| The common perception of most people's view of | | | | temperatures in January or midwinter would be |
| Spain is one of a country that effectively is just sun, | | | | between 3°C and 9°C and conversely in the |
| sand, high-rise hotels and some parched landscape in | | | | southwest around Vigo the temperatures would be |
| between. | | | | slightly warmer by about 2° C. as you would |
| However when you travel to the north of the country | | | | expect in a maritime climate. |
| especially Galicia, nothing could be further from the | | | | It is only when you take a look at rainfall that you start |
| truth. In fact, Galicia makes up along with Asturias, | | | | to see fairly distinct differences. Here the average in |
| Cantabria and the Basque country what people quite | | | | the West and Southwest is between 1700 mm of rain |
| often refer to as "Green Spain." | | | | and about 1810 mm in the Southwest. Often the north |
| The climate in Green Spain would effectively be | | | | of the region however average precipitation is |
| described as temperate maritime which means it's | | | | approximately about 60% of the rainfall figures |
| influenced by the North Atlantic current and the Gulf | | | | expected elsewhere. |
| Stream. This leads to the mild winters, warm summers | | | | These conditions mean that quite often outdoor |
| and an effectively and consistently humid environment. | | | | activities are perfectly feasible all year around. Okay in |
| Here in this part of Spain the average precipitation is | | | | the winter some of the rainstorms coming in off the |
| about 1200 mm which means that this allows fairly lush | | | | Atlantic can be as they say, quite tasty but by and |
| vegetation to grow. In this part of Spain the main tree | | | | large the opportunities to take part in the water sports |
| species are beeches and oaks. However as in all | | | | especially windsurfing etc are available virtually all |
| things certain parts of the country suffer from more | | | | year-round. |
| deforestation than others and to counter this, native | | | | The naturally occurring vegetation means that hiking |
| forests that have been depleted have been replaced | | | | and climbing are pleasant activities virtually all |
| by plantations of Eucalyptus and Monterey pine in wide | | | | year-round with the trail was being used sometimes |
| areas. | | | | giving participants quite spectacular scenery. |
| In Galicia, the average temperature and rain fall index is | | | | Don't be fooled however by thinking that just because |
| as follows. In the middle of the summer temperatures | | | | Galicia can offer a wide range of climate doesn't |
| in the west of the region would range between | | | | mean to say that doesn't have extremely good |
| 13°C to 25°C. In the Southwest round about | | | | beaches for those who just preferred to sun worship. |
| Vigo, the temperatures might be an average lower by | | | | Some of the beaches in Galicia are quite spectacular |
| about 2° but that would be about it. The average | | | | and are well worth spending time on. |