Iberian Peninsula Facts For Kids: Here's What You Need To Know

The Iberian Peninsula is one of the largest peninsulas in the world.

It houses many countries such as Spain, Portugal, and Andorra, and is known for its culture. Apart from this, in a protected area or two, you may be able to see exquisite creatures such as the Iberian lynx; which is sure to make your trip unforgettable!

The Iberian Peninsula is a peninsula located in southwestern Europe. It is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the south and east, the Atlantic Ocean to the west, and Portugal to the north. The Iberian Peninsula is home to some of the most beautiful cities in Europe, including Barcelona, Madrid, Lisbon, Seville, Granada, and Malaga. In this blog post, we will discuss some of the most interesting facts about this amazing region!

Geography Of The Iberian Peninsula

The Iberian Peninsula is the second largest one on the continent and is known for its stunning landscapes. It consists of major rivers and mountain systems as well a single central plateau, which makes up for nearly all of the area. Before the ancient Greek civilizations settled in the Iberian Peninsula, this place was inhabited by people from the east Mediterranean.

The most prominent feature of the peninsula, which also gives it its name is the Iberus or Ebro river. It is common practice in the history of human settlements for entire civilizations to be named after the river that they inhabited besides. The same applied in the case of Iberians as well, as they were named after the Ebro river.

The Iberian Peninsula is one of the three peninsulas that make up the system in the Southern Europe peninsula group. The other two in the group are the Balkan and Italian Peninsulas.

Other than this, it is distinguished from the rest of the European continent through the Pyrenees mountains. It is located in the southwest part of Europe and is surrounded by water bodies. On its north and west directions, the Iberian Peninsula is surrounded by the Atlantic ocean. On the south and eastern coasts, the Mediterranean Sea can be seen in its grandeur. The Strait of Gibraltar, on the other hand, separates the Iberian Peninsula from the African continent; more specifically, from North Africa.

Physical Features Of The Iberian Peninsula

The most prominent physical features of the Iberian Peninsula include some major rivers, mountain systems, the Mediterranean coast, and the northern coast, as well as a central plateau.

The entire landmass is defined by waterbodies that either surround it or are in it. Some of the prominent rivers that flow through the peninsula are Tagus, Douro, Ebro, Garonne, Jucar, Genil, and Segura.

On the other hand, some of the important mountain systems would be the Pyrenees Mountains, Cantabrian Mountains, and Sistema Central Mountains. The Andalusian Plain and the central plateau, named Meseta, also serve as important physical features. The Meseta Central plateau takes up around 75% of the entire area of the peninsula. From the Iberian Peninsula, a finger-like projection of land starts which is the British Territory of Gibraltar. It is known as one of the British naval strongholds in the world.

Countries In The Iberian Peninsula

Spain takes up the most space in the Iberian Peninsula. Hence, the Spanish Civil War is also one of the most notable things in the history of the land, it took place in the '30s.

The golden age of Islamic rule in Spain is remembered as a great time. At this time, there were many scientific and trade-related developments in the area. In the late 15th century, the Catholic religion was spread in northern Spain by the Christian kingdoms. The current political or government system prevailing in Spain is a constitutional or parliamentary monarchy.

In addition to Spain, the second-largest peninsula of Europe also includes a part of Southern France. Some of the other areas that would come into mind are the Basque Country and Catalonia.

Other countries include Andorra, Portugal, and Gibraltar. The culture of the Iberian Peninsula, hence, is a mixed pot. The culture from Spain does stand out as singularly important, but other influences also make their appearance. When in Spain, make sure to try paella, gazpacho, and churros.

Population In Iberian Peninsula

As of the census held in 2020, the population of Spain stands at a stupendous 47.3 million.

Andorra has a small population of just over 77,000 inhabitants. The population strength of Portugal stands at a little over 10 million inhabitants. The population of Basque Country, on the other hand, is a mere two million as of 2021. At the same time, Catalonia has a population of about 7.67 million inhabitants as of 2021.

We can safely say that the Iberian Peninsula houses many people. Whether it be Southern France, Portugal, or Spain, the population of this part of the world is slightly high and the people are very welcoming.

FAQs

What is the Iberian Peninsula known for?

The Iberian Peninsula in southwestern Europe is known for its beauty. This peninsula is separated from the rest of Europe through the Pyrenees mountain ranges. A large chunk of the Iberian Peninsula is covered by Spain.

Who owns the Iberian Peninsula?

The Iberian Peninsula is covered by several countries. These countries are Spain, Portugal, Andorra, France, and the British Territory of Gibraltar.

Where Is the Iberian Peninsula?

The Iberian Peninsula is located in the southwestern part of Europe. It is a part of the three southern European peninsulas, namely, the Italian, Iberian, and Balkan Peninsulas. It is also the second-largest peninsula on the continent.

What did ancient Iberians look like?

There are many theories as to where Iberians came from in the first place. One of the theories that have been accepted so far is that they came from the eastern Mediterranean Sea. Before this idea was conceived, it was a popular conception that they were descendants of Africans. The exact set of features cannot be predicted as yet.

What resources does the Iberian Peninsula lack?

Inhabitants of the Iberian Peninsula suffer from a lack of energy resources, such as minerals and petroleum.

How old is the Iberian Peninsula?

While the exact age of the Iberian Peninsula is unknown to us, we do know that this peninsula has been inhabited by humans for at least 1.2 million years. Let's just say that this chunk of land is not exactly young!

Who conquered the Iberian Peninsula?

From 500-1000 CE, the peninsula witnessed various waves of conquests by the Arab, Byzantine, and Visigothic armies.

What did the Romans call the Iberian Peninsula?

The Iberian Peninsula was named Hispania by the Romans.