Spanish Rural Landscapes: Peninsular Interior & Canary Islands

Agrarian Peninsular Interior Landscape

1. Location

Agrarian peninsular interior landscape.

2. Environmental Analysis

• Relief: Flat relief, high average altitude on the plateau.
• Climate: Mediterranean climate, low summer rainfall.
• Vegetation: Predominantly scrub.
• Soil: Clay soil.

3. Analysis of Visible Human Elements

3.1 Plot Structure

Extensive crop quality, separated by segmentation or boundaries and roads.

3.2 Rural Land Uses

• Upland areas: Dominates the countryside of the plateau.
• Non-irrigated areas: Cropped areas.
• Irrigation: Intensive exploitation.
• Livestock: Important for cattle and sheep; dominant in Sierra Morena, Montes de Toledo, Sistema Ibérico, and the two Catalan coastal ranges.
• Land Use Balance: Balanced input between agriculture and livestock.

4. Problems, Solutions, and Future Prospects

Favoring cereal production intended for biofuels. The renewable energy plan to expand these areas requires additional payment via the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).

Canary Islands Landscape

1. Location

Extension of 36.36 km², population of 5116 inhabitants. The municipal capital's altitude is 100m above sea level.

2. Environmental Analysis

• Relief: On one hand, the physical space is almost immaculate; on the other hand, there are productive spaces constructed by humans. Space for agriculture created through dry stone terraces, located on slopes and ravines of highlands or in alluvial plains.
• Vegetation:
  • Coastal halophile belt: With species like sea lettuce, hawthorn, sea grape, sea thyme, gorse.
  • Salt marshes: Also highlight coastal scrub like sharp rush, balancon, magarza, which develop in highly saline soils and endure long periods of drought.
• Climate: Influenced by trade winds; maximum precipitation occurs.
• Soils: Agricultural platforms alongside the ravine show parceling. Dark soil typical of volcanic terrain subjected to erosion.

3. Analysis of Visible Human Elements

3.1 Consolidation (Visual Perspective)

Divided into 3 levels:

• Long shot: Recognizes small details and colors of things, trees, houses.
• Midplane: Present on the alluvial plain where it disappears.
• Close-up: (Implied context for detail recognition)

3.2 Rural Space Uses

• Agricultural Land Uses:
  • General Distribution: Recognizable agricultural platforms alongside the ravine.
  • Agricultural Activities: Intensive banana cultivation, rainfed mixed farming, extension of vineyards.
  • Forest Uses: Xerophytic communities (tabaibal-cardonal) and high brush areas with broom, juniper, and heather.
• Non-Agricultural Land Uses:
  • Tertiary sector provides higher revenues, primarily tourism from Germany and other Canary Islanders.

3.3 Settlement and Rural Habitat

• Rural Settlement: Municipality with rather dispersed population in neighborhoods and farmhouses, often following ravines.
• Rural Habitat: Terraced houses located in blocks, featuring dry stone walls, whitewashed walls, and flat roofs.

4. Problems, Solutions, and Future Prospects

• Problems: Lack of information infrastructure, need for improvement of educational infrastructures.
• Solutions: Improvement works and extensions of allocations.