Countries Of The World: Spain

Transcription

1 Countries Of The World: Spain By National Geographic Kids, adapted by Newsela staff on Word Count 677 Level 830L Image 1. The Puento Nuevo in Ronda, Spain. The bridge was built in the late 1700s and has a chamber inside it. Photo by: Getty Images/Evgeni Dinev Photography. Spain occupies most of the Iberian Peninsula. It stretches from the Pyrenees Mountains to the Strait of Gibraltar. The strait is a narrow body of water that separates Spain from Africa. To the east lies the Mediterranean Sea, including Spain's Balearic Islands. Spain also rules two cities in North Africa and the Canary Islands in the Atlantic Ocean. The interior of Spain is a high, dry plateau surrounded and crisscrossed by mountain ranges. Rivers run to the coasts, creating good farmland. Still, the interior of the country gets very hot in summer and very cold and dry in the winter. Droughts are common. The southern and eastern coasts of Spain are often swept by warm winds. They are called sirocco winds. They come from northern Africa and keep temperatures along the Mediterranean coast milder than the interior. This article is available at 5 reading levels at 1

2 Nature Spain is a link between Europe and Africa. For this reason, it is an important resting spot for migratory birds. Spain is also home to such animals as the wolf, lynx, fox, deer and wild goat. Streams and lakes shelter fish. But many animals face threats from habitat loss and pollution. After hundreds of years of tree cutting, large forests are now found in only a few areas. Spain has created many national parks and refuges. However, they only cover a small fraction of the country. This article is available at 5 reading levels at 2

3 One protected area is Doñana National Park. It is a region of marshes, streams and sand dunes where the Guadalquivir River flows into the Atlantic. The park is home to a range of wildlife. Rare animals such as the Spanish imperial eagle and the Iberian lynx are found here. People And Culture Many Spaniards share a common ethnic background. It is a mixture of the early inhabitants of the Iberian Peninsula, the Celts and later conquerors from Europe and Africa. The origins of the Basque people in the north of Spain remain unknown. Recent immigrants from North Africa and Latin America have added to the mix. Spaniards are known for their love of life and for eating and drinking with family and friends. Traditional appetizers like tapas are popular. Regional dances and music are almost as important as soccer and religious festivals. This article is available at 5 reading levels at 3

4 Government And Economy Spain is a parliamentary monarchy. That means that power is shared by the king and the elected president. Each of Spain's 17 regions manages its own schools, hospitals and other public services. Spain is known for its historic cities and sunny beaches. It attracts more tourists than any other European country except France. The tourism industry drives Spain's economy. Other important industries include mining, shipbuilding and textiles. History Settlers have migrated to Spain from Europe, Africa and the Mediterranean since the dawn of history. The Phoenicians arrived about 2,700 years ago. They called the peninsula "Span," or hidden land. About 700 years later, the Romans had conquered Spain. Under the Romans, Spain became mostly Christian. Later, Germanic peoples from Europe called the Vandals and the Visigoths took over. The Visigoth rulers fought among themselves, and in A.D. 711 Muslims from Africa invaded Spain. Over time, Islamic culture spread across Spain. Muslim rulers introduced new crops and irrigation systems, and trading increased. Mathematics and medicine became more advanced. They reached their peak in the 900s, the golden age of Islamic rule in Spain. In 1492, Christian kingdoms in northern Spain conquered the Muslims. Made rich by silver from the Americas, Spain grew more powerful. It later lost land and power in the Napoleonic Wars, which ended in More than 500,000 people died in the Spanish Civil War of the 1930s. The winning General Francisco Franco took over and ruled as a dictator. A dictator controls every part of the government. He can make laws, control the army and decide who gets elected for any government job. After Franco died in 1975, Spain began to transform itself. It became a modern, industrial and democratic European nation. This article is available at 5 reading levels at 4

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6 Quiz 1 Read the section "History." Select the paragraph that MOST highlights a time of great learning and progress in Spain. Settlers have migrated to Spain from Europe, Africa and the Mediterranean since the dawn of history. The Phoenicians arrived about 2,700 years ago. They called the peninsula "Span," or hidden land. About 700 years later, the Romans had conquered Spain. Under the Romans, Spain became mostly Christian. Later, Germanic peoples from Europe called the Vandals and the Visigoths took over. The Visigoth rulers fought among themselves, and in A.D. 711 Muslims from Africa invaded Spain. Over time, Islamic culture spread across Spain. Muslim rulers introduced new crops and irrigation systems, and trading increased. Mathematics and medicine became more advanced. They reached their peak in the 900s, the golden age of Islamic rule in Spain. In 1492, Christian kingdoms in northern Spain conquered the Muslims. Made rich by silver from the Americas, Spain grew more powerful. It later lost land and power in the Napoleonic Wars, which ended in Read the section "Nature." Which selection from the section explains what problems the wildlife in Spain have? For this reason, it is an important resting spot for migratory birds. Spain is also home to such animals as the wolf, lynx, fox, deer and wild goat. But many animals face threats from habitat loss and pollution. After hundreds of years of tree cutting, large forests are now found in only a few areas. One protected area is Doñana National Park. It is a region of marshes, streams and sand dunes where the Guadalquivir River flows into the Atlantic. The park is home to a range of wildlife. Rare animals such as the Spanish imperial eagle and the Iberian lynx are found here. 3 Use the two maps and information from the article to select the TRUE statement. Spain controls a small area in the northern part of another continent. Spain's capital is home to sunny beaches that attract tourists. Spain's national animal lives in Doñana National Park. Spain has 17 regions that are ruled completely by the king. This article is available at 5 reading levels at 6

7 4 Examine Map 1 in the introduction [paragraphs 1-3] and read the selection below. Spain occupies most of the Iberian Peninsula. It stretches from the Pyrenees Mountains to the Strait of Gibraltar. The strait is a narrow body of water that separates Spain from Africa. To the east lies the Mediterranean Sea, including Spain's Balearic Islands. How does the map support the information in the selection above? It shows that Spain is close to Africa and shows the names of the two cities that it rules there. It shows where the Pyrenees Mountains and the Strait of Gibraltar are located in Spain. It shows that Spain is a large country mostly made up of many islands in the Mediterranean Sea. It shows that Spain is part of a peninsula and that it is surrounded by bodies of water on many sides. This article is available at 5 reading levels at 7