With Mediterranean and continental marine climates with varying temperatures and irregular rainfall, Spanish animal and plant life varies greatly. Spain boasts diverse terrains with mountainous regions, a Mediterranean and Atlantic Coast with a lot of dry terrain between, aiding to the diverse Spanish native wildlife. In Europe, Spain is second only to France with a total of 128 different mammal species.

Spain also maintains a considerable amount of land as nature reserves to preserve and protect wildlife in Spain.  According to the 2009 EUROPARC – Spain State Protected Natural Areas Yearbook, Spain has declared 550.000 hectares (184.009 of which are marine areas) of the Canary Islands as nature reserves. Only 1% of Spain’s sea surface is protected but 12.1% of its land surface is officially preserved. This figure jumps to 28% if you take into account the Natura 2000 protected areas, converting Spain into the European country with the most protected spaces.  Every year, the list of certified protected areas grows in an attempt to save the native Spanish animals and plants.

Among Spain’s indigenous animals are a wide variety of deer, Iberian wild goats, tortoises, bats, snakes, and small reptiles and amphibians. Larger native Spanish animals are mostly endangered including Cantabrian brown bears, Iberian wolves and Iberian lynxes.  Due to Spain’s key location for migratory birds traveling from Europe to Africa, Spain is fantastic for bird watching and is home to a large number of bird species. Some Spanish native birds include species of vultures, eagles, kites, bustards, storks and flamingoes.

Endangered Wildlife in Spain

According to the 2009 infamous “Red List,” created by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the Spanish peninsula and surrounding waters are home to 227 endangered species including: 16 mammals, 15 birds, 19 reptiles, 6 amphibians, 61 fish, 26 mollusks, 35 invertebrates and 49 plant species.

Overpopulation of coastal zones has endangered animals like the monk seal and the fish eagle while Spanish wetlands have been reduced drastically putting at risk the habitats of numerous other species. Some animals have adapted to centuries of human development and changing farming techniques while others such as rodents, bats, salamanders and birds have been badly affected. Other threats endangering Spanish wildlife include contamination (pollution Pesticides, industrial residues, plastics, toxic gasses, toxic waste) and fire (10 - 20 million hectares destroyed annually).

Despite conservation efforts, many native Spanish animals are recognized as endangered wildlife.  Among the critically endangered animals are: the Iberian Lynx (the most endangered cat species in the world), the Mediterranean Monk Seal, the Hierro Giant Lizard and Spengler's Freshwater Mussels.  Endangered wildlife endemic to Spain include the: broom hare, Canary shrew, Osorio shrew and Canary big- eared bat.  Other animals at risk of regional extinction in Spain include Cantabrian brown bears and various whale and bat species, among others.

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Dolphins, whales, sharks…you name it and it's pretty likely to be there. Striped, common and bottle-nosed dolphins bouncing out of the waters are regular sights if you know where to look, as are long-finned pilot whales, sperm whales and, if you're lucky, Orcas! The Bay of Biscay and Gibraltar's Bay of Algerciras are the most popular areas in which to go whale-watching. You are generally guaranteed to see something!

Sharks also inhabit the Mediterranean and the Atlantic waters close to the Spanish coast, they are often caught, intentionally or otherwise, by local fishermen. Don't be alarmed however, they rarely venture too close to the shores and although there have been isolated attacks in recent years, they are very rare!

The Spanish Mediterranean is home to a few colonies of one of the world's rarest mammals. Hunted for its skin during the twentieth century, the monk seal was thought to be extinct in Europe in 1992. However, thanks to a huge protection programme there is now hope; a number of small colonies have been spotted off the Spanish coast! Today, the biggest threat to their survival is skindiving. Monk seals inhabit underwater caves and are very easily disturbed, females will often abort their young when alarmed, for example by divers.

