Geographical and Climatic Overview of Catalonia, Spain
Geographical Overview: Catalonia
Pyrenees Mountains
Catalonia’s Pyrenees region features the Pyrenees Axial (Pica d’Estats, 3143 m) and foothills (Cadi and Pedraforca). The Central Depression lies between the Pyrenees and the Catalan Coastal System.
Catalan Coastal System
The Catalan Coastal System includes the pre-coastal mountain range (Guillem, Montseny, Montserrat, and Montsant), the Coastal Cordillera (Gavarres, Montnegre, Collserola, and Garraf), the pre-coastal depression (Valleys and Penedès), and the Coastal Plain (Maresme, Barcelona Plain).
Coastline and Islands
Catalonia boasts 580 km of coastline. The North Coast is characterized by crops, while the South Coast features long sandy beaches and the Ebro Delta.
Rivers
- Mediterranean Area:
- Red-Pyrenees Ebre (Segre, Noguera Pallaresa, Noguera Ribagorzana)
- Pyrenees-Mediterranean Network (Muga, Fluvià, Ter, and Llobregat)
- Mediterranean Network (Tordera, Besòs, Foix, Gaià, and Francolí)
- Atlantic Side: Garonne (originates in the Aran Valley and flows to Bordeaux)
Wetlands
- Pyrenees Ponds (Saint-Maurice, Longus, Gent)
- Coastal Wetlands (Empordà, Llobregat, Ebro)
- Lake Banyoles
Geographical Overview: Other Regions
Africa
- Rift Valley
- Atlas Mountains
- Rivers: Nile
- Lakes: Victoria
America
- Rivers: Amazon
- Lakes: Titicaca
Iberian Peninsula
- Rivers: Ebro
Asia
- Tibetan Plateau
- Siberian Plains
- Rivers: Yangtze
Europe
- Meseta Plateau
- Lakes: Ladoga
Climate of the Iberian Peninsula
Oceanic Domain
- Occupies a long, narrow strip of northern Spain.
- Oceanic: Influenced by the Atlantic, with moderate temperatures and high humidity (Galicia and Cantabrian).
- Transitional: Increasing continental influence further inland, with less moisture.
- Tropical Catchment: Influenced by tropical temperatures and high humidity (Andalusian Atlantic coast).
Mediterranean Domain
- Stretches along the east and south coasts of the Peninsula and the Islands.
- Mild winters and hot summers, with sparse rainfall concentrated in autumn and spring.
- Smoothing: Cool, damp, cloudy, and rainy weather with Atlantic and continental influence (Costa Brava).
- Dry Summer: Long, hot summers, mild winters, little rain, and possible storms (East Coast).
- Scarce and irregular rains: Winds and high temperatures (Alicante, Malaga).
Continental Domain
- Occupies the central area of the peninsula.
- Combines continental and Mediterranean climate features.
- Smoothing: Transition to the oceanic climate with more extreme temperatures and less moisture.
- Defendant: Very cold winters and warm summers with moderate rainfall (Spanish plateau).
Mountain Domain
- Lower temperatures with increased risk of frost, increased cloud cover, and rainfall, mainly snow.
- Oceanic Influence: Abundant rainfall, snow may be conserved for about 9 months (Pyrenees, Cantabrian Mountains).
- Continental Influence: Very cold and long winters with scarce rainfall (Iberian and central Sierra Morena).
- Subtropical Influence: Characteristic mountain climate only on the highest peaks (Betis System).
Canary Islands Domain
- Close to the Tropic of Cancer, with a climate different from the Iberian Peninsula.
- High temperatures (17°C – 25°C) and scarce, irregular rainfall with desert winds.
Climate of Catalonia
Mediterranean Domain
- Mediterranean Top Mountain: Located in the foothills of Lleida, Cerdanya, Ripollès, and the Transverse Range. Shares Mediterranean and mountain climate features.
- Mediterranean Medium and Low-Mountain: Located in central Catalonia. Heavy rainfall in spring and autumn. Frequent temperature inversions.
- Mediterranean Coastline: Mild winters and hot summers with low thermal amplitude. Rainfall concentrated mainly in autumn, often with storms.
- Mediterranean with Continental Trend: Located west of the Central Depression. Wider thermal oscillation and scarce rainfall with several months of drought.
Oceanic Domain
- Oceanic Climate: Located in the Aran Valley. Open to Atlantic influence with mild temperatures and frequent rainfall throughout the year.
Mountain Domain
- Located in the highest peaks of the Pyrenees and the Pyrenean foothills. Low temperatures and abundant rainfall. Downhill (over 2,300 m), subalpine (above 1,500 m).