen to every inch of your body if you are looking to venture outside in the scorching sun. You should also ensure that your sunscreen is labeled as biodegradable so as not to harm the environment.

3. Make sure to use big hats and caps to protect your head or face from direct assault from the sun.

4. Because the risk of UV exposure increases exponentially when taking a swim in ocean waters always wear a UV protected swimsuit to shield you from these harmful rays.

5. Avoid being out in the sun during peak hours ( between 10am-4pm) but if outside always try to keep to the shade and wear appropriate protective clothing.

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