The position of Spain relative to major landforms. Terrain of Spain. Religion in society

Spain is one of the most elevated countries in Europe - mountains occupy more than 90% of its territory.

Along the northern border, from the Bay of Biscay of the Atlantic to the Mediterranean Sea, stretches an extensive system of young Pyrenees mountains (the highest point is Mount Aneto, 3404 m). The ridges of the Pyrenees, stretching from west to east almost parallel to each other, are not very high (on average 2500 m), but their relief is very complex, there are many gorges and rock walls (among them is one of the highest cliffs in Europe - Governy, or Juverny, which has a height of about 1200 m, and the waterfall of the same name 800 m high), steep cliffs and impassable valleys. Many peaks are covered with snow all year round, which often covers the few passes - the weather here is very changeable. The Western Pyrenees is one of the greenest regions of Spain - about 1,200 species of higher plants grow here, with mountain forests climbing to a height of more than 2,400 meters. The eastern part is slightly poorer, but also has many rare species of flora and fauna.

Between the eastern Pyrenees and the Iberian Mountains stretch the low Catalan Mountains, the southeastern slopes of which drop off into the Mediterranean Sea. The Catalan Mountains (average heights 900-1200 m, peak - Mount Montseny, 1712 m) run for 400 km almost parallel to the sea coast and actually separate the elevated Aragonese plateau from it. The coastal plains developed in Murcia, Valencia and Catalonia, north of Cape Palos to the French border, are highly fertile, but the mountains themselves are dry and have little natural diversity.

Almost the entire central part of Spain is occupied by the ancient and highly dissected Meseta plateau (here is the highest point of the mainland of the country - Mount Mulacen, 3478 m) with a whole system of accompanying mountain ranges. This, the largest elevated plateau in Europe by area, has on average a rather insignificant height (about 660 m), but is literally replete with various plateaus (Torcal de Antequera, Ciudad Encantada, Old Castilian and New Castilian, etc.), folded-block ridges, deep river valleys and intermountain basins. In addition, numerous ridges divide the Meseta into several large massifs - the Cordillera Central divides it into northern and southern parts, the Sierra Morena, Sierra Nevada and Cordillera Betica are fenced off from the south, the Cordillera Subbetica - from the southeast, the Iberian and Cantabrian mountains , as well as the Picos de Europa massif (2648 m) - from the northeast and north.

In total, the Meseta has more than 70 mountain ranges, which turns its topography into a complex system of mountains, hills, plateaus and plains, occupying more than half of Spain's territory. Moreover, the Cordillera-Betica mountain system is considered the second highest in Europe, second only to the Alps, and Mount Mulacén (Sierra Nevada) is the southernmost part of Europe (37 degrees north latitude!), where snow remains in the summer. The Meseta's vegetation is mostly dry Mediterranean, with many rocky heaths in the mountains and agricultural areas in the valleys and lower slopes.

In the south of the country, between the Andalusian mountains, the Sierra Morena and the Atlantic coast, stretches the only large lowland of the country - the Andalusian. Here, in the area of ​​the old foothill trough, the largest river in the country, the Guadalquivir, flows, forming a plain gradually expanding to the west. Almost all of it, like other relatively large valleys of the country (Duero, Guadiana, Miño, Tagus, Aragonese Basin and Ebro Valley), is occupied by wheat, citrus fruits, olives, cork oak and vineyards. With rivers that are so large at first glance, the country is experiencing a fairly severe shortage of water, especially noticeable in recent years.

The Balearic archipelago and the adjacent Pitius Islands are an ancient part of the Iberian Peninsula, separated from it by the subsidence of part of the seabed. In fact, this is a continuation of the Beta Mountains, which, due to isolation from the mainland, remained exactly as the entire territory of modern Spain was before the beginning of the era of Alpine folding. Lowland and hilly plains predominate here. The Trumuntana mountain range, up to 1,445 meters high, stretches across the northwestern part of Mallorca, and the south is occupied by the dry and rocky Migjorn zone. Menorca is a low (up to 358 m) plateau, with steep ledges plunging towards the sea. The shores are replete with bays, and there are many karst formations in the elevated areas. The vegetation is Mediterranean, with a large number of evergreen shrubs and dry grasses, but on most islands it is greatly modified by humans.

