In Portugal, it is easy to feel at the end of the world, because you are on the westernmost cape of Europe. Further only the ocean and somewhere beyond it, unknown lands. The name "Portugal" originated from the name of the Roman settlement of Portus Calais, which was once located at the mouth of the Douro River.
The country has a rich history. Portugal became an independent state in the XII century. In the distant past, brave sailors set off on journeys from these shores, during which New World... In those days, little Portugal owned almost half of the world. And ahead of her were the disappointments associated with the collapse of the colonial system and the long-term totalitarian regime. Despite the sad past, this country has managed to use its advantages and become today one of the most sophisticated European resorts.
Portugal has only two neighbors - Spain and the Atlantic Ocean. In addition to 90,000 m2 on the Iberian Peninsula, it owns the Azores and the Madeira archipelago lying in the Atlantic. The capital of the country is Lisbon, other large cities are Porto, Setubal, Coimbra.
The administrative division of Portugal is 22 districts (18 of them are located on the mainland, three more in the Azores and one in Madeira).
Capital |
Lisbon |
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Population |
10 707 924 people |
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Population density |
114 people / km 2 |
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Portuguese |
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Religion |
Catholicism |
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Form of government |
parliamentary republic |
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Timezone |
UTC + 0, in summer UTC + 1 |
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International dialing code |
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Domain zone on the Internet |
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Electricity |
Climate and weather
Portugal has a warm sunny climate with mild winters. But note that in winter in the north, it is still damp and cold, with snowfalls in the mountains.
And in summer there is much more rainfall than in the rest of the territory. In general, there is little rain, an average of 500-700 mm of precipitation per year.
The average annual air temperature north of the Douro River is +10 ° C, in the region between the Douro and Tagus rivers - +16 ° C, and in the Guadiana Valley - +18 ° C. In January average temperature in the north-east of the country it is +7 ° С, and in the south - +16 ° С. In August, the average temperature is almost the same throughout the country - about + 25 ... + 27 ° С.
Nature
Along the shore Atlantic Ocean pass the southern and western borders of Portugal. The landscape is represented by a vast coastal valley. If you go towards the border with Spain, you can see how the lowlands give way to the foothills and mountains, which occupy most of the country. This is mainly the outskirts of the plateau Meseta(height 1000-1200 m). In the east, the Portuguese lowland is framed by a plateau with individual mountain ranges(height 600-1000 m). The highest point of the country is a mountain Estrela(1993 m).
Major rivers of Portugal - Tagus, Dora and Guadiana- originate in Spain, flow through the territory of Portugal and then flow into the Atlantic Ocean.
The vegetation of the country is diverse. In the south you can find olive trees and cork oaks, in the north you can walk through dense mixed forests, and in the central regions you can relax in eucalyptus groves. In the mountains, coniferous-deciduous forests, low-growing shrubs and alpine meadows alternate.
sights
People travel to Portugal to see some of the most beautiful cathedrals in the world and perfectly preserved impregnable fortresses Moors and Crusaders. Visit ancient cities and travel back in time while admiring the architectural monuments.
Lisbon- a city of steep climbs, bridges, single-car trams, beautiful squares and famous museums.
Braga- the main religious center of the country. Buried in the local cathedral is Henry of Burgundy, father of the first king of Portugal. Another cathedral is located outside the city, but you should definitely go there. The line of pilgrims does not dry up to the Bon Jesus de Monti temple. In addition, the city has preserved the legacy of the Romans: the ruins of temples, an aqueduct and an amphitheater.
Porto- one of the most ancient cities in the country. He was made famous, Prince Enrique, who was born here, who launched the era of the Great geographical discoveries; the altar of the church of São Francisco, which took about 350 kg of gold; and, of course, port!
V Évora is the Roman temple of Diana. It is impossible to pass by the Franciscan church with a chapel, the interior of which is lined with human bones.
Nutrition
Portuguese cuisine is often referred to as "voluptuous". Why? One of its characteristic differences is the abundance of hot and spicy condiments, which appeared here earlier than in the rest of Europe. What else is typical for Portuguese cuisine?
- First, the four main ingredients are rice, cabbage, cod and potatoes.
- Secondly, the Portuguese have a special love for soups.
- Thirdly, of course, there is an extensive assortment of fish and seafood dishes.
- Fourth, the variety of pork recipes. And finally, this is an addiction to very sweet desserts.
At the same time, each region of the country carefully preserves its traditions.
