Merino microns 14

Merino wool comes from sheep of the Merino breed, which originates in Spain. The first Merino sheep likely arrived in Spain during the Middle Ages, probably from North Africa, where they were brought by Berber tribes. For many centuries, Spain maintained a strict monopoly on Merino sheep breeding, and exporting them was forbidden and punishable by death until the 18th century. In the 18th and 19th centuries, Merino sheep began to spread to other countries, especially South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand. Today, Australia and New Zealand are the largest producers of Merino wool in the world, although its historical origins lie in North Africa and later Spain.