2. Tiffany Treece SPAIN

3. Spain A parliamentary monarchy in southwestern Europe, occupying the greater part of the Iberian Peninsula, and bounded on the north by the Bay of Biscay, France, and Andorra; on the east by the Mediterranean Sea; on the south by the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean; and on the west by Portugal and the Atlantic Ocean. The British dependency of Gibraltar is situated at the southern extremity of Spain. The Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean and the Canary Islands in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Africa are governed as provinces of Spain. Also, Spain administers two small exclaves in Morocco—Cueta and Melilla—as well as three island groups near Africa—Peñón de Vélez de la Gomera and the Alhucemas and Chafarinas islands. The area of Spain, including the African and insular territories, is 505,990 sq km (195,364 sq mi). Madrid is the capital and largest city.

4. Economy Spain's mixed capitalist economy supports a GDP that on a per capita basis is 80% that of the four leading West European economies. Its center-right government successfully worked to gain admission to the first group of countries launching the European single currency on 1 January 1999. The AZNAR administration has continued to advocate liberalization, privatization, and deregulation of the economy and has introduced some tax reforms to that end. Unemployment has been steadily falling under the AZNAR administration but remains high at 11.3%. The government intends to make further progress in changing labor laws and reforming pension schemes, which are key to the sustainability of both Spain's internal economic advances and its competitiveness in a single currency area. A general strike in mid-2002 reduced cooperation between labor and government. Adjusting to the monetary and other economic policies of an integrated Europe - and further reducing unemployment - will pose challenges to Spain over the next few years. GDP: purchasing power parity - $828 billion (2002 est.) GDP - real growth rate: 2% (2002 est.) GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $20,700 (2002 est.) GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 4% industry: 31% services: 65% (2000 est.)

5. People Population: 40,217,413 (July 2003 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 14.4% (male 2,985,705; female 2,808,791) 15-64 years: 68% (male 13,721,053; female 13,626,121) 65 years and over: 17.6% (male 2,962,646; female 4,113,097) (2003 est.) Median age: total: 38.7 years male: 37.4 years female: 40.1 years (2002) Population growth rate: 0.16% (2003 est.) Birth rate: 10.08 births/1,000 population (2003 est.) Death rate: 9.48 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.) Net migration rate: 0.99 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2003 est.) Infant mortality rate: total: 4.54 deaths/1,000 live births female: 4.12 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.) male: 4.94 deaths/1,000 live births Life expectancy at birth: total population: 79.23 years male: 75.87 years female: 82.8 years (2003 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.26 children born/woman (2003 est.) HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 0.5% (2001 est.) HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 130,000 (2001 est.) HIV/AIDS - deaths: 2,300 (2001 est.) Nationality: noun: Spaniard(s) adjective: Spanish Ethnic groups: composite of Mediterranean and Nordic types Religions: Roman Catholic 94%, other 6% Languages: Castilian Spanish (official) 74%, Catalan 17%, Galician 7%, Basque 2% Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 97.9% male: 98.7% female: 97.2% (2003 est.)

6. Music Spanish music has a vitality and a rhythm that reflect the many influences on the culture by the Christians and the Moors. The zarzuela, a form of opera, was introduced in the 17th century. A leading composer during the 18th century was Antonio Soler, and, during the 20th century, Joaquin Turina and Manuel de Falla were noted for their advanced styles. Famous Spanish performers of the 20th century include guitarist Andres Segovia and cellist Pablo Casals. Popular Spanish instruments include the guitar, tambourine, castanets, and the gaita, a kind of bagpipe. Spanish dance styles (each with its own music) include the bolero, the flamenco, the jota, and the fandango.

7. Animals The Spanish fauna includes the wolf, lynx, wildcat, fox, wild boar, wild goat, deer, and hare. Among the more famous domesticated animals are the bulls bred near Seville and Salamanca for bullfighting, the Spanish national sport. Birdlife is abundant, with varieties of birds of prey. Insect life abounds. Mountain streams and lakes teem with fish such as barbel, tench, and trout.

8. Principal Cities Madrid: Capital and largest city (population 2,938,723) Barcelona: The second largest city, chief port, and commercial center (population 1,503,884) Valencia: Manufacturing and railroad center (population 738,441) Seville: Capital of Seville province and Andalusia region, and a cultural center (population 684,633) Zaragoza: Capital of Zaragoza province and Aragón region, Another industrial center (population 614,905) Bilbao: A busy port (population 349,972)

9. Madrid Madrid occupies the geographical center of the Iberian Peninsula. The city stands at a height of 2,200 feet above sea level, its buildings rooted in the sandy soil of some low hills. It is sufficient to say that the reproductions of its luminous skies gave world fame to the best painter of all times: Velázquez. The beautiful skies of Madrid have since been described as "Velasqueños".

10. Canary Islands The Canary Islands are an exceptional destination for anyone that wants to enjoy the beach and the sun, even during wintertime. The generous climate of the islands invites visitors to plunge into the crystal waters that surround them, to go hiking through their gorgeous protected spaces and to get lost in unforgettable cities of colonial air.

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