Spain Geography

Spain occupies most of the Iberian Peninsula and is framed by mountains on nearly every side -- the Pyrenees along the French border, and the Sierra Nevada and other ranges crossing the interior and south.

The interior is dominated by the Meseta Central, a vast high plateau giving Madrid a notably different, more continental climate than the coasts.

Spain's coastline varies dramatically -- the green, Atlantic-facing north is lush and rainy, the Mediterranean south is dry and sunny, and the Balearic and volcanic Canary Islands add distinct landscapes of their own.