Southern Spain and Portugal or Northern Russia (7)
I believe the answer is:
siberia
'northern russia' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both locations as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps there's an association between them I don't understand?
'southern spain and portugal' is the wordplay.
'southern' becomes 's' (abbreviation).
'spain and portugal' becomes 'iberia' (I've seen this in another clue).
's'+'iberia'='SIBERIA'
'or' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for siberia that I've seen before include "region abroad" , "Region to which Russian and then Soviet governments sent those considered disloyal" , "Frozen region of former USSR noted for prison camps" , "Russian region in N Asia noted for harsh winters and prison camps" , "a place often very cold" .)