Closer to shore, there are plenty of jellyfish, sea urchins and stingrays. Most jellyfish are harmless but there are a few Man-of-Wars lurking around, whose tentacles can grow up to 20metres long! Man-of-Wars are not technically a jellyfish, but a colony and if you are unlucky enough to get caught by one the best thing to do is 'relax' and slowly slide away. Jellyfish and Man-of-War stings should be bathed in sea water, not fresh water, as this can re-trigger the sting. Brightly-coloured and wildly-formed sea urchins are abundant in the Spanish seas, they are beautiful to look at but be careful not to stand on them! Sting-rays are also popular sights in shallower waters, they are not aggressive creatures but may graze you with their tail if trodden on, so look out!

For a chance to see some of these weird and wonderful creatures close up, why not visit some of the east coast's stunning aquariums? Valencia is home to the largest aquarium in Europe, Aquarium de Valencia, which is part of the famous City of Arts and Sciences. This huge sea-life centre is home to fish and wildlife from all over the world, from the tropics to the Antartic. It has an excellent global warming exhibition and an open-air pool too, where you can watch dolphin shows!

Further north, built only 10 years ago, Barcelona's world-class aquarium is one of the city's top attractions. It contains fish and sea-life from all corners of the planet, with certain tanks and areas designated to certain oceans, for example the Caribbean, Great Barrier Reef and Red Sea tanks, with all of their vivid colors and strange shapes. By far the most complex of the aquariums however, is the Mediterranean tank, which has reconstructed protected areas of the Spanish coastline in order to raise awareness about preserving the seas.

There is also a smaller aquarium in Benidorm called Mundomar, or SeaWorld, it has a number of enclosures featuring turtles, sea lions and dolphins.

Away from what to catch sight of and what to avoid, there are millions of smaller fish and crustaceans that are fished and eaten each year. Before the tourism boom in the 1970's, the fishing industry largely supported the east coast's economy. Today, the Spanish fishing fleet is the largest in the EU with around 80,000 sailors and 400,000 labourers! In 2000, Spain exported 99.9 million tonnes of canned fish worth around $300 million, in addition to 149.9 million tonnes of crustanceans and mulloscs, worth around $390 million!

Delicious paella, juicy prawn salad, fresh lobster or crispy calamares served with a bitter slice of zesty lemon are just a few of the tasty dishes freshly served up from the ocean here on the costas. Other popular catches are plaice, tuna, sardines, hake, mackeral, swordfish, octopus, anchovies and mussels. In fact, Spain is the world's biggest exporter of mussels after China.

So, whether you're eating it, watching it or swimming with it, Spain's sea-life is a major part of its industry, its culture and its allure. Grab the opportunity to learn as much about it (or eat as much of it) as you can!

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Characteristics of the Brown Bear

One of the most impressive characteristics of the Spanish brown bear is its enormous head and two small eyes. Its ears are small and rounded and its fur ranges from dark brown, almost black to very light blonde, or nearly white. Sometimes several mixed shades are present in the same animal. However, Cantabrian and Pyrenees brown bears tend to have darker, more blackish-colored legs than their European counterparts. Because of this, the brown bear population, along with the Pyrenees bears, has even been categorized as a subspecies of the main European population known as Ursus arctos pyrenaicus, although this is highly debated.

Female brown bears come into season during the summer months of June and July. The males are attracted to the odor that the females emit; if two males lay claim to the same female then a fight for mating rights occurs. These fights normally end in injury, and sometimes in the death of one of the suitors. The victorious male will then pursue the female, who may initially reject him, for several days as they get to know each other. The mating ritual will follow, which may last for several days more.

After the long mating ritual, the male brown bear leaves the female. Several months later, she will search for a den to hibernate and give birth. An interesting thing about the brown bear is that after a brief period of growth, the fertilized egg stops growing and floats freely in the bear's uterus until fall. When the mother enters into hibernation, if she is fit enough to bare the pregnancy, the embryo will implant and continue growing. This phenomenon is called delayed implantation.

The cubs are born in January or February, after only two months of pregnancy, while the mother is in hibernation. She will wake up briefly to give birth. During this period, both the mother and the cubs will have to survive on the accumulation of fat that the she has gained before hibernation. The Spanish brown bear cubs have no hair when they are born and weigh only about 350 grams.

With the arrival of spring, the mother bear and her little ones emerge from the den and the learning period of the cubs begin. The cub depends completely on its mother, as previously mentioned, for about a year and a half. It is a fundamental learning period during which brown bears will use their intelligence and individual personalities to learn all of the necessary skills to survive.