The Canary Islands are one of the most naturally unusual areas in the world. The islands are of volcanic origin and represent a group of ancient volcanoes rising above the surface of the water. Moreover, due to different ages and morphologies, you can find here almost all forms of the volcanic landscape of the planet - lifeless lava and tuff fields, black gorges and “volcanic pipes”, dilapidated calderas of old volcanoes and high cones of young ones, with which the green slopes of fertile valleys contrast brightly. On the island of Tenerife is the highest mountain in Spain - the Teide volcano (3718 m), and the adjacent Pico Viejo (3103 m) is the fourth highest in the country. And at the same time, the local mountains are constantly “growing”. In total, there are more than 640 volcanoes in the Canary Islands (there are more than 300 on Lanzarote alone!), and some of them are active. And on the island of Palma, a vast rock massif up to 2423 meters high surrounds the largest volcanic crater on the planet - the De Taburiente caldera (La Caldera).

In terms of their biology, the Canary Islands can easily be considered the most unique region of the country - almost half of the plants growing here are not found anywhere else on Earth, and a third of them are represented by ancient relict forms that became extinct in other regions of the planet many millions of years ago. On the slopes of Teide alone you can find no less than five zones of vegetation, and the total diversity of species here reaches 400! The composition of the fauna is much more modest, which is not surprising - the nearest mainland coast is 115 km away. However, even those few species of animals that inhabit the archipelago are of great interest to science and tourists.

The location at the junction of Europe and Africa, the enclosed Mediterranean and the endless Atlantic has left an indelible mark on the entire appearance of Spain. In this country, at the same time you can admire the sandy beaches of the Mediterranean Sea and the evergreen meadows on the Atlantic coast; the snow-covered peaks of the Sierra Nevada mountain range, the almost inaccessible mountains of the Pyrenees - and the fertile plains of Andalusia, i.e. the landscape of one part of Spain is radically different from the other. This is the unprecedented beauty and uniqueness of the nature of this region.

Differences in the landscapes of individual areas Iberian Peninsula due to the isolation of its internal parts, with a continental climate, which creates different features of nature compared to coastal areas.

In addition, due to the significant height of the mountains and plateaus, the role of vertical climatic and landscape zonation is quite clearly manifested on the Iberian Peninsula.

But, despite these features and originality of the Iberian Peninsula, in terms of nature it is close to Southern Europe, belonging together with it to a single large Mediterranean geographical area, remarkable for the vivid expression of its typical landscapes.

The average surface height of Spain is 660 meters above sea level: the country is one of the most mountainous in Europe (after Switzerland). Most of the territory is occupied by a system of mountain ranges and high mountain plateaus (90% of the territory!).

Almost half of Spain's territory is occupied by Europe's largest plateau, the Meseta.

Their further continuation is high and powerful. In fact, the Cantabrian Mountains are a tectonic continuation of the most powerful mountain system in Spain - the Pyrenees. The Pyrenees are several parallel ridges stretching from west to east for 450 kilometers.

The Pyrenees Mountains separate Spain from France. More precisely, it is a mountain system that is located in Spain, France, and also in the Principality of Andorra. It stretches from the Bay of Biscay to the Mediterranean Sea. This is the most inaccessible part of Europe. The Spanish southern slope of the Pyrenees is a major international center for mountain tourism.

The average altitude of the Pyrenees is not very high(about 2,500 meters), but they only have a few conveniently located passes. All passes are at an altitude of 1,500-2,000 m. Therefore, only four railways go from Spain to France, two bypass the Pyrenees along the coast from the north-west and south-east, two more cross the Pyrenees in the Aerbe-Oloron-St. Marie and Ripoll Prade, through a tunnel system.

The main peak of the Pyrenees - Aneto peak – about 3,405 meters. The entire grandiose Iberian-Cantabrian mountain system is elongated in the latitudinal direction.

The most inaccessible part of Europe - the Pyrenees Mountains

The next major system of tertiary fold mountains is (Sistema Ibérico, or Celtiberian, Also Hesperides) - located along the northeastern edge of the Meseta. They stretch from the Cantabrian mountains to the Mediterranean coast (north of Valencia).

The length of the mountains is from 450 to 500 km, width up to 250 km. The Iberian system is the largest mountain range in the country in terms of uplift area. It occupies over 40 thousand square meters. km.

Highest point - Mount Moncayo (2316 m).

Many major Spanish rivers originate in the Iberian Mountains - Duero, Tajo, right tributaries Ebro, Jucar, Guadalavyar (Turia).