Most often offered as a snack seafood- boiled, in a light sauce or in the form of a salad. Soups are eaten both morning and evening. For Portuguese cuisine, thick mashed soups are the most typical. Try " asordu"Is a chowder with bread flavored with coriander and olive oil, which is eaten, for example, with fish.
A variety of seafood is boiled or grilled and served with or without garnish, or as a mixture - mostly with rice.
When choosing a pork dish, don't miss “ carne de spanking a alentyzhana". Alentejo pork is slices of meat in wine vinegar with red pepper, served with potatoes. Real jam!
And, of course, you cannot pass by the national product itself - salted dried cod, in Portuguese “ bakalyau". There are more than 300 recipes for its preparation.
Portugal is famous for its fine wines and exquisite ports. “Any wine would like to be port, if it could” - that's what the English say. Be sure to visit the Lisbon Port Museum for even more love for this drink.
Residence
The hotel chain in Portugal is well developed and includes hotels, apartments, motels, guesthouses, hostels. There are hotels in historical buildings - castles, palaces, monasteries. Prices differ depending on the season: January-March - low season; April, May and September are medium; July, August - high.
The average housing price is 60 € for a double room.
It is quite common in Portugal to rent out a room, apartment or house to tourists. As a rule, such accommodation is very comfortable. This way you can find a cheap room with a private bathroom.
Camping is, as usual, the cheapest option. True, many of them are closed off-season.
Entertainment and recreation
Favorite sport - football- the locals are ready to discuss for hours. The three most popular clubs in Portugal are FC Porto, Sporting and Benfica.
Another favorite sight of the Portuguese is bullfight... Tourada is different from the Spanish bullfighting. Here, the bull is not killed in the arena, the cavaleira (analogue of the Spanish matodor) should be excellent riders, because the tourada is only equestrian. The task of the cavalier is to stick 3-6 banderilias - small spears of different lengths - into the bull's scruff.
Immerse yourself in Portuguese culture and see a concert fado... What it is? Fado is a solo lyric vocal piece performed to the accompaniment of a Portuguese guitar.
Don't miss your chance to soak up the delicious beaches located on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean. Just 15 kilometers west of Lisbon are luxurious Cascais and Estoril... And yet the most popular resort area in Portugal is Algarve- an area located in the south of the country. Here, high cliffs and sand dunes line wild, almost deserted beaches.
Each town in the province has its own characteristics:
- In Faro, visitors are attracted by the old town, surrounded by Roman walls, as well as one of the largest motorcyclist conventions in Europe, which takes place in mid-July.
- Olhão is famous for its fishing quarter with Moorish-style houses.
- Vilamoura-Krteira is the province's largest yacht harbor.
- Albufeira is known for its sheer number of bars, clubs and restaurants and is considered the most fun place in the Algarve.
- Portimão - city gorgeous beaches and skyscrapers. In early May, it hosts the Formula 1 scooter World Cup, and in early August, don't miss the Sardine Festival.
- Lagush is the starting point for the first overseas expeditions.
Purchases
Small shops, luxury boutiques and huge shopping centers are ubiquitous in Portugal. Shopping here will be very exciting.
Enjoy traditional crafts and bring home a little slice of this beautiful country. Many souvenirs use the motives of "love scarves". Previously, the girl reflected her feelings with embroidery and gave such a scarf to her lover. The ornament is clear to everyone - heart, red carnations, lilies, roses. What is not a gift to your loved one?
A very original purchase - a thing made of cork leather. What they don't make of it - bags, umbrellas, hats and even fountain pens. The most popular souvenir in the country is the Barcelos red clay cockerel. You will be very pleased with the variety of ceramics.
Portugal is also famous for its gold and silver filigree products.
Walking through the malls and shops, do not pass by the colorful and lively markets, where you can buy almost anything. Here you can wander for hours. Visit the Coimbra market (open daily), Barcelos market (on Thursdays) and Carcavelos market in the suburbs of Lisbon.
Shops are open from 8:00 to 19:00, on Saturdays - until 13:00. Shopping centers are open from 10:00 and wait for customers until late at night every day. Dine in Portugal from 12:00 to 14:30.
Transport
There are 66 airports in Portugal. International airports are open in Lisbon, Porto, Faro, the Azores and Madeira. Tap Air Portugal is the national carrier.
Net length railways is 2 800 km, and road - 68 700 km. There are three types of trains: intercidade (IC), interregional (IR) and regional (R). Regional train tickets are half the price of others.