Spanish brown bears, as well as other brown bear species, in the wild live to the age of about 25-30 years. In captivity, they can live even longer.

As a general rule, the Spanish brown bear avoids humans and it's difficult to sight them in the wild. However, if you happen to come across one, try not to be scared! Do not scream because it may provoke the animal, just get out of their way as quickly as possible because brown bears can be unpredictable.

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Two of the biggest names in Spanish Basketball are perhaps Pau Gasol and his younger brother Marc; Pau became a powerful NBA forward and center, having joined the Junior Program in Barcelona at just 16. Impressively, in 2009, Pau was the first Spanish player, with the Lakers, to win the NBA finals. During the 2012-2013 Season, his brother Marc earned the title of ‘defensive player of the year’ for the NBA. Other well known players include Jose Calderon, Juan Carlos Navarro, Ricky Rubio and Rudy Fernandez. These players amongst others were part of the 2006 victory at Japan’s World Basketball Championships, and were awarded the Prince of Asturias Sports Award as a result of their excellent play. Not only has the Spanish men’s team earned a multitude of medals at the Eurobasket (gold in 2009 and 2011) but from both the 2008 and the 2012 Olympics, the team took home the silver medal. Women’s basketball in Spain is equally very impressive; winning bronze at three Eurobasket tournaments (2001, 2003 and 2005), silver in 2007 and gold in 1993 and 2013, the team also earned bronze at the World Basketball Championships in 2010.

The success of the Spanish basketball team is sometimes linked to a generation inspired by the American ‘dream team’ of players, which included Michael Jordan and Larry Bird; indeed, a handful of Spain’s World Champions play in the NBA. Transferring from Spanish teams such as FC Barcelona to play in the NBA, where salaries are much higher, is not uncommon, but many of Spain’s biggest names in Basketball have instead opted to stay in Spain, where although play may be famously more conservative and perhaps less ‘spectacular’, the sport is picking up pace and Spanish teams are highly regarded on an international scale. The contrast between the careful tactical play and smooth teamwork characteristic of Spanish teams, and the ‘slam-dunk’ performances, packed full of high jumps and incredible physical talent associated with the NBA is often noted, but with the 17th FIBA World Cup for basketball being held in Spain in 2014, the sport is only set to inspire more young people, to steamroll in popularity.

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Important and Interesting Facts about Spain

In this section you will find important interesting facts about Spain including statistical, geographical, and political facts about Spain.

