Grande Porto
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Grande Porto (Greater Porto) is a Portuguese NUTS3 subregion, integrating the NUTS2 region of Norte, in Portugal. It corresponds to 9 out of 14 municipalities (concelhos) that constitute the larger Greater Metropolitan Area of Porto, centered in the city of Porto. With a population of 1,272,176 inhabitants (INE 2004) and an area of 817 km², it is second by population only to the subregion of Grande Lisboa. Highly industrialized, is, with the neighbouring subregions, the main source of the Portuguese exports and home to one of the busiest Portuguese harbours, located in Leixões. Serves as the commercial, educational, political and economical center of northern Portugal.
It is formed by 9 municipalities, on both sides of the river Douro.
The conurbation, which includes the cities of Porto (pop. 263,000), Vila Nova de Gaia (pop. 289,000) and Matosinhos (pop. 167,000), are amongst the biggest urban centers in Portugal, although the subregion is considered a Metropolitan Area with a population of over a million.
The subregion is served by an international airport, harbour, underground, intercity train and a large network of highways and motorways. The industry is located in a crown around the city of Porto.
It covers an area of 817 km² for a density of 1,430 hab/km²
