Spanish Communities

1. Castille and LeónCastille and León
By Yaiza & LlaraBy Yaiza & Llara

2. Castille and LeónCastille and León
Castille and León isCastille and León is
an autonomousan autonomous
community in north-community in north-
western Spainwestern Spain

3. GeographyGeography
Castille and León is borderedCastille and León is bordered
by Portugal and Galicia to the west andby Portugal and Galicia to the west and
by Asturias and Cantabria to the north.by Asturias and Cantabria to the north.
Aragon, the Basque country and LaAragon, the Basque country and La
Rioja is to the east and the border to theRioja is to the east and the border to the
south is with Madrid, and with Castille-Lasouth is with Madrid, and with Castille-La
Mancha and Extremadura to theMancha and Extremadura to the
southwest.southwest.

4. ClimateClimate
Castille and León has a continentalizedCastille and León has a continentalized
Mediterranean climate: a MediterraneanMediterranean climate: a Mediterranean
climate with a marked character ofclimate with a marked character of
a continental climate. The continentalizeda continental climate. The continentalized
Mediterranean climate is similar toMediterranean climate is similar to
a typical Mediterranean climate, but witha typical Mediterranean climate, but with
more extreme temperatures typical of amore extreme temperatures typical of a
continental climate. Winters are long andcontinental climate. Winters are long and
cold, Summers are short and hot with thecold, Summers are short and hot with the
three or four dry summer months typicalthree or four dry summer months typical
of a Mediterranean climate.of a Mediterranean climate.

5. ProvincesProvinces

6. Flag and coat of armsFlag and coat of arms
The flag of Castille and León and coat of The flag of Castille and León and coat of
arms of Castille and León each show arms of Castille and León each show
the quartered coats of arms of Castille, the quartered coats of arms of Castille,
represented by a castle, and León, represented by a castle, and León,
represented by a lion. The seal is represented by a lion. The seal is
topped with a royal crown topped with a royal crown

7. Flora and vegetationFlora and vegetation
The solitary oaks and junipers now found on
the Castillian-Leonese plains are remnants of
forests that once covered these lands.
Agricultural exploitation—cultivation of cereals
and creation of pastures for the vast flocks of
the Castillian Meseta—meant the
deforestation of these lands during the Middle
Ages. The last juniper forests of Castille and
León can be found in the provinces of Soria
and Burgos. In some of these forest, junipers
are mixed with pine—or even with oak or gall
oak—but the conifers predominate.

8. FaunaFauna
Castille and León has a great diversity
of fauna. Some of these are notable
either for being endemic to the region
or for their rarity. 418 species
of vertebrates have been identified,
constituting 63 percent of the
vertebrates that can be found in Spain.
Animals adapted to the high
mountains, inhabitant of rocky
landscapes, river dwellers, lowland
species, and forest animals all can be
found in Castille and León.