Spain as a unified state came into being de jure only after the death of Charles II and with it the extinction of the Spanish Habsburg dynasty, and the ascension of Philip V and the inauguration of the Bourbon dynasty and its central reforms as in France. The culture of Spain is a European culture based on a variety of historical influences, primarily that of Ancient Rome, but also the pre-Roman Celtic and Iberian culture, and that of the Phoenicians and of the Moorish 781 years of rule. In the areas of language and religion, the Ancient Romans left a lasting legacy. The subsequent course of Spanish history added other elements to the country's culture and traditions.
El Chorro is a small village located in Malaga in southern Spain, near the town of Alora. It is one of the most popular rock climbing attractions in Spain as it is located next to Desfiladero de los Gaitanes. This village is also frequented by mountain bikers, hikers and campers.
Spain is located on the Iberian peninsula, of which it occupies 80% the remaining 20% being Portugal), in the southwest of Europe. To the north are France and Andorra with the Pyrenees as a natural border. Also the Balearean islands (Mallorca, enorca and Ibiza) in the Mediterranean, the Canary islands in the Atlantic (near the Maroccan coast), and Ceuta and Melilla located in Northern Africa) belong to the Spanish territory.
Spain is the third country as for its size and fifth as for population numbers. It has a surface of about 505.955 square kilometers. This includes all the islands above mentioned. Spain counts more than 40 million people, most of them living in the cities or along the Costa's. Spain is divided into 19 autonomous areas, including the areas outside the Iberian Peninsula.
There are 5 large mountain ranges which cross the country and about 50% of the land lies considerably higher than sea level. The Scenaries vary from almost desert-like to a fertile and green land and of course there are the long coastal strips, in the east. Along the Mediterranean from the Pyrenees to Gibraltar) next in the south and west to Portugal along the Atlantic ocean.