Bus network provides connections between most Portuguese cities. As well as for trains, there is a division into classes: expressos - fast and comfortable, they carry out transportation between major cities; rapidas - fast regional buses; carreiras stop at every intersection.
The main seaports : Aveiro, Funchal (Madeira) Horta (Azores), Lisbon, Porto, Ponta Delgada (Azores), Setubal, Viana do Castel.
It is advisable to use urban public transport only in Porto and Lisbon. These cities have Metro... Be sure to take a trip to tram or funicular in Lisbon, Braga and Nazar. At the stops there are information stands with information about the movement of transport, indicating the route and the exact time of arrival and departure.
Find Taxi very easy, even in the smallest towns. The cars are painted beige.
The speed limits in Portugal are 120 km / h on autobahns, 90 km / h on highways and 60 km / h within city limits. The excess penalty is payable locally. 0.5 ppm is the maximum permissible level of alcohol in the driver's blood. Please note that Portuguese drivers can overtake in the most dangerous places, such as a sharp bend.
Connection
The cheapest way to make a call is through a telephone booth. Cards in denominations of 5 and 10 € are sold at newsagents and in the post office.
Net mobile communications covers the whole country. It is very rare where you can find the absence of a signal. Three main mobile operators: Optimus, TMN, Vodafone... The cost of a SIM card is about 10 €. You can buy it at the official sales centers.
Free Wi-Fi in Portugal can be found with ease. Many hotels provide this service, and also look at airports and shopping centers. There is even a program in Lisbon “ digital gardens»- 21 free access points in gardens and parks.
Safety
In Portugal, as in any other country in the world, it is necessary to monitor the safety of documents and personal belongings. Make a photocopy of your passport just in case.
Leave cars only in guarded parking lots. Do not forget expensive things in the salon that can attract intruders.
It is better to use ATM machines that are located indoors rather than outdoors.
You can drink tap water, but bottled water is sold everywhere.
Smoking is allowed only in designated areas. Smoking is prohibited in public transport, educational institutions, hospitals, museums, indoor entertainment, sports centers, hotels, theaters, shops, closed parking lots. The fine is from 50 to 70 €.
Portugal is suffering from wildfires. The fines for making a fire in a place that is not specially equipped for this are very high.
Portugal is located in an active seismic zone; on average, earthquakes of magnitude 8 or more are recorded every two years.
Business climate
Portugal hosts a large number of international exhibitions in a variety of areas of activity. Large exhibition centers are located in Lisbon (Centro de Congressos de Lisboa, Cordoaria Nacional, Feira Internacional de Lisboa Exhibition Fairground), Porto (Exponor - Oporto International Fair, Centro de Congressos da Alfandega do Porto) and Braga (PEB — Empresa Parque de Exposiç Braga).
The main sectors of the Portuguese economy: woodworking, clothing and footwear production, metalworking, paper and cork production, oil refining and chemical processing, fish processing, tourism, wine and port wine production.
In the south, the main industrial area is Lisbon-Setubal, and in the north - Porto Braga Aveiro.
The following types of taxes are levied in Portugal: Imposto MunicipalsobreTransmissões - IMT (property transfer tax - up to 6%), Municipal sobre os Imóveis - IMI (property tax - for rural areas - 0.8%, within the city - from 0.2 % up to 0.5%, Imposto de selo (stamp tax - a fixed amount or a certain percentage, depending on the importance of the document), Imposto Sobre o Valor Acrescentado (VAT - 21%, 12%, 5%) and others.
The property
Investing in real estate is profitable - it will always pay for itself. So why not do it in Portugal? The most attractive places to buy are the cities of Lisbon (average price for 1m 2 - 2100 €) and the adjacent Riviera (average price for 1m 2 - 1500-3000 €), Cascais, Porto (average price for 1m 2 - 800-1000 €) and the Algarve region (average price for 1m 2 - 1800-3500 €).
After choosing a suitable object for purchase, it must be registered in the ownership. The process has two parts. The first is the signing of a contract. The buyer must pay 10 to 25% of the total value of the property. The seller, in turn, is obliged to withdraw the object from the auction. The notary checks the property - this process can take from 3 to 6 months. During this time, you can refuse to purchase, but the paid amount is not refundable. If the seller refuses, then he will have to reimburse the original amount in double the amount.
The second part is the direct signing of the final agreement with the payment of the remaining amount. Before this, the buyer must pay property transfer tax - the rate depends on the value of the property.
