Spain

The flag of Spain has three horizontal stripes; a yellow one in the center, and two red ones, both half the size of the yellow stripe, on the top and bottom. In the yellow stripe, in between the hoist and the center, is the coat of arms of Spain, which consists of two silver columns with two black vertical stripes on each, both of the stripes a little to the right of the center of the column. Underneath the columns are gold bases made of three segments. There are five horizontal waving stripes underneath the columns' bases, alternating blue and silver in color. On top of each columns is a red, gold, and silver crown. In between the two columns is a crown on top of the national shield of Spain, which consists of a gold and blue castle in the centre of the red first quarter, a violet rampant lion wearing a gold crown in the center of the silver second quarter, nine vertical stripes, alternating gold and red, in the third quarter, a shield made of gold chains in the center of the red fourth quarter, and a silver section of the bottom of the shield with a red, yellow, and green stylized flower facing upright in the center of the silver section. Just above the center of each column is a ribbon wrapping around both columns, with the words visible on the first column's side being "PLVS (PLUS in English)", and the words visible on the second column's side being "VLTRA (ULTRA in English)".
==Symbolism==
The shield is quarterly Castile, León, Aragon, and Navarre, with the pomegranate of Granada in the base. Overall are the three lilies of the ruling house of Bourbon (Borbón in Spanish.) The pillars stand for the "Pillars of Hercules", the rock formations on either side of the Strait of Gibraltar, and the motto "PLUS ULTRA", meaning "More Beyond", refers to Spain's explorations beyond the straits across the Atlantic.
== Nickname ==
* Plus Ultra
==History==
===Spanish Empire===
Spain conquered many countries in the Middle Ages. They created a flag for use in their new "Empire". This was used widely throughout the countries they had conquered.
==References==
*Image:Escudo oficial de España.png from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
*Colours of the National Flag of Spain at Flags of the World
*Flag of Spain at EnchantedLearning.com
Category:Europe
Category:Lettering
Category:Proportions 2-3
Category:Spain
Category:Red
Category:Yellow
Category:Tricolour
Category:Horizontal tricolour
Category:Coat of Arms
Category:Pink
Category:Blue
Category:Gray