Portugal

How is the land laid out?

Portugal consists of most of the west side of the Iberian Peninsula, plus two sets of islands in the Atlantic Ocean: the Açores,¹ west of mainland Portugal, and the Madeira, west of al-Magreb.²

The Iberian Peninsula of Europe consists of a plateau (the Meseta) with generally west-east ranges and tectonic river valleys.

In northwest Portugal are the Galician ranges, which reach above 1,500 meters. South of them is the lower Douro river valley. Yet further south is the westernmost extension of the peninsula's Central System: the Estrela Mountains, which separate the lower Douro from the Tejo,³ and reach nearly 2,000 meters. Tejo valley is separated from the lower Guadiana's by highlands that reach above 1,000 meters. The lower Guadiana defies the Iberian east-west physiographic rule by flowing south. Besides the rivers already mentioned, there is the lower Minho along the northwest border. The notable lakes are mostly reservoirs.

Far to the west of mainland Portugal are the Açores, lying in three groups. The volcanic islands reach above 2,000 meters.

The Madeira Islands, in the Atlantic Ocean, consist of the populous and mountainous island with the same name and some islets.

Who lives there?

Almost everyone speaks Portuguese and nearly as many are Roman Catholic Christians.

For a list of cities see Portuguese cities.

Within the Area

Lisboa Metropolitan Area, Alentejo Central, Alentejo Litoral, Algarve, Alto Alentejo, Baixo Alentejo, Porto Metropolitan Area, Alto Minho, Alto Tâmego, Ave, Beira Baixa, Beirase and Serra da Estrela, Cávado, Douro, Aveiro Region, Coimbra Region, Tâmega and Sousa, Lezíria do Tejo, Médio Tejo, West (Oeste), Leiria Region, and Açores
Madeira

Footnotes

1. Azores in English.
2. Morocco in English; Maroc in French.
3. Tagus in English.