Iberian mountains give rise to many rivers flowing in both Spain and Portugal

On the island part of Spain - in the Canary Islands - there is the Teide volcano

Lowlands

The remaining (from the mountains and plateaus) about 11% of the territory of Spain is occupied by plains and lowlands.

The largest lowland in Spain is Andalusian(Depresión Bética), about 300 km long, is located in the south of Spain, at the southern edge of the Meseta, on the site of a foothill trough. In origin, it is a former sea bay filled with Cenozoic marine and river sediments. One of the main rivers of Spain, the Guadalquivir, flows through the lowland.

The Andalusian lowlands are an agricultural region where the world famous wines of Malaga, Jerez and Montilla Moriles are produced.

Also on the Mediterranean coast there are narrow strips, small in area, Murcia And Valencian lowlands - The Valencian Lowland lies at the southeastern edge of the Iberian Mountains system, which descends to the sea, and to the south, between capes Nao, Palos and Gata, wide open bays with a narrow strip of the Murcian Lowland (lying at the southeastern foot of the Beta Mountains) are cut into the coast.

In the north-east of Spain, in the valley of the Ebro River, there is a large Aragonese plain. It is located at a slightly higher altitude than the lowlands.

The height of the plain is about 250 m, near the mountains - up to 500-700 m (located between the Iberian, Pyrenees and Catalan mountains). Length - 300 km, width - up to 120 km. The surface of the plain is hilly, it itself has a triangular shape and stretches, expanding, from the northwest to the southeast.

Rivers

One of the main rivers of Spain (the only navigable one in the lower reaches) flows through the Andalusian lowland - (length 657 km). The river is polluted by sewage and is used for irrigation and electricity generation.

Navigable Guadalquivir River

The remaining rivers are characterized by sharp seasonal level fluctuations and rapid flows. The longest river peninsula- Her total length - 1,038 km, in Spain its length 716 km, on the border of Spain and Portugal - 47 km.

The longest river of the Iberian Peninsula is the Tagus

Mila Baskova, especially for

Spain is a beautiful and stunningly diverse European country that cares about its natural resources. Where is this state located? What mineral resources is Spain rich in?

The natural conditions and resources of this country are extremely diverse. This allowed Spain to effectively develop its industrial complex, as well as take its rightful place among the countries providing tourism services on the world market.

Kingdom of Spain: general information about the country

España (the name of the country in Spanish) is an independent state located on the Iberian Peninsula, the third largest in Europe. Administratively, the country is divided into 17 autonomous regions and includes 50 provinces. In addition, a number of so-called sovereign territories (plazas de soberania) are subordinate to Spain. They are located in North Africa and the Mediterranean Sea.

The year of foundation is considered to be 1515. Today it is a parliamentary (constitutional) monarchy.

Spain, whose natural conditions and resources are quite diverse, has been in the top twenty countries in the world in terms of overall rates of economic development for many years. In addition, the country is the largest producer of agricultural products in Europe. Plant growing, livestock farming, viticulture, and fisheries are successfully developing here.

Natural conditions and resources of Spain (briefly)

In what climatic conditions does the population of this country live? How are Spain's natural resources different? We will briefly try to answer these questions in this section.

Spain is one of the most mountainous countries in Europe. About 35% of its territory is located at an altitude of over 1000 meters above sea level. True, you won’t find too high peaks here. The highest point of mainland Spain is Mount Mulacén (3480 m).

In general, the topography of the state can be described as follows: the central elevated and hilly part is surrounded on almost all sides by chains of mountains that separate it from the sea. The lowlands in Spain occupy small areas. They mainly stretch along the largest river valleys and the Mediterranean coast.

The climatic natural resources of Spain are unique. The country can be considered the warmest and sunniest in Europe. The average number of sunny days here ranges from 260-280. In winter, the air temperature rarely drops below zero, and in the summer the thermometer can rise to +40 degrees Celsius. The largest rivers in Spain are the Tagus, Duero, Ebro and Guadalquivir.

Spain's natural resources (mineral resources in particular) are distributed extremely unevenly across its territory. This feature is associated with the rather acute problem of unequal economic development of the country's regions. Thus, the northern part of Spain is more industrially developed, while the southern part, on the contrary, is considered backward. The highest unemployment rate for the country is observed here.