• Spain Official Name: Spain is called España en Spanish which is said to come from the Roman name Hispania. The official name of Spain is: El Reino de España (The Kingdom of Spain).
• Spain's Geography: Spain is located in southern Europe and occupies 85% of the Iberian Peninsula. Apart from that, the nation is also made up of the Balearic Islands (located to the east of the peninsula in the Mediterranean Sea), the Canary Islands (+1.000 km/621 mi south of the peninsula just off the coast of Africa), 2 cities in Northern Africa called Ceuta and Melilla, and three small island possessions off the coast of Morocco: the islands of Chafarinas, Penon de Alhucemas, and Penon de Velez de la Gomera. Additionally, Spain is the closest country to Africa, with a separation of only 14 km (8.7 mi) at the closest point.
• Span's Borders: Mainland Spain shares borders with France and Andorra in the northeast, Portugal in the west and to the south it shares a very small border with Gibraltar, UK. Additionally, Melilla and Ceuta share borders with Morocco.
• Spain's Climate: The climate in Spain is very diverse throughout the various Spanish regions. Contrary to popular belief, the vast majority of central Spain has very cold winters.
• Regions: Spain has 17 autonomous communities: Madrid, Catalonia, Valencia, Andalusia, Basque Country, Asturias, Galicia, Aragon, Balearic Islands, Canary Islands, Castile-La Mancha, Castile-Leon, Cantabria, Extremadura, La Rioja, Murcia and Navarra. Each autonomous community has a capital. Madrid is not only the capital of the autonomous community of Madrid, but also of the whole country.
• Spain's Beaches and Coasts: Spain has 4,964 km/3,084 mi. of coastline beaches. You can bathe in the Mediterranean Sea to the south and east, in The Bay of Biscay to the north, and in the Atlantic Ocean to the west.
• Spain's Languages: 74% Castilian Spanish (official language). Regional official languages include: Catalan 17%, Galician 7%, Euskera (Basque) 2%.
• Spain's Major Cities: Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia and Seville.
• Spain's Size: 194,897 mi² or 504,782 km², a little more than double the size of the Oregon State, USA and the second largest country in Western Europe and the 51st largest country in the world.
• Spain's Population: 40,525,002 (Estimation: July 2010).
• Spain's Time zone: +1 GMT. In Canary Islands: +0 GMT.
• Spain's Currency: The Euro € replaced the Spanish Peseta in 2002.
• Spain's Flag: Horizontal bands in red and yellow with a coat of arms displaying emblems of the traditional kingdoms of Spain.
• Spain's Independence: 1492; when Granada was seized and the Muslim occupation of Iberian Peninsula ended with the unification of several kingdoms forging present-day Spain.
• Spain's National Day: 12 October - celebrates Columbus' arrival to the Americas in 1492.
• Spain's National Anthem: La Marcha Real (The Royal March). The anthem has no lyrics.
• Spain's Life Expectancy: average of 80 years old, one of the highest in the world.
• Spain Religion: Approximately 90% + of the population is Roman Catholic. However, only about 20% regularly go to church.
• Spanish Government: Political Structure: Parliamentary monarchy (since 1978).
• Spanish History: Browse topics in our section on Spanish History.
• Spanish Gastronomy: Learn about the Mediterranean diet and Spanish eating customs or browse through our Spanish Recipes.

Facts about Spain for Kids

Now that you know all the important facts and fun facts about Spain, we also have some Spain facts for kids. The following facts are some of our favorite fun facts about Spain for kids.

• In Spain there is no tooth-fairy, but rather a little rat called Ratoncito Pérez that leaves gifts or money under your pillow.
• In Spain kids celebrate something similar to 2 birthdays: their actual birthday and the day of their Saint (based on their name).
• Kids also celebrate something similar to two Christmas holidays: The 25th of December and also the 6th of January, Three Wise Men day. Normally, they get gifts on both days.
• On Three Wise Men day, they are big parades called a cabalgatas in which traditionally the three wise men appear on camels and everyone in the parade throws candies to the crowds.
• No need for Disneyland, in Spain there are plenty of amusement and water parks to keep any kid busy.
• A popular puffed air snack in Spain is called gusanitos which means “little worms”.
• In local festivals, costumed characters known as cabezudos and gigantes (Big-heads and Giants) chase children through the streets chastising them and giving them treats. A good example is the festival of La Mercé in Barcelona.
• The 28th of December is the day of Santos Inocentes (Innocent Saints). It is much like April Fools day and children make mischief and play tricks on people.
• Hot chocolate (chocolate caliente) in Spain is very thick and often eaten with churros (fried pastries with cinnamon). Ask for a Cola Cao if you want what most Westerners would consider hot chocolate. It is typically Spanish, often eaten at breakfast, kids love it, and it is really tasty!
• First communions are very important in Spain and the God parents have significant roles in the festivities.
• Important kids cartoons include Pocoyó and Los Lunnis.
• There are lots of events that kids will love in Spain.

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Its modern linguistic normalization was brought about with the creation of, in 1907 by Prat de la Riba, the Institut d'Estudis Catalans, whose principal pursuit was higher scientific research of all the elements of the Catalan culture. It is at this famed Institut where Pompeu Fabra effected the regulation and grammatical systematization of the Catalan language; thus unifying spelling standards for its use in 1913.

Since 1979, both Castilian and Catalan are the official languages of Catalonia and since 1983 of the Balearic Islands. In 1982, the Autonomous Community of Valencia declared Castilian Spanish and Valencian, a local variation of the Catalan language, as co-official languages of the region.

