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Political maps and road maps are familiar to everyone—but what about a map that links Spain to the rest of the world through latitude? Reddit user mgoulart created a fascinating map that overlays cities from around the globe onto Spain, aligning them based on latitude.
Let’s explore this unique comparison and see how the climate of Spanish regions aligns with cities across North America, Asia, and Europe.
Map of Spain with Cities at the Same Latitude
The map above shows Spanish provinces matched with cities around the world that share the same latitude. At first glance, the matches might seem surprising—Buffalo, USA, aligned with Galicia? Seoul with Andalusia? But latitude isn’t the only factor that shapes a region’s climate. Ocean currents, prevailing winds, and topography all play a role in creating the climate differences we see today.
Northern Spain and Its Atlantic Counterparts
Northern Spain, particularly regions like Galicia, Asturias, and the Basque Country, is cool and rainy for much of the year due to the influence of the Atlantic Ocean. That’s why Buffalo, located on the eastern shore of Lake Erie in the United States, aligns well with Galicia’s climate. Both regions experience chilly winters and mild summers with significant rainfall (Buffalo averages about 1,000 mm of precipitation annually, similar to parts of Galicia).
Toronto, which appears more toward the northeast on the map over Spain’s northern provinces, shares a similar latitude but has a more extreme continental climate due to its distance from the ocean. While Toronto endures freezing winters, Galicia’s maritime influence keeps temperatures more moderate.
Central Spain and the Interior Cities
Moving south toward Spain’s heartland, you encounter a drier, more continental climate. Madrid, for example, sits roughly on the same latitude as cities like Cleveland and Tbilisi. While Madrid’s summer temperatures often exceed 35°C (95°F), Cleveland experiences milder summers and colder winters because of its proximity to the Great Lakes. Similarly, Tbilisi has a more varied climate, with hot summers and cold winters influenced by the nearby Caucasus Mountains.
Southern Spain and Mediterranean-Aligned Cities
Southern Spain, including Andalusia and Murcia, shares its latitude with cities like Seoul and San José (California). However, Andalusia’s climate is distinctly Mediterranean, with hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters. In contrast, Seoul has a humid continental climate with cold winters and humid summers, while San José enjoys a more temperate, Mediterranean-like climate.
Another remarkable alignment is between Seville and Kuwait. Despite being on the same latitude, Seville’s dry summer heat is Mediterranean, while Kuwait’s desert heat is more extreme, with temperatures regularly exceeding 45°C (113°F).
Spain’s Islands and Tropical Connections
The Canary Islands align with places like Orlando and New Delhi. While Orlando has a subtropical climate with high humidity and summer storms, the Canary Islands enjoy a mild, dry climate year-round due to the influence of the Canary Current and trade winds. New Delhi, meanwhile, experiences scorching summers and monsoon rains, which are absent in the Canaries.
Why Latitude Isn’t Everything
This map highlights how similar latitudes don’t guarantee identical climates. The Gulf Stream warms Western Europe, making Spain’s Atlantic coast much milder than similar latitudes in North America. Meanwhile, continental positioning and elevation create significant differences even among cities aligned at the same latitude.
