Galicia’s borders

To the west of Galicia lies the Atlantic Ocean and to the north, the Bay of Biscay (“Mar Cantabrico”). The south of Galicia is bordered by Portugal, while to the east is the "meseta" or central plateau of mainland Spain. There is also a significant mountain range, "Montanas de Leon", which runs north to south on the eastern border of Galicia, creating a physical barrier between it and the rest of Spain.

Geographic environmental status

Galicia is in a temperate zone, known as “España Verde” (Green Spain) and is classified as having both coniferous and deciduous forest types. This is aptly demonstrated through the pine and eucalyptus forests which cover this Spanish region. It also gives Galicia the unusual luxury of being able to grow palm trees along side annual flowers and leaf shedding shrubs.

Membership of International Bodies

Galicia, as a part of mainland Spain, is a member of the EU (European Union) and had second level entry into the United Nations (i.e. gained member status by 1955, but was not a founding member state). Spain itself also has many formal and informal trade and cultural ties with other Latino and Hispanic nations throughout the world, especially in South America.

Climate and weather

Temperatures and rainfall vary across the region. Close to the coast, temperatures average between 8ºC to 10ºC in winter and rise up to 20ºC to 25ºC in summer. Moving inland from the coast, the weather becomes warmer and drier and in the south of Galicia (around the “rias baias”) the temperatures can be as much as 5ºC warmer in summer.

There are contradictions to these broad statistics, one of which is "Santiago de Compostela" which, although inland and located mid-way down Galicia, has more rain than any other Spanish city.