The history of Portugal: Essential Background for Expats

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• Background

• Location

• Area

• Climate

• Terrain

• Natural resources

• Land use

• Natural hazards

• Environment, current issues

• Geography, note

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Background

Following its heyday as a global maritime power during the 15th and 16th centuries, Portugal lost much of its wealth and status with the destruction of Lisbon in a 1755 earthquake, occupation during the Napoleonic Wars, and the independence of its wealthiest colony of Brazil in 1822. A 1910 revolution deposed the monarchy; for most of the next six decades, repressive governments ran the country. In 1974, a left-wing military coup installed broad democratic reforms. The following year, Portugal granted independence to all of its African colonies. Portugal is also a founding member of NATO and entered the EC (now the EU) in 1986.

Location

Southwestern Europe, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Spain

Geographic coordinates:39 30 N, 8 00 W

Area

total: 92,090 sq kmcountry comparison to the world: 110land: 91,470 sq kmwater: 620 sq kmnote: includes Azores and Madeira IslandsArea, comparative:slightly smaller than IndianaLand boundaries:total: 1,214 kmborder countries: Spain 1,214 kmCoastline:1,793 kmMaritime claims:territorial sea: 12 nmcontiguous zone: 24 nmexclusive economic zone: 200 nmcontinental shelf: 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation

Climate

Current Weathermaritime temperate; cool and rainy in north, warmer and drier in south

Terrain

mountainous north of the Tagus River, rolling plains in southElevation extremes:lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 mhighest point: Ponta do Pico (Pico or Pico Alto) on Ilha do Pico in the Azores 2,351 m

Natural resources

fish, forests (cork), iron ore, copper, zinc, tin, tungsten, silver, gold, uranium, marble, clay, gypsum, salt, arable land, hydropower

Land use

arable land: 17.29%permanent crops: 7.84%other: 74.87% (2005)Irrigated land:6,500 sq km (2003)Total renewable water resources:73.6 cu km (2005)Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):total: 11.09 cu km/yr (10%/12%/78%)per capita: 1,056 cu m/yr (1998) Add your business to our directory.

Natural hazards

Azores subject to severe earthquakesvolcanism: Portugal experiences limited volcanic activity in the Azores Islands; Fayal or Faial (elev. 1,043 m, 3,422 ft) last erupted in 1958; most volcanoes have not erupted in centuries; historically active volcanoes include Agua de Pau, Furnas, Pico, Picos Volcanic System, San Jorge, Sete Cidades, and Terceira

Environment, current issues

soil erosion; air pollution caused by industrial and vehicle emissions; water pollution, especially in coastal areasEnvironment, international agreements:party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, 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, Whalingsigned, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Environmental Modification

Geography, note

Azores and Madeira Islands occupy strategic locations along western sea approaches to Strait of Gibraltar.