Portugal Geography

by Puneet Gambhir

The Republic of Portugal occupies one fifth (mostly the southwestern regions) of the Iberian Peninsula, which it shares with Spain.  Cape Sao Vicente is the farthest point southwest of continental Europe and Cape of Roca is the westernmost point.  The country’s borders assemble in the shape of a rugged rectangle and house some 88,551 square kilometers.  To the north and east of the country lies Spain and to the south and west lies the Atlantic Ocean. 

The land generally slopes downward from north to south and again from east to west.  Exceptions to this pattern include the mountain ranges of Serra de Monchique (located in the Algarve region), and Serra de Sintra (located near Lisbon).  71% of Portugal lies below 400 meters.  South of the city of Oporto and west of the city of Coimbra is a costal plain with a vast plateau region that drops to the coastline, south of the Tagus River.  The coastline tends to be varied with sandy beaches and rocky coves.  The three major rivers are the Douro, the Tagus, and the Sado, which each have a large outlet port at Oporto, Lisbon, and Setúbal, respectively.  There are many smaller rivers and countless streams, especially in the region of Minho, most of which originate in Spain. 

Portugal also has land claims to the islands of Madeira, the islands of Azares, the Savage Islands, and the African territories of Angola, Mozambique, Cape Verde, Portuguese Guinea, São Tomé and Principe, and the Asian lands in China and in Southeast Asia. The combined area of Portugal and its territories is 2,174,097 square kilometers.

In the northwestern regions of Portugal, particularly in Minho Province, the climate is wet with a moderate winter and a short summer.  In the northeastern regions, the climate is dry with intense summers and severe, cold winters.  Long transitional seasons in this area make it ideal for tourist attractions.  The southern regions have a clear and clam Mediterranean climate, with long, dray summers and cloudless winters.

There are predominately three main types of trees found in the country:  cork oak, eucalyptus, and carob.  The cork oak contributes to Portugal’s status at the largest cork producer in the world.  Additionally, Portugal is home to hundred of pine forests scattered throughout the country.  There is also a vivid culture of vineyards in the Viseu regions and in Minho.  The vines, growing over houses, along fences, up and down trees and telephone poles, add a brilliant green luminescence to the land. 

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