- Many people in Portugal speak Spanish, English, French or German, but they will be very pleased if you pronounce the basic formulas of courtesy in their native language. Learn a few phrases in Portuguese: "Ola" - hello, "Ate Logu" - goodbye, "Brigade (husband)", "Brigade (women)" - thank you, "pur favor" - please, "sim" - yes, "Not" - no.
- In restaurants, bread, snacks and water are usually served to the table, but more often than not they are not free. They will certainly be included in your bill.
- Cigarettes in Portugal are sold in many places in vending machines that are locked; in order to make a purchase, you need to ask a store employee or a cafe waiter to unlock them.
- Leave your high heels at home - most of the sidewalks here are paved with cobblestones.
- You can find a toilet by clear pictures, or by signs with the letters H (Homem) - this is a men's toilet, S (Senhora) - a women's toilet.
Visa information
Portugal is a member of the Schengen Agreement. The visa must be obtained at the embassy of that country.
Useful data for tourists about Portugal, cities and resorts of the country. As well as information about the population, currency of Portugal, cuisine, peculiarities of visa and customs restrictions in Portugal.
Geography of Portugal
The Portuguese Republic is the westernmost state in Europe. Located in the southwestern part of the Iberian Peninsula. It shares borders with Spain and is washed by the Atlantic Ocean.
The northern part of the country is occupied by the low mountains Serra da Estrela (height up to 1991 m.), The southern and central parts are the Portuguese lowlands, hills and low mountains.
State
State structure
A parliamentary republic with a presidential form of government. The head of government is the prime minister. Parliament is a unicameral Assembly (Council) of the Republic.
Language
State language: Portuguese
Spanish and English are spoken.
Religion
Catholics (97%) and Protestants (1%).
Currency
International name: EUR
Euro is equal to 100 cents. In circulation there are banknotes in denominations of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500 euros, as well as coins in denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 cents.
It is most convenient to exchange money at the Lisbon airport (favorable rate, lower commission), in banks and hotels, the rate is lower, and the collection is higher (in banks, the commission is 0.5%). Currency rates in different banks can vary significantly from each other. Some commercial banks do not charge commissions on transactions under € 30. In some private shops and markets, you can pay in US dollars.
Traveller's checks are accepted everywhere and their rate is more favorable than for cash, but the commission is quite high (up to 13%), with the exception of American Express checks, which can be exchanged without commission at Amex. Euro checks with a check guarantee card are exchanged in many banks. Credit cards MasterCard, American Express and Visa are accepted everywhere. All tourist centers have ATMs ("multibancos").
History of Portugal
Until the Middle Ages, the history of Portugal is inseparable from the history of Spain. In the II century BC. the territory of modern Portugal became part of the Roman province of Lusitania.
In the 5th century A.D. control of the region passed to the Visigoths, and in the 8th century to the Moors. In 997, the territory between the Douro and Minho rivers (northern Portugal) was conquered from the Moors by King Leon Bermudo II. In 1064, the king of Castilla and Leona Ferdinand 1 seized the territory up to modern Coimbra. The territories conquered from the Moors were divided into several feudal fiefs. In 1093, in gratitude for his help in the war with the Moors, King Alfonso 1 granted Henry of Burgundy the title of Count of Portugal.
After the death of Alfonso, Henry refused to recognize the authority of the Kingdom of Castile and began a war. In 1143, Henry's son Alfonso Henriquez was proclaimed by the Portuguese knights King of Portugal Alfonso 1. In 1179, the Pope recognized the independence of Portugal.
Over the next two centuries, the Portuguese kings fought wars with the Moors, which eventually ended in the expulsion of the latter from the country. At the beginning of the 15th century, the first large voyages of Portuguese sailors began. In 1418 and 1427, Portuguese sailors discovered Madeira and the Azores and annexed them to Portugal.
In the 17th century, King João IV expelled the Dutch from Brazil and established complete Portuguese domination in the region. In the early 19th century, fleeing Napoleon's army, the royal family fled to Brazil and from 1807 to 1820 ruled Portugal from Brazil.
At the beginning of the 20th century, the republican movement gained strength in Portugal and in 1910, after the revolution, Portugal was proclaimed a republic. One of the darkest pages in the history of Portugal is the reign of the dictator Salazar, who came to power in 1932 and created the authoritarian regime of the so-called Estado Novo (new government).
In April 1974, a group of young officers staged a coup d'etat, also called the April Revolution. As a result, democratic reforms began in the country. Portugal is a member of the UN, GATT, IMF, WHO, NATO, EU, Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.
