Catalonia ( ; ; Aranese: Catalonha), is an Autonomous Community in the northeast part of Spain. The Autonomous Community of Catalonia covers an area of 32,114 km² and has an official population of 7,210,508 from which immigrants represent an estimated 12.3% of the total population. It borders France and Andorra to the north, Aragon to the west, the Valencian Community to the south, and the Mediterranean Sea to the east (580 km coastline). Official languages are Catalan, Spanish and Aranese.

The capital city is Barcelona. Catalonia is divided into four provinces: Barcelona, Girona, Lleida, and Tarragona. Its territory corresponds to most of the historical territory of the former Principality of Catalonia.

Etymology

Another theory suggested that Catalunya derives from Gothia, "Land of the Goths" since the Spanish March was one of the places known as Gothia, whence Gothland and Gothlandia theoretically derived, though critics usually consider it rather simplistic.

Another theory suggests that the name derives from a mythical German prince, Otger Cataló, but this theory has been mostly discredited. Yet another speculation points out the Lacetani, an Iberian tribe that lived in the area, whose name, due to the Roman influence, would have evolved to Katelans and then Catalans.

Climate

The climate of Catalonia is very diverse. The most populated areas by the coast, including three capitals out of the four provinces (Tarragona, Barcelona and Girona) are mediterranean weatherwise, but the inland part of the region (Lleida and the inner part of Barcelona) is a Continental Mediterranean climate for the most of it. Then there is mountain climate even alpine climate at the higher Pyreneean peaks. In the Mediterranean area, summers are hot and humid, with sea breezes (max. around 30 °C). Rain is scarce there during this season, however, summer is the most rainy season at the Pyreneean valleys due to frequent summer storms activity. Winter is cool to cold depending on the location. Snow is frequent at the Pyrenees, and every year there are some episodes of snow reaching lower altitudes, sometimes including the coast line. Overall, the most rainy months are in spring and autumn.

The inland part of Catalonia is hotter and, especially, dryer in summer, temperatures can reach 35 °C or more, even 40 °C is not rare. Nights are cooler than by the coast, (14°-16 °C). Fog is not uncommon in valleys and plains, it can be especially resilient and with freezing drizzle episodes during Winter by the Segre and other river valleys.