Spain & the Balearic Islands
Spain sits between the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. Spain shares borders with Portugal and France. The capital is Madrid. Within Spain, you can find mountains, valleys, lakes, rivers, deserts, farmland, vineyards, olive trees and forests, which shows the diversity of the climate.
Because Spain is so far west in the time zone, in the summer, the sun may not go down until 10 pm!
This is one of the reasons for the famous midday nap in Spain called a siesta. People go home to eat a light lunch and rest before returning to work in the afternoon.
Spain is known for so many other things, too. Here are a few:
- Bullfights
- Flamenco music and dancing
- Museums
- A food called paella, which is a rice dish made with a spice called saffron
- Tapas, or small dishes served like single appetizers
- Beaches
- Festivals, like the running of the bulls and La Tomatina (a festival where everyone throws tomatoes at each other)
- Fútbol, also known in the United States as soccer