Catalan is also spoken in some areas of Aragon and Murcia and outside of Spain in the French Roussillon region, the Principality of Andorra and in the Italian city of Alguer (Sardinia). It is the mother tongue of some 5 to 6 million people. Many Castilian/Spanish speaking people who live in any of these aforementioned areas speak and understand it.

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Castilian is also spoken in many countries around the globe which were former colonies of Spain, most of them in Central and South America (except Brazil and the Guyanas), but not exclusively, and that is a fact that many people are not aware of. Equatorial Guinea, the former Spanish territory of the Sahara, and parts of the Philippines still speak in Spanish.

This Makes Spanish/Castilian the official and cultural language of some 350 million people. These figures make the official language of the Spanish State, which is also the most widely spoken Romance language, an expressive instrument for a community that embraces the globe, spoken by people from many different ethnic backgrounds. The name of Castilian, and later on Spanish, really emerges from the re-conquest of Spain from the Moors by the Christians. The name Castilian has its origins in the Kingdom of Castile (Castilla), then a borderland that took its name from the castles that were built as garrisons against the enemy. It became the bridge of communication between the different peoples of the Iberian peninsula in the Late Middle Ages aided by the central position of the Castile and its growing prestige as leading power. 

The Spanish Royal Academy preferred to use "Castilian" (castellano) until the 1925 edition of its Dictionary, when it adopted the name of "Spanish" (español). The Real Academia Española, located in Madrid, is entrusted with "purifying, clarifying and giving splendour" to the language, in close contact with other Latin American academies, and mitigating the problems arising from the use of a language spoken in such a large geographic expanse. Its members are recruited from among the most prestigious literary creators and academics.

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The origin of Basque is not really traceable and there have been a number of hypotheses. It has been suggested that the forerunner of the Basque language was introduced into this part of Europe by immigrants from Asia Minor at the beginning of the Bronze Age (c. 2000 BC). Basque and Castilian entered history together, since the first text preserved in Castilian, the Código emilianense (c. 977), is also written in Basque.

Since 1982, Euskera has been the official language of the Basque provinces together with Castilian. The mountainous landscape of the region has contributed towards maintaining linguistic diversity, leading some linguists, based on the intercommunicative difficulties found, to claim the existence of seven different Basque languages. To overcome this fragmentation the Royal Academy of the Basque Language was created in 1919, and in 1968, a standardized Basque grammar called batúa was adopted for official purposes.

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Zara is one example of a Spanish company that has brought fashion fame to Spain. The clothing company is the most well known member of Inditex, a fashion empire made up of hundreds of factories and 1,080 shops in 33 different countries.

Inditex has clothed consumers in Europe, America, Japan, and the Middle East. High-profile Zara shoppers include Chelsea Clinton, who once successfully encouraged her then U.S. president dad to adjust his presidential schedule to accommodate a visit to the Zara store in Ankara while in Turkey.

The story ended up making headlines and creating a bit of free publicity for a company which, unlike its competitors, suffers from a calculated aversion to being announced in the media. The company also received publicity when the American model Cindy Crawford appeared unannounced in a Zara store in Canada.

Inditex and Zara are not the only companies that know how to attract the foreign market. El Corte Inglés, Loewe, Camper, Mango or Pronovias have also earned great international attention. The Spanish firm Pronovias makes wedding dresses, and it is the world’s largest producer of their specialty. Ever since its founding in 1965, the company’s success has only grown. There are 100 Pronovia stores in Spain, one in Paris, one in New York, and the brand is sold in 1,000 different stores in 40 different countries. Mango is another multi-national clothing company, with over 100 stores around the world. In 1998, Mango’s expansion was incredible, opening an average of 10 new stores a month. China and India are the latest countries to open new Mango stores and the company employs more than 4,000 people.

Behind these famous stores are Spanish designers who are busy setting new fashion trends. Some have established themselves first in Spain and then headed to other countries, others have first established themselves in other countries and later earned great respect in Spain.

Notable Spanish designers include Antonio Miró, Agatha Ruiz de la Prada, Pura López, whose products are distributed in Asia, Australia, Latin America, and much of Europe. Then there’s Amaya Arzuaga, Pedro del Hierro, Paco Rabanne, and more whose designs are sold internationally.

