Geography of Portugal

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Geography of Portugal
Continent	Europe
Region	Southern Europe Iberian Peninsula
Coordinates	38°43'N 8°5'W
Area	Ranked 110th 92,391 km² miles² 99.52% land 0.48% water
Coastline	1793 km km ( miles)
Borders	Total land borders: Spain (1214 km) None
Highest point	Mount Pico 2351 m m ( ft)
Lowest point	Atlantic Ocean 0 m (0 ft) (sea level)
Longest river	Tagus (275 km in Portugal proper), 47 km as border with Spain)
Largest lake	[

Hot, dry conditions sparked dozens of devastating wildfires in southern and central Portugal and central Spain in the summer of 2003. By the time this image was taken on January 19, 2004, the scars had begun to fade in areas, though the scars in Central Portugal and across the border in Spain are still dark red in the false-color image.

Portugal is a coastal nation in southwestern Europe. Its mainland is located on the Iberian Peninsula and borders only one nation — Spain, to the east and north — with a total of 1,214km of borders. Despite this total of km for the border with Spain, Portugal does not recognise the border from the delta of the River Caia to the delta of the River Cuncos since 1801's occupation of the Olivença territory by the Spanish Kingdom. This territory, though under Spanish occupation remains part of Portugal and no border is henceforth recognised in this area. It is bordered on the west with a 1,793km coastline along the North Atlantic Ocean. Portugal also controls the Atlantic islands of Azores and Madeira Islands, which are strategic locations along western sea approaches to the Strait of Gibraltar between the Atlantic and Mediterranean Sea. In total, the country has an area of 92,391 km² of which 91,951 km² is land and 440 km² water.

Geographic coordinates: 38°43′N, 8°5′W

Maritime claims:
continental shelf: 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation
exclusive economic zone: 200 nautical miles (370 km)
territorial sea: 12 nautical miles (22 km)

Natural hazards: Azores subject to severe earthquakes, as also is the continental coast. Wild fires and extreme weather are also common.

[edit] The continent

Continental Portugal is split in two by its main river, the Tagus (Tejo). To the north the landscape is mountainous in the interior areas with plateaus, cut by four breakings lines that allow the development of more fertile agricultural areas.

The south down as far as the Algarve features mostly rolling plains with a climate somewhat warmer and drier than the cooler and rainier north. Other major rivers include the Douro, the Minho and the Guadiana, similar to the Tagus in that all originate in Spain. Another important river, the Mondego, originates in the Serra da Estrela (the highest mountains in mainland Portugal - 1,993 m).

[edit] The Islands

The islands of the Azores and Madeira are located in the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, some of the islands had recent volcanic activity. Originally two islands, São Miguel Island was joined by a volcanic eruption in 1563. The last volcano to erupt was the Vulcão dos Capelinhos (Capelinhos Volcano) in 1957, in western part of Faial Island, increasing the size of that island. Dom João de Castro Bank is a large submarine volcano that lies midway between the islands of Terceira and São Miguel and rises 14 m bellow the sea surface. It last erupted in 1720 and formed an island of 1.5 km in length and 250 metres in altitude, it remained above the water for several years. Scientists predict a new island can be formed in a not so distant future. Portugal's highest point is Mount Pico, an ancient volcano, with 2,351 metres.

[edit] The Coast

The Portuguese coast is extensive, it has 943 km in continental Portugal, 667 km in the Azores, 250 km in Madeira and in the Savage Islands. The Portuguese coast developed fine beaches, the Algarve ones are worldwide famous. In Porto Santo Island, a dune formation is appealing to many tourists. An important feature in its coast is the Ria de Aveiro (near Aveiro, a town called "The Portuguese Venice"), a delta with 45 km in length and a maximum of 11 km width, rich in fish and sea birds. There are four main channels, between them several islands and islets, and it is where Vouga, Antuã, Boco, and Fontão rivers meet the ocean. Since the 16th century, the formation of a sort of narrow headlands formed a lagoon, seen has one of the most remarkable hydrographic features of the Portuguese coast. Due to this characteristics, the region is an ancient producer of a famous salt, and during the Roman Empire it exported its salt to Rome, seen as a precious product. Another interesting feature in portuguese coast is Ria Formosa, with some sandy islands and a very good climate all the year- summers are not very hot and winters use to be mild.

[edit] Lakes

There are several lakes in Portugal, in Serra da Estrela the Lake Comprida (Lagoa Comprida) and the Lake Escura (Lagoa Escura) were formed from ancient glaciers. Some lagoons have the ocean or a river has origin; for instance, the Albufeira and Óbidos lagoons. While others are originated between dunes like the lagoons of Braças and Vela.

[edit] Climate

Portugal's climate is classified as Atlantic-Mediterranean, a maritime climate, strongly influenced by the Atlantic Ocean, cool and rainy in north, hot and dry in south (Annual precipitation: Faro- 524 mm; Lisbon- 750 mm; Coimbra- 1000 mm; Porto- 1200 mm; Viana do Castelo- 1400 mm).

In mainland Portugal, average temperatures are 13ºC in the North and 18ºC in the South. Madeira and Azores, due to their location in the Atlantic, are rainy and wet, and have a narrower range of temperatures.

Portugal is one of the warmest European countries. Spring and Summer months are usually sunny and the temperatures very high during July and August, with highs between 28°C and 35°C, reaching sometimes highs of 40°C in the southern interior. Autumn and Winter are typically rainy and windy, yet sunny days are not rare either, the temperatures rarely fall below 2°C in the coastal area, usually staying at an average of 8/11°C. Snow is common in the mountainous areas of the north.

As of 2005, the country is facing serious problems due to lack of rain in the winter. A winter with very blue skies with some days of unusual low temperatures and other days with unusual high temperatures.

[edit] Environment

Main article: Conservation areas of Portugal

Environment - current issues: soil erosion; air pollution caused by industrial and vehicle emissions; water pollution, especially in coastal areas

Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Environmental Modification, Nuclear Test Ban

Terrain: mountainous and hilly north of the Tagus River, rolling plains in south

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Ponta do Pico (Pico or Pico Alto) on Ilha do Pico in the Azores 2,351 m

Natural resources: fish, forests (cork), tungsten, iron ore, uranium ore, marble, arable land, hydroelectric power

Land use:
arable land: 26%
permanent crops: 9%
permanent pastures: 9%
forests and woodland: 36%
other: 20% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: 6,300 km² (1993 est.)

[edit] Tourism

Where to go: The Algarve is the main tourist destination promising sunny days, beaches, long nights and stunning natural beauty. Other popular destinations include Lisboa and Porto, with historical towns such as Constância and Tomar being well worth visiting.

[edit] See also

Cabo da Roca

[edit] Sources and further reading

• Visible Earth. NASA-Goddard Space Flight Center. [1]. A collection of satellite images of Portugal and the surrounding region.
• "Portugal." CIA World Factbook. Central Intelligence Agency. [2].
• Symington, Martin. Portugal (Eyewitness Travel Guide series). Dorling Kindersley Publishing: 2003. ISBN 0-7894-9423-X.

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