Spain's Diverse Landscapes: A Study in Geographical Contrasts

Spain's Geographical Contrasts

The geographical contrasts in Spain arise from its location, relief configuration, large size, and geological and human history. These contrasts can be grouped into two main categories: natural contrasts and human contrasts.

Natural Contrasts

Lithological Contrasts

From a geological perspective, Spain features three distinct lithological domains:

• Siliceous Iberia: Primarily in the western part of the peninsula, characterized by granite, gneiss, slate, and quartzite.
• Limestone Iberia: Includes the Cantabrian mountain range (to Asturias), the Subbetic System, and the Iberian mountain ranges.
• Clay Iberia: Dominated by clay loams and casts, found in the Ebro and Guadalquivir depressions.

Geomorphological Contrasts

Spain's geological past has resulted in diverse relief types corresponding to different geological stages, such as old solid mountains, young mountains, depressions, and coastal plains. Variations in rock types have also generated diverse modeling forms, including granitic, volcanic, karst, and detrital rock formations.

Climatic Contrasts

Climatic contrasts result from geographic factors like its position between two seas, its latitudinal and longitudinal extent, and its high average altitude. The contrast in thermal regimes is particularly noticeable between the peninsular hinterland and the periphery.

Biogeographic Contrasts

Differing climate and soil conditions between wetter and drier regions of Spain produce significant contrasts in climax vegetation. Northern Spain is characterized by deciduous forests, while drier regions feature drought-adapted evergreen trees.

Human Contrasts

Contrasts in Agricultural Landscapes

Climate significantly influences agricultural land use, leading to distinct agricultural landscapes across Spain:

• Atlantic Spain: Dominated by forests, meadows, and fenced fields, oriented towards livestock farming. The rural landscape features scattered farmhouses and smallholdings.
• Interior Spain: Characterized by open fields of cereal crops (wheat, barley, sunflower) and vineyards and olive groves. Concentrated rural settlements and specific parcel morphologies are common.
• Mediterranean Spain: Features irrigated agricultural landscapes with meadows and orchards. Intensive crops like citrus, vegetables, fodder, and fruits are prevalent, along with upland crops such as wine and olives, and cultivation under plastic.

Contrasts in Settlement Systems

Rural areas highlight the dispersed settlement patterns of northern Spain. The urban system shows a periphery that is much more urbanized than the peninsular interior.