The designs of Sevillians Victory and Lucchino can be found in the best stores in New York, Paris, Italy, Germany, the United Kingdom and Japan. Other designers have become well known by joining groups such as the Asociación Textil de Galicia, which has famous members including Adolfo Domínguez, Javier Cañas Caramelo, and Roberto Verino. Each member generates millions of Euros each year. Being members of the group has helped them become well known nationally and internationally.

Spanish models have also contributed greatly to Spanish fashion’s international recognition, many of whom enjoy the distinction of being referred to as top models. It is not unusual to see the images of Spanish models such as Eugenia Silva on New York’s 5th Avenue. Eugenia has also modeled on runways for Yves Saint Laurent, Prada and Christian Dior. She has also appeared on the cover of the Italian and American editions of Vogue and she has done ads for Oscar de la Renta and Clinique.

Vanesa Lorenzo’s image has also been on an enormous ad for Gap that appeared at the exit of JFK airport and in New York’s Times Square. Esther Cañadas, Inés Sastre, Laura Pone, Nieves Álvarez, Judith Mascó and Verónica Blume are also Spanish models who have walked on runways around the world and have helped bring recognition to Spain and Spanish.

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The Burial of the Sardine

In some parts of Spain and Latin America, on Ash Wednesday, an unusual ceremony called El Entierro de la Sardina (literally, the burial of the sardine) takes place. A large number of people get together to observe a centuries old annual tradition of burying a dead fish (or the likeness of one). This ceremony is based on the belief of burying, symbolically, our past in the hopes of creating a better and more fruitful future. The first image of this “burial” was painted by Spanish painter Francisco de Goya in an oil painting called, “El Entierro de la Sardina”, dated between 1812 and 1819.

This satirical ceremony simulates a burial procession of a sardine (real or fake), which gets solemnly paraded around the city streets in a coffin. Men and women dress up in black period costume clothes, with men sometimes daring to dress up as weeping widows with the typical black Spanish lace veil covering their heads. The sardine is the symbol of the past (a “liberating period”), while its death and burial represent the end of carnival season and the beginning of the religious fasting period as well as the possibility of rejuvenation and rebirth. People “mourn” their feelings of sadness over the ending of this festive season and how it implies the beginning of staunch religious observance.

In Madrid, the procession is headed by a person dressed up as a public official, and whose role consists of clearing the streets ahead of the procession to allow the passing of the carnival carriage. He is followed by revelers dressed as a priest, the priest's young assistant and the people charged with moving the funeral carriage. The wooden carriage is adorned with palms, flowers and other offerings including the sardine resting in its interior. The widow follows, confessing her “sins” to the priest and lamenting the death of the sardine with theatrical screams and weeping. Along the way someone dressed up as the Devil tries to prevent the passage of the sardine by trying to abduct it, but a group of “policemen” scare the devil away and maintain order among the procession attendees. When the sardine's carriage reaches its destination it is cremated while the crowd celebrates

Origin of this Carnival Tradition

There are a few theories as to the origin of this tradition, yet no one seems to know for sure which one is true. One of these theories dates back to the XVII century, when Charles III, King of Spain, who wanted to celebrate the end of carnival with the commoners. He ordered that sardines and wine were to be served at a countryside picnic. The weather that day was hot, very typical at the time of year, and the sardines began to smell due to the heat. Of course, with such a horrible smell permeating the air, everyone wanted the smell removed and realized the only way to do it was to bury them in the ground. After they were interred, the crowd wept at the thought of no longer getting free food and having to begin the pre-Easter period of abstinence.

Another theory goes that when Lent was dutifully observed by all, a small butchered pig or cerdina (cerdina is a diminutive of cerdo which is pig in Spanish) was buried on the first day of Lent in representation of the food they would have to sacrifice eating during this period. Because communication was transmitted orally, cerdina became sardina as the tradition passed on to other parts of the country.

Like many traditions in Spain, this peculiar festival is celebrated in different ways depending on where you are but the essence of the fiesta remains the same. A time of sacrifice and restraint is undertaken with a good natured sense of humor and an optimistic belief that the world can always be made a better place.

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