Detailed characteristics of the natural resources and conditions of Spain

The natural resources of Spain, like any other country on the planet, should be described according to the following plan:

• relief;
• climate;
• inland waters;
• soil cover;
• Flora and fauna;
• minerals and their geography;
• economic use of natural conditions and resources.

Relief and landscape diversity

Spain is often called the most mountainous country in Europe. About 90% of its territory is occupied by mountains and plateaus. Almost half of the surface of Spain is the Meseta plateau (the largest in Europe). Its eastern part is leveled and covered with a thick ball of sedimentary rocks. But the western part of the Meseta is strongly dissected by faults and river valleys.

In the north, the Meseta is bounded by the Cantabrian Mountains, which, in turn, are a continuation of the Pyrenees. This powerful mountain system consists of several parallel ridges stretching up to 450 kilometers. It is very difficult to overcome the Pyrenees: all the passes here are located at an altitude of more than 1500 meters. That is why all railways connecting Spain with other countries of Western Europe bypass this mountain system from the east or west. In the central regions of the Pyrenees you can find landforms of glacial origin: carts, cirques and troughs.

From the northeast, Meseta is bordered by the Iberian Mountains. This is where many of Spain's major rivers originate. This is one of the least populated regions of the country.

In the southern part of Spain, along the Mediterranean coast, stretch the Andalusian mountains. Within their borders is the Sierra Nevada massif with the highest point in the country - Mulhacen Peak. In Europe, only the Alps can compare in height with the Sierra Nevada.

Plains and lowlands occupy only 10% of the total. All of them are composed of alluvial materials, and therefore their soils are extremely fertile. The largest lowland is located in the southwest of the country (Andalusian).

Relief often helped protect Spain's natural resources and wealth. Powerful mountain ranges often played the role of reliable and insurmountable borders, protecting the country from hostile conquerors.

Climatic features

The climate in Spain varies from northwest to southeast. Average annual temperatures here vary widely from 14 to 20 degrees. In terms of the number of sunny days per year, Spain shares first place in Europe with Greece.

The climate of the central part of the country is characterized by increased continentality. Summers here are hotter and winters are colder. “Three months of cold and nine months of hell” is one of the popular sayings among the inhabitants of the Meseta plateau.

Significant contrasts are also observed in the distribution of atmospheric precipitation. Climatologists conventionally divide Spain into “dry” and “wet”. The border between these two regions runs along the Cantabrian Mountains. Thus, within “wet” Spain, which includes Galicia, Asturias and part of the Pyrenees, an average of about 900-1000 mm of precipitation falls per year. The rest of the country ("dry" Spain) receives no more than 500 mm of precipitation per year.

The peculiarities of Spain's natural resources (primarily climatic) create considerable difficulties for the development of agriculture, as well as the water supply of many settlements in the country. Scientists assess about 60% of the state's lands as arid.

Inland waters and soil cover

The country has a fairly extensive river network. However, most of them are characterized by low water content and unstable water regime. Many of them become shallow or dry out completely in the summer. In addition, the hydrological natural resources of Spain are distributed extremely unevenly throughout the country, which leads to significant imbalances in the water supply of its various regions.

Spain is also very diverse, thanks to its complex topography, variegated geological structure and significant climatic contrasts. Thus, in the north of the country, podzolic brown soils and peat bogs predominate, in the west - acidic soils of the Mediterranean type, and in the east and on the Balearic Islands - soils of arid type (brown soils and gray soils). The most fertile soils are concentrated in the lowlands and valleys of large rivers. It is in these areas that the country's crop production is most actively developing.

Flora and fauna

The flora and fauna of the state is characterized by a richness of species. In floristic terms, Spain is considered the richest country in Europe. Forests occupy about 30% of its territory. However, in the past there were significantly more of them.

Evergreen oak forests grow in the northwestern regions of the country. In mountainous areas, the most common species of oak are deciduous, as well as beech, ash, chestnut and birch. Within the interior plateaus of Spain, tracts of dry evergreen forests and shrubs have been preserved. Semi-desert landscapes can be found on the Aragonese plateau and New Castile.

In the fauna of Spain, traces of both European and African fauna are clearly visible. Here you can find brown bear, wolf, fox, wild cat, deer and other species of mammals typical of central and western Europe. In Spain you can also find the imperial eagle, genet or Egyptian mongoose. All these animal species are found on the other side of the Strait of Gibraltar.