Until the Middle Ages, the history of Portugal is inseparable from the history of Spain. In the II century BC. the territory of modern Portugal became part of the Roman province of Lusitania ....
Popular attractions
Portugal Tourism
Where to stay
Today Portugal provides many accommodation options. Here you can find both fashionable hotels and inexpensive campsites, rural houses for rent. Insofar as hotel business strictly controlled by the state, the owners try to provide services at the highest level. After all, the slightest discrepancy with the hotel's "star rating" threatens to deprive such a profitable business. Hotels in Portugal are graded from five stars and below.
Hotels in Portugal usually offer half board meals. The cost of living depends on the location of the hotel, but in most of the resort areas a single price policy... Those who prefer the comfort and convenience available only in hotels choose aparthotels from 2 to 5 stars.
For all lovers of home comfort and measured luxurious life, accommodation is offered in expensive elite estates, which are located in the picturesque countryside. Moreover, the level of service is offered at a really high level, because such estates correspond to the 5-star category.
Among those who prefer an economical vacation, boarding houses are also very popular - a kind of analogue to the European Bed & Breakfast in the Portuguese manner. Pensions also have their own categories, namely three, and the highest is intended, as a rule, for foreign tourists.
Inns are popular accommodation in Portugal. The peculiarity of such courtyards is their location in old buildings, the sincere family welcome provided by the owners, as well as a high level of comfort.
No less picturesque are the peasant farms, which involve full immersion in the life typical of Portuguese villagers. In addition to being located in comfortable posad or village houses, you will be offered horse riding, excursions to vineyards, and even participation in agricultural work.
Most campsites are located in resort areas They are rated from 1 to 4 stars. It can be either a public camping for everyone, or closed private campings, where only members of the club are allowed to stay.
Motels in Portugal are not the safest and most comfortable to stay in. They are usually located near busy highways and are intended for a short rest while traveling.
Popular hotels
Tours and attractions in Portugal
Portugal is one of ancient states Europe. Despite its relatively modest size, it is a very interesting and beautiful country. Its fascinating centuries-old history and rich cultural heritage attracts a huge number of tourists every year. Portugal is famous for its magnificent natural landscapes, excellent resorts, a mild climate and a relaxed atmosphere of cordiality and hospitality of local residents.
The heart of Portugal and its "pearl" is undoubtedly its capital Lisbon, one of the most beautiful cities in the world. It is located in an amazingly picturesque place at the mouth of the Tagus River on the Atlantic coast. The historical center of the city spread over seven hills impresses with the beauty of magnificent architectural masterpieces of different eras, labyrinths of cobbled streets, many steep stairs and funiculars, as well as an abundance of cozy park areas. Among the most interesting sights of Lisbon, it is worth highlighting the Castle of Saint George, Lisbon Cathedral, the Carmelite Monastery, the National Pantheon of Portugal (Church of Saint Engracia), the palaces of Ajuda and São Bento (both in the style of classicism), the Baroque palaces of Belém and Queluz, Basilica da Estrela , the Jeronimos Monastery and the National Archaeological Museum... Equally interesting are the churches of St. Roch and St. Vicente di Fora, the Lisbon City Museum, the National Museum of Ancient Art, the Puppet Museum, the Oriental Museum, the Music Museum, the Electricity Museum and the Aguas Librish Aqueduct. It will be a great pleasure to visit the National Theater of São Carlos and the National Theater of Queen Mary II, as well as a walk along the famous Avenida da Liberdade (Liberty Avenue) and Figueira Square. If you are on vacation with children, be sure to visit the magnificent Lisbon Zoo, Botanical Garden, Oceanarium and Planetarium of Galust Gulbekyan.
The outskirts of the capital are known for many medieval fortresses and castles, the picturesque Arrábida mountain range and the famous Lisbon Riviera, famous for its resorts and reserves. About 30 km from Lisbon is the city of Sintra with many royal palaces and magnificent parks. The main attraction of the city is the famous palace complex Pena Palace. The National Palace of Sintra, the Regaleira Palace, the ruins of the medieval Castle of the Moors and the Sintra-Cascais National Park are also of great interest.
Very popular with tourists and ancient city Porto ( former capital Portugal). Its historic center, located on the right bank of the Douro River, is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The main attractions of Porto are the Clérigos Tower, Cathedral, The Episcopal Palace with the Machado de Castro Museum, the Church of Saint Francisco, the Ponte de Don Luis two-level bridge, the São Bento train station and the oldest Botanical Garden in the country. