Welcome to Portugal

Portugal is one of the oldest nations in Europe having established its continental frontier as it is set today on 1297. Portugal has been an independent kingdom since 1143 When D. Afonso Henriques rebelled against his mother to wrestle the Condado Portucalense away from the Kingdom of Leon.

Portugal is located on the west side of the Iberian Peninsula, ideally positioned between Spain and the Atlantic ocean. Its geographic location along the Atlantic coastline is the reason why Portugal quickly became an ocean-bound country setting the stage for centuries of sea adventure and discoveries.

1415 was the year that set the tone for centuries to come. Under the guidance of Prince Henry "The Navigator", the Portuguese set sail on epic voyages that would make them the first to discover the ocean routes to India, Brazil, China and Japan, while at the same time founding settlements on both African coasts.

Traces of this worldwide historic presence may be seen as trademarks of the Portuguese culture. The Portuguese language became one of the most widely spoken in the world, and the Portuguese people were privileged for being exposed to so many different civilizations. The vast monumental, artistic and archaeological heritage witnesses not only the 850 years of history of encounters with distant cultures, but also the presence in the territory of more ancient peoples (Celts, Suevians, Visigoths, Romans and Arabs).

Geography
Coordinates:
39 30 N, 8 00 W
Location:
South-Western of Spain and Europe, Iberia Peninsula. Borders the Atlantic ocean on western and southern coast. North of Morocco, Norh Africa.
Area:
Total Area:  89,456 km2
Land Area including Azores and Madeira: 88,951 km2
Water territory: 400 km2
Borders:
Borders Spain: 1,100 km
Coastline:
1,621 km
Maritime claims:
Sea: 12 nautical miles
Contiguous zone: 24 nautical miles
Exclusive Economic zone: 200 nautical miles
Continental shelf: 200 meters depth
Climate:
Maritime temperate; cool and rainy in North, warmer and drier in South
Average season temperatures:
Temperatures
Terrain:
Mountainous North of Tagus (Tejo) river, rolling plains mid south, flats south
Elevation:
Lowest point: Atlantic Ocean; 0 meters
Highest point: Pico Alto on Pico Island, Azores; 2,351 meters
Natural resources:
Fish, cork, iron ore, copper, zinc, tin, tungsten, silver, gold, uranium, marble, clay, gypsum ,salt, arable land, hydropower
Land use:
Arable land: 20.5 %
Permanent crops: 6.5%
Irrigated land: 5,990 square meters