The Spanish (or Iberian) lynx deserves special attention - one of the rarest species of mammals on Earth. It numbers no more than one hundred individuals today. This animal is found exclusively in mountainous and inaccessible areas of southern Spain. The Iberian lynx differs from the ordinary lynx in its smaller size and brighter color.

Mineral resources of Spain: general assessment

The country is not among the world leaders in terms of mineral resources. Spain is forced to import many minerals (including energy resources). Nevertheless, the mining industry is quite developed here, especially in the east and southwest of the country.

The five most important mineral resources in Spain can be outlined as follows:

• Iron ore.
• Coal.
• Copper.
• Lead.
• Mercury.

However, the reserves of most deposits are quite modest. Therefore, in general, Spain can be called a country dependent on the import of mineral resources.

Ore minerals

The subsoil of the country is, first of all, rich in metallic minerals. Thus, the richest deposits of zinc, lead, mercury, manganese and the total reserves of iron ore in Spain are about 2.5 billion tons. In the north of the country there are significant deposits of tungsten and tin.

In terms of proven reserves of uranium ores, Spain is in second place in Europe, and in terms of mercury reserves - in first place in the world. Rich deposits of cinnabar are located in the province of Ciudad Real and on the banks of the Baldeazaga River.

In addition, the subsoil of Spain is extremely rich in pyrites. In particular, they are mined on the southern slopes of the Sierra Morena. Spain also has reserves of silver, gold, molybdenum and titanium.

Fuel and energy minerals and other raw materials

The territory of Spain, alas, is not so rich in energy resources. Minor coal deposits are developed in the north of the country (in the provinces of Oviedo and Leon), in the Basque Country and Asturias. Spanish coal is generally of low quality.

Oil is produced in relatively small volumes in Catalonia and Burgos, natural gas in Aragon and Cadiz. Explored gas reserves in Spain amount to no more than two billion cubic meters.

The country has quite large reserves of potassium salts, refractory clays, kaolins, and in many (Galicia, Asturias, Valencia, Guadalajara and others) raw materials for the construction industry are actively mined. These are dolomites, limestones, marble and chalk of fairly high quality.

Natural resources of Spain and their use

The active use of natural resources on an industrial scale in Spain began only in the second half of the twentieth century. Before this, the country remained an underdeveloped agricultural state. Rational use and adequate assessment of Spain's natural conditions and resources made it possible to transform it into an industrial-agrarian country, which in terms of its level of industrial development is not inferior to many European countries.

Today in Spain the mining, textile, food industries, shipbuilding, as well as alternative energy are quite developed. The country's agriculture is dominated by crop production. Wheat, rice, corn, barley, olives, dates, pomegranates and other crops are grown here. Goats and sheep are successfully raised in arid regions, and cattle are raised in the north. Fishing is developing in coastal areas. Spain is one of the top ten countries in the world for catching and processing fish.

Spain and tourism

Spain is today the largest center of international tourism. More than one million residents of the country are employed in this sector of the national economy. At least 50 million foreign tourists visit Spain every year.

The most popular resort areas in Spain: Costa Brava, Costa Blanca, and the Canary Islands. The main tourist centers of the country are Barcelona, ​​Madrid, Bilbao and Valencia. The latter city is becoming increasingly popular among tourists and travelers. This is facilitated by numerous attractions, historical and architectural monuments, museums, as well as recreational natural resources of Valencia.

Spain is also a major festival center in Europe. Tourists from all over the world eagerly come to the famous Seville Fair, the colorful Carnival in Cadiz or Tomatina in Buñol.

Conclusion

The territory of the Kingdom of Spain is extremely rich in natural resources: mineral, fuel, climatic and biological. The country has a mild, warm climate and has wide access to the World Ocean.

The economic assessment of the natural conditions and resources of Spain is quite high. On their basis, the mining, electric power, agriculture and tourism industries are successfully developing.

The relief of Spain is very diverse. The center of the country is located 300 kilometers from the sea. The dominant role in the relief is played by systems of mountain ranges and high plateaus.

Plateaus and mountains make up about 90 percent of its territory. Almost half of the country's surface is occupied by the vast Meseta plateau, the highest in Europe - with an average height of 660 meters. It is distinguished by alternating plateaus, folded-block ridges and mountain basins. The Cordillera Central divides the Meseta into two parts: northern and southern.

