The Kingdom of Spain is the largest of the three countries that make up the Iberian peninsula—the others are Portugal and Andorra—located in southwestern Europe. To the west (and, in Galicia, south), it borders Portugal. To the south, it borders Gibraltar and, through its cities in North Africa (Ceuta and Melilla), Morocco. To the northeast, along the Pyrenees mountain range, it borders France and the tiny principality of Andorra. It also includes the Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean Sea, the Canary Islands in the Atlantic Ocean and a number of uninhabited islands on the Mediterranean side of the strait of Gibraltar, known as Plazas de soberanía, such as the Chafarine islands, the "rocks" (peñones) of Vélez and Alhucemas, and the tiny Isla Perejil (disputed). In the Northeast along the Pyrenees, a small exclave town called Llívia in Catalonia is surrounded by French territory.
The Spanish Constitution, although affirming the sovereignty of the Spanish Nation, recognizes historical nationalities.
The Castilian-derived Spanish (called both español and castellano in the language itself) is the official language throughout Spain, but other regional languages are also spoken. Without mentioning them by name, the Spanish Constitution recognizes the possibility of regional languages being co-official in their respective autonomous communities. The following languages are co-official with Spanish according to the appropriate Autonomy Statute (Spain)|Autonomy Statutes.
* Catalan (català) in Catalonia (Catalunya), the Balearic Islands (Illes Balears), Valencia (València), Aragon's eastern strip (Aragó), Alguer (Sardinia), Rosellón (France).
* Basque (euskara) in Basque Country (Euskadi), and parts of Navarre (Nafarroa). Basque is not known to be related to any other language.
* Galician (galego) in Galicia (Galicia or Galiza).
* Occitan (the Aranese dialect). Spoken in the Val d'Aran in Catalonia.
Most populous metropolitan areas
1. Madrid 5,843,041
2. Barcelona 4,686,701
3. Valencia 1,623,724
4. Sevilla 1,317,098
5. Málaga 1,074,074 |
