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The Geography of Spain pp 17–54Cite as

The Relief: A Mountainous Country

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Part of the book series: World Regional Geography Book Series ((WRGBS))

Abstract

In essence, and in spite of the portrayal of the country in traditional geographies, captivated by the ample, more accessible plains, Spain is a mountainous country. Mountains cover large areas of the territory, and this feature has conditioned the country’s development, economy, ideas, politics, administration, and cultural heritage. Accessibility has consequently suffered in historical times, and anfractuosity still hinders communications in many parts of the territory, especially in wintertime. Railways and roads are difficult to construct and maintain, an issue if there are flat, easier areas competing for resources that has created several unbalances in regional development. On the brighter side, however, difficult communications and historical isolation have helped preserve some natural areas. Trees in flat areas have historically been cut down for the navy, railroads, and lumber or to make room for cereals and other crops. The idyllic account of a country covered by a continuous canopy in Roman times contrasts with the actual reality of mountains becoming the refuge of valuable species such as oaks.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    Ἴβηρ in Greek.

  2. 2.

    ’Ιδουβεδα, (also’Ιδουβαιδα, Γδουβεδα, Γδουβαιδα or’Ιγδουβεδα).

  3. 3.

    Traditional geographies follow the geological approach and do not feature neither the Duero Mountains nor the Mountains of Teruel . The names have been coined here from a geographical, integrative point of view and should be used to endow such spaces with a landscape character they now lack.

  4. 4.

    The name may be confusing as they are not near Toledo City; they belonged, however, to the city administratively and thus the name.

  5. 5.

    In contrast, Madrid has an almost unlimited area of expansion to the south.

  6. 6.

    Επτα Αδελφοί.

  7. 7.

    INE data.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, Toledo, Spain

    Francisco J. Tapiador

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  1. Francisco J. Tapiador
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Tapiador, F.J. (2020). The Relief: A Mountainous Country. In: The Geography of Spain. World Regional Geography Book Series. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-18907-5_4

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