In the north, Meseta is bordered by the powerful Cantabrian Mountains, which stretch along the coast of the Bay of Biscay for 600 kilometers, isolating the interior from the influence of the sea. In their central part there is the Picos de Europa massif (from Spanish - Peaks of Europe) with heights of up to 2648 m. These alpine-type mountains are composed mainly of deposits of the Carboniferous period - limestones, quartzites, sandstones. The Cantabrian Mountains are an orographic and tectonic continuation of the most powerful mountain system in Spain - the Pyrenees.

The Pyrenees are several parallel ridges stretching from west to east for 450 kilometers. This is one of the most inaccessible mountainous countries in Europe. Although their average height is not very high (just over 2500 meters), they have only a few conveniently located passes. All passes are at an altitude of 1500-2000 m. Therefore, only four railways go from Spain to France: two of them bypass the Pyrenees along the coast from the northwest and southeast, and two more railways cross the Pyrenees in the Aerbe sections - Oloron-Sainte-Marie and Ripoll - Prades, through a tunnel system. The widest and highest part of the mountains is the central one. Here is their main peak - Aneto Peak, reaching 3405 meters.

From the northeast, the Meseta is adjacent to the Iberian Mountains system, the maximum height (Mont Cayo peak) is 2313 meters.

Between the eastern Pyrenees and the Iberian Mountains stretch the low Catalan Mountains, the southern slopes of which drop off into the Mediterranean Sea. The Catalan Mountains (average heights 900-1200 meters, peak Mount Caro, 1447 meters) run for 400 kilometers almost parallel to the Mediterranean coast and actually separate the Aragonese Plateau from it. The coastal plain areas developed in Murcia, Valencia and Catalonia north of Cape Palos to the French border are highly fertile.

The entire southeast of the Iberian Peninsula is occupied by the Cordillera Betica, which is a system of massifs and ridges. Its crystalline axis is the Sierra Nevada mountains. In height they are second only to the Alps in Europe. Their peak, Mount Mulacén, reaching 3,478 meters, is the highest point in peninsular Spain. However, the highest mountain peak in Spain is located on the island of Tenerife (Canary Islands) - the Teide volcano, whose height reaches 3718 meters.

Most of Spain's territory is located at an altitude of about 700 meters above sea level. It is the second highest country in Europe after Switzerland.

The only large lowland - the Andalusian - is located in the south of the country. In the northeast of Spain in the river valley. The Ebro is the Aragonese plain. Smaller lowlands stretch along the Mediterranean Sea. One of the main rivers of Spain (and the only navigable one in the lower reaches) flows through the Andalusian lowland - the Guadalquivir. The remaining rivers, including the largest: Tagus and Duero, the lower reaches of which are located in neighboring Portugal, Ebro, Guadiana, are characterized by sharp seasonal fluctuations in level and rapid flow.

Large areas of the country suffer from water shortages. Related to this is the problem of erosion - millions of tons of topsoil are blown away every year.

There are more than two thousand beaches on the coast of Spain: Costa Brava, Costa Dorada, Costa del Assar, Costa de Almeria, Costa Blanca, Mar Menor, Costa del Sol, Costa de la Luz, Rias -Bajas, Rias Altas, Costa Cantabric, Canary and Balearic Islands.

Spain has never been a world leader in terms of natural resources. Due to the specifics of economic development (after all, Spain was predominantly an agricultural country), most of the land was given over to pastures and arable land. Spain imports most of its raw materials and mineral reserves from richer countries (oil and gas mainly from the Gulf countries; coal from neighboring France). However, in some areas of the country (mainly in the southwest and east) mining is still developed. Coal, iron ore, lead, copper and mercury are the country's most important mineral resources, with developed deposits located on the northern Atlantic coast. A small number of mines produce: uranium, mercury, pyrite, fluorite, gypsum, zinc, tungsten, kaolin, potash.

Spain is also a world leader in the production of mercury and zinc ore. Deposits of lead-zinc ores are concentrated in the Sierra Morena mountains in Galicia. Huge reserves of uranium ores are located in the provinces of Salamanca and Cordoba. Mercury reserves are concentrated in the river valley. Baldeazaga, in the Almaden area.

Due to the mountainous terrain and elevation changes, the rivers Ebro, Duero, Miño and its tributaries Sol, and the Tagus are also used to generate hydroelectric power.