Notes, summaries, assignments, exams, and problems for Geography

Spanish Industrial Area Development

Industrial areas are core components of metropolitan regions, particularly in Madrid and Barcelona, which have become leading industrial centers in Spain. Their evolution is marked by contradictory trends:

• Sinking or replanting of mature sectors.
• Industrial revitalization since 1985.
• Centrality advantages attracting innovative companies and headquarters of major domestic firms and multinational subsidiaries to Madrid and Barcelona.

This further increases outsourcing, reflected in industrial and business parks.

Areas and Industrial Hubs in Expansion

These are the result of industry trends or endogenous industrialization development. Types include:

1. Metropolitan Crowns

   These areas are undergoing industrial reconversion

Evolution of Energy Sources

• Industrial Revolution: Marked by the extensive use of fossil fuels (coal, oil).
• Discovery of Electric Energy: A revolutionary advancement.
• Natural Gas: Emerged as a significant energy source.
• Nuclear Energy: Introduced new possibilities for power generation.

The potential exhaustion of petroleum, coal, and natural gas drives the search for alternative energy sources, including solar, geothermal, biomass, tidal, and wind power.

In some countries (e.g., Spain), more energy is consumed than produced. Energy consumption is highest in industrialized nations.

Key Energy Types and Global Distribution

Non-Renewable Energy Sources

• Coal: Formed from decomposed plant matter. Used as a combustible in thermal power plants. Leading countries:

Spain and the European Union

The EU is a community of 27 European states established on November 1, 1993, when the Treaty on European Union came into force.

Spain's Accession to the EU: Reasons for Inclusion

Spain signed the Treaty of Accession to the then European Community in 1985, and its entry became effective in 1986, following a previous application in 1962. The delay was due to political and economic reasons, as Spain's economic backwardness compared to other countries made its entry inadvisable.

With the death of Franco in 1975, the end of his regime, and the promulgation of the Constitution in 1978, Spain's inclusion in the construction of Europe could no longer be denied.

Furthermore, the incorporation of new member countries like Spain... Continue reading "Spain's Integration into the EU: Benefits and Challenges" »

Definitions

Chain Migration

A process that occurs when an immigrant family brings others to the host country once they achieve some economic stability.

Emigration

Population transfer from one site to another. The person who leaves their place of residence is a migrant.

Rural Exodus

Mass migratory movement of the population from rural to urban and industrial areas, which brings rural depopulation and aging.

Immigration

Arrival of the population from another territory.

Labor Market

Where labor supply and demand meet, often regulated by the state.

Return Migration

Returning to the place of origin or habitual residence after spending at least a year away.

Swallow Migration

Annual temporary moves to work in agricultural campaigns.

Irregular Migration

Migration... Continue reading "Immigration & Emigration: A Glossary of Terms" »

Miño River

The Miño, a 340km river in Spain, flows through Lugo, Orense, and Pontevedra in Galicia. Its final stretch forms the border between Spain and Portugal, emptying into the Atlantic Ocean between A Guarda (Spain) and Caminha (Portugal). Its main tributary is the Sil.

Douro River

Born in the southern slopes of the Picos de Urbión, in the Iberian System (Soria province), the Douro River stretches 895km, with 609km in Spain. Its basin is the largest on the Iberian Peninsula. It flows into the Atlantic Ocean near Oporto. Notable tributaries from the Cantabrian Mountains include the Esla, Duratón, Eresma, Adaja, Tormes, Órbigo, Arlanza, and Arlanzón.

Tagus River

The Tagus, the longest river on the Iberian Peninsula, originates in the Sierra... Continue reading "Major Rivers of Spain: An In-Depth Look at Their Courses and Characteristics" »

Hydrographic Confederations of Spain

Mino

The Mino originates in the Massif Galaico. Its main tributary is the Sil. It covers the provinces of Lugo, Orense, and Pontevedra, where it marks the border with Portugal. It was included in the North Basin, along with all the Cantabrian rivers.

Duero

The Duero Basin is the largest on the Iberian Peninsula. The Douro river originates in the Picos de Urbión (Iberian Mountains). It crosses the provinces of Soria, Burgos, Valladolid, and Zamora, and ends in Porto, Portugal. Its tributaries include the Esla and Pisuerga on the right bank, and the Adaja and Tormes on the left bank. It has a predominantly rainfall-fed regime, with peaks in winter and minimum flow in summer.

Tagus

The Tagus River is the longest... Continue reading "Hydrographic Confederations of Spain: An Overview" »

Cosiata: Separatist Movement of 1826

Cosiata was a separatist movement that occurred in Venezuela in 1826.

Key Concepts of 19th-Century Venezuelan Politics

• Agriculture: The economy relied heavily on agriculture and livestock.
• Centralism: A system where several functions depend on a central authority.
• Censitary: A system to elect those who govern the public destiny.
• Federalism: A political doctrine that fosters the national union of several states.
• Oligarchy: A small, united group of powerful businessmen who control a sector.

Congress of Valencia (1830)

Summons: January 13, 1830
Installation: May 6 to October 14, 1830
Leader: General José Antonio Páez, civil and military chief of Venezuela

Accomplishments

1. Approval of regulations for the executive power.

The Agrarian Crisis

Spanish agriculture at the beginning of the 20th century faced an agrarian crisis. The crisis affected cereals, olives, vines, and sheep farming. The crisis in cereal farming was of greater magnitude. The cause was the arrival in Europe of more competitive products from countries with extensive agriculture, resulting in lower prices. The decline in prices was more pronounced in the Spanish periphery. The reduction of income led to a fall in profits. These difficulties led to protests coordinated by the Agrarian League. The diminution of benefits led to declining wages, causing a period of peasant agitation.

This crisis was accompanied by a crisis in viticulture, which began with the decline in vine production in France due... Continue reading "Spanish Agrarian Crisis and Social Conflict (1900-1931)" »

The Primary Sector: Core Activities

The primary sector comprises activities focused on obtaining food and raw materials directly from nature. This includes:

• Agriculture: Cultivation of crops.
• Livestock: Rearing of animals.
• Fishing: Harvesting aquatic life.
• Forestry: Management of forests for timber and other products. This sector currently accounts for approximately 39% of forestry activities.

Farming Activities and Influencing Factors

Farming activities hold a very important place for the population and are conditioned by several key factors:

• Weather

  Each crop requires specific climatic conditions, including temperature and humidity, for optimal development.

• Relief

  Agriculture is typically easier in wide plains. Slopes make work more difficult and often

Atlantic Coast Rivers of the Iberian Peninsula

The Atlantic Coast river system consists of rivers that empty into the Atlantic Ocean. The water volume and surface area are greater than that of the Mediterranean rivers due to climate, westward tilt during the lithologic oro-alpina period, and more permeable materials. It comprises two sectors:

• Southern Sector: Located in the depression of the short rivers and Guadalquivir. These include rivers with a pluvial regime such as Guadalete and Tinto.
• Galician Rivers: These rivers form estuaries and are fast-flowing due to high humidity and short, impermeable river rocks. They originate at low altitudes, resulting in a pluvial regime. Examples include Miño, Tambre, and Ulla.

Miño River

The Miño's main... Continue reading "Rivers of the Iberian Peninsula: Atlantic Coast Drainage Basins" »