Geography of Póvoa de Varzim

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Map with the 12 civil parishes of Póvoa de Varzim.

Satellite image of Póvoa de Varzim. Cape Santo André is up north and Ave River in the south. The great dark spot in the middle is the Serra de Rates forest area.

Póvoa de VarzimCoordinates: 41°22′59″N, 8°46′00″W, with an area of 82.06 square kilometres, lies between the Cávado and Ave rivers, or, from a wider perspective, halfway between the Minho and Douro rivers on the northern coast of Portugal (also known as Costa Verde - Green Coast). Although in administrative reforms of 1936 the city was integrated in Douro Litoral (with which it shares cultural and historical traditions), the case for such an administrative integration is arguable, because Póvoa de Varzim is found in a transition region (in this case, between Douro Litoral and the old province of the Minho). It has characteristic Minho traditions ^[1], and due to that it is perhaps preferable to recognize Póvoa as part of the old region, favouring more Entre-Douro-e-Minho, given its central geographic position in this region.

The city is limited to the north by the municipality of Esposende, to the northeast by Barcelos, to the east by Vila Nova de Famalicão, and to the south by Vila do Conde. To the west, it has a shoreline on the Atlantic Ocean^[1].

[edit] Physical geography

Rocks and sand dunes covered by native vegetation near Cape Santo André.

Rocks become black because these are full of mussels.

The rocky cliffs, common features down from the estuary of Minho River, disappear in Póvoa de Varzim giving way to a coastal plain.

The plain originates from an old marine plateau conferring a sandy soil to the lands that cross the coasts of the parishes of Póvoa, A Ver-o-Mar, Navais to Aguçadoura and Estela, and forming sand dunes, mainly in Northern Aguçadoura.^[2]

Wandering along the coast one discerns Cape Santo André which is, possibly, the Avarus Promontory referred by Ptolemy, geographer of Ancient Greece, in the territory of the Callaici^[2].

The municipality is of 190 meters (623 ft) above sea-level. The peak of Saint Félix (202 meters, 663 ft) and of Cividade (155 m, 509 ft) are easily visible rising above the landscape^[2]. Despite the modest rise, the expanse of the plain makes these easy reference points on the horizon. The mountain chain known as Serra de Rates divides the municipality in two distinctive areas: the coastal plain gives way to hills where the forests become more abundant and the soils have less sea influence. In this landscape dominated by the plain and low hills, only the hill of Corga da Soalheira (150 m, 492 ft), in the interior, is easily recognizable^[2].

Imprisoned between the sea and the mountain range, the city dominates the coastal plain. In the south, there is urban continuity with Vila do Conde, another city and municipality, establishing itself as the southern limit.

The hydrography of the municipality is has no large rivers, but abundant small water courses exist due to the relief of the coastal plain.^[3]

Some of these water courses are permanent, such the Este River, which feeds into the Ave River. The Esteiro River's source is at the base of Mount Cividade and it empties at the beach of Aver-o-Mar while the Alto River's source is at the base of Mount São Félix and it reaches the Atlantic at Rio Alto Beach. The land is well irrigated, the appearance of springs and wells are very common, given that, often, underground water is close to the surface.^[3]

[edit] Climate

The region possesses a local microclimate, being privileged that it is considered the region least subject to frosts in all Northern Portugal due to the winter winds that, normally, blow from South and Southwest.^[3]

North winds (known as Nortadas) arise, typically, in the summer after midday^[3] and like the summer fogs, these refresh the air and are characteristic of Póvoa - a climate that is classified as maritime temperate. The municipality has gentle summers and mild winters, with average temperatures oscillating between 12.5 and 15 degrees Celsius^[3]. The annual precipitation varies between 1200 and 1400 mm^[3].

[edit] Environment

Native flora in Mount Cividade.

The forest areas suffer from strong demographic pressure and intensive agriculture. Forests are still important in parishes surrounded by the Serra de Rates, whose flora is distinguished by the Pedunculate Oak or the European Holly. In 18th century, the monks of Tibães planted pinewood, which today characterizes the civil parish of Estela. In the past the Atlantic forest predominated, with trees from medium to great size, such as oaks, ash trees, hazels, strawberry trees, holm oak, and alders^[3].

