Madrid Spain Information-Statistics/Historical

Spain - Location	Southwestern Europe, bordering the Bay of Biscay, Mediterranean Sea, North Atlantic Ocean, and Pyrenees Mountains, southwest of France
Area - Total	504,782 sq km
Area - Land	499,542 sq km
Area - Water	5,240 sq km note: there are 19 autonomous communities including Balearic Islands and Canary Islands, and three small Spanish possessions off the coast of Morocco - Islas Chafarinas, Penon de Alhucemas, and Penon de Velez de la Gomera
Geographic Coordinates	40 00 N, 4 00 W
Coastline	4,964 km
Elevation Highest	Pico de Teide (Tenerife) on Canary Islands 3,718 m
Elevation Lowest	Atlantic Ocean 0 m
Birth rate	10.11 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Death rate	9.55 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Life expectancy - Male	76.03 years
Life expectancy - Female	82.94 years (2004 est.)
Languages	Castilian Spanish 74%, Catalan 17%, Galician 7%, Basque 2% note: Castilian is the official language nationwide; the other languages are official regionally
Independence	the Iberian peninsula was characterized by a variety of independent kingdoms prior to the Moslem occupation that began in the early 8th Century A. D. and lasted nearly seven centuries; the small Christian redoubts of the north began the reconquest almost immediately, culminating in the seizure of Granada in 1492; this event completed the unification of several kingdoms and is traditionally considered the forging of present-day Spain
Flag Description	three horizontal bands of red (top), yellow (double width), and red with the national coat of arms on the hoist side of the yellow band; the coat of arms includes the royal seal framed by the Pillars of Hercules, which are the two promontories (Gibraltar and Ceuta) on either side of the eastern end of the Strait of Gibraltar
Internet Code	.es
Airports	156 (2003 est.)
Bordering Countries	France, Portugal
Records	Highest recorded temperature in Europe = 50°C / 122°F (Sevilla, 1881-Aug.4)