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Spain

Exciting sporting facts

From Pelota to Squash
The name 'Pelota' actually stands for a number of different Basque ball games, the most famous being 'Blaid a Chistera'. The players use a curved oval bat made from wicker, the so-called 'chistera', with which a ball, the 'pelota', is hurled against a wall. After the ball bounces back over a line parallel to the wall, it is hit back against the wall.
The game is played with two teams. There are singles, doubles, or team games with up to 10 players.

Extraordinary records
Fast feet
The fastest Flamenco dancer in the world comes from Seville. On 4 November, 2000, Sandra Guerrero Toril danced 507 Flamenco steps in one minute.

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Official name
Reino de Espana
Kingdom of Spain

Location in Europe

National flag

National holidays
12 October: Dia de la Hispanidad
Holiday to commemorate the discovery of America
6 December: Dia de la Constitucion Espanola
Constitution Day

Political system
Constitutional monarchy

Area
504,782 km²

Population
39,501,000

Capital
Madrid

International dialling code
0034

Country code
E

Biggest cities
Madrid 3,016,800 inhabitants
Barcelona 1,527,200 inhabitants
Valencia 791,900 inhabitants
Seville 704,100 inhabitants
Zaragoza 620,400 inhabitants
Málaga 535,700 inhabitants

Highest mountain
On the mainland: Mulhacen 3482 metres
On the Canary Isles: Pico de Teide 3718 metres

Longest river
Tajo (section) 1010 km

Currency
1 Euro = 100 Cent