The rocks throughout the entire coastline are the true fisheries of clams, fish and seaweed. These rocks and the dunes are ecosystems that possess an important ecological wealth, but are threatened by holiday-makers, dune-based sports and coastal constructions.

Póvoa de Varzim and other cities of the Greater Porto area have a strategical environment plan for Greater Porto - the Futuro Sustentável ("Sustainable Future") - which plans to understand the problems, and to create solutions and new environmental projects for Greater Porto that meet the desires of its citizens.

Beyond the urban areas, the City Park (800,000 m²) will be extended from the A28 motorway and Pedreira Lagoon will have densely forested areas, open spaces, hills, a new lake and sports area (with exception of the sports area, the project is still a proposal). The Anjo’s Urban Green, of environmental importance to the city - given that it is a native forest area with pedunculate oaks, will be complemented by a rural park in the near future.

[edit] Parishes

Póvoa de Varzim is divided into twelve civil parishes. These are grouped in two areas: urban (city) and rural. Between 1308 and 1836, the municipality was made up of a single parish territory of which, over time, approached the medieval borders^[4]. In the 18th century, the Aver-o-Mar area (of the parish of Amorim) was annexed, by royal order, to a place in the north of Póvoa de Varzim, as it had to an increasing local population made up of fishing-farmers.

With the administrative reform of the territory in 1836 Póvoa started to definitively control the territories: the council of Rates was annexed, the lands of Argivai recouped, and Balasar, Estela, Laundos, Navais, Terroso, Outeiro Maior, Parada, Rio Mau, and Santagões were acquired. In 1853, it exchanged the last four with the neighbouring Vila do Conde which got Amorim and Beiriz. The parishes of Aver-o-Mar and Aguçadoura were created in the beginning of 20th century through the dismemberment of Amorim and Navais, respectively.^[1]

[edit] Cityscape

Main article: Póvoa de Varzim neighbourhoods

[edit] Rural area

São Pedro de Rates in 1669 by Pier Maria Baldi, drawn during the pilgrimage of Prince Cosimo de Medici (future Cosimo III de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany) to Santiago de Compostela.

The rural area of Póvoa de Varzim is the group of civil parishes known as Aguçadoura, Amorim, Balasar, Beiriz, Estela, Laundos, Navais, Rates, and Terroso. In these rural parishes, beyond the main rural communities, there are smaller villages, namely: Além, Fontaínhas, Gandra, Gestrins, Gresufes, Sejães, and Teso.

The parishes of Beiriz and Amorim are areas of transition between the urban and rural environment given that these are close to the city. Beiriz is recognized by its Beiriz carpets and Amorim is popular in the city for its bread, characteristically eaten at high temperatures just after being made – the Broa de Amorim.

In the extensive sandy beaches of the north of the municipality, there are the parishes of the Aguçadoura, Estela, and Navais. The first two have common aspects, such as beach based agriculture: the masseiras fields.

Aguçadoura has productive land, and is a supplier of horticultural goods. Estela is amongst the most dynamic areas, at a tourist level, in the municipality, in particular the area known as Rio Alto.

Widely known in Navais is the Fountain of the Enchanted Moorish Girl (or Fountain of Crasto) situated on the east of the EN13 road, whose water was used, long ago, to celebrate masses. The people attribute legends and magical virtues to it, believing gold oxens or witches combing their hair appear there during the night.

The village of Terroso on Cividade hill.

Rates is a historic small town that developed around the monastery established by Henry of Burgundy in 1100 on the site of an older temple and gained importance due to the legend of Saint Peter of Rates, first bishop of Braga, becoming in a central place in the Portuguese Way of Saint James. In the 16th century, the monastery was dissolved and a Comenda of the Order of Christ was created, its first Comendador was the Noble Knight Tomé de Sousa, who John III of Portugal made Governor of Brazil.

In the parishes of Laundos and Terroso there are the peaks of Póvoa - São Félix and Cividade. During the Middle Ages, Saint Félix (the hermit) would have lived and meditated on the first; on the second there is one of the main cities of the Castro culture, Cividade de Terroso.

The parish of Balasar gained religious importance in the 20th century due to the miracles of Alexandrina (died 1955) who gained fame as a saint, beatified by Pope John Paul II.

[edit] References