CASTILLA-LA MANCHA

PROVINCES: Albacete, Ciudad Real, Cuenca, Guadalajara, Toledo

Castilla-La Mancha is a central region (autonomous community) in Spain. It borders the Spanish regions of Castilla y León, Madrid, Aragon, the Valencian Community, Murcia, Andalucia and Extremadura. It is the third largest of Spain's regions and is also the least populated. It is most well known as being the setting for the famous Spanish novel Don Quixote by Cervantes.

Castile-La Mancha is located in the middle of the Iberian peninsula, occupying the greater part of the Submeseta Sur. The region is separated from the region of Castilla y León by the mountain range known as the Sistema Central. It is part of what has traditionally been called España Seca ("Dry Spain") as there is little percipation in many areas.

Lack of a marine influence leads to some extreme temperatures: hotter summers and quite cold winters. Summer is the driest season, with temperatures often exceeding 30C (86F), sometimes reaching and exceeding 35C (95F). In winter, temperatures often drop below 0C (32F), producing frosts on cloudy nights, and occasional snow.