CAPITAL

The capital of Spain, located in the heart of the peninsula and right in the center of the Castillian plain 646 meters above sea level, has a population of over three million. A cosmopolitan city, a business center, headquarters for the Public Administration, Government, Spanish Parliament and the home of the Spanish Royal Family, Madrid also plays a major role in both the banking and industrial sectors. Most of its industry is located in the Southern fringe of the city, where important textile, food and metal working factories are clustered. Madridis characterized by intense cultural and artistic activity and a very lively nightlife.  

POPULATION
40.397.842

Location
Southwestern Europe, Bordering the bay of Biscay, Mediterranean Sea, North Atlantic Ocean, and Pyrenees Mountains, southwest of France

Language               

Castilian Spanish 74%, Catalan 17%, Galician 7%, Basque 2%; note - Castilian is the official language nationwide; the other languages are official regionally
 
Government Type   
Parliamentary Monarchy
 
Religion          
Roman Catholic 94%, Other 6%
 
Activities                  

Sking
Golf
Scuba Diving
 
Climate

Temperate; clear, hot summers in interior, more moderate and cloudy along coast; cloudy, cold winters in interior, partly cloudy and cool along coast
 
Land:    499,542 sq km
Water:      5,240 sq km
Coastline: 4,964 km
Total:    509,746