Twenty years ago, there were barely 100 individuals left, but thanks to conservation efforts the wild population of the Iberian lynx has now grown to 1,100. Although it remains at risk of extinction, the growth of its small population –along with those of the bearded vulture, imperial eagle, Cantabrian brown bear and Iberian wolf– is an encouraging outcome of the efforts to conserve the wildlife of Spain and Portugal.
For nearly 30 years, Spain has boasted one of the world’s highest rates of organ donations and transplants. The WHO and other international bodies have endorsed the Spanish model, which has been adopted in other countries and has saved or improved
the lives of over 110,000 patients due to the altruism of more than 50,000 donors.
Spain is among the world’s top ten players in the video game market, especially when it comes to indie productions. The sector, which is still very young, is growing at a double-digit annual rate.
The 300 or so marinas with 130,000 berths that adorn the Spanish coast are not only centres for nautical services: they are also hubs that attract tourists and generate economic activity.
The history of Spain is written in its almost 20,000 fortifications, with an estimated 2,600 genuine mediaeval castles, built between the eighth and the sixteenth centuries.
With three coastal areas –Cantabrian, Atlantic and Mediterranean– and more than 7,900 kilometres of coastline, Spain ranks 14th in the world and 3rd in Europe …
Spain is the country with the most vineyards, is the third largest producer and the leading exporter of wines by volume… And despite the worldwide fame of sherry, cava or rioja, a large part of its oenological richness, with 90 designations of origin, remains almost unknown.
Spain’s wind-power sector, ranked fifth in the world in terms of generation capacity and fourth in terms of wind turbine exports, is one of the strongest and most technologically advanced in the world.
The Alhambra is the second most visited monument in Spain, after the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, and one of the most famous in the world. The historic complex, a World Heritage Site since 1984, receives about 3.5 million visitors a year.
Spread over its 17 regions, Spain has 132 natural parks which are home to true natural and scenic treasures, many of which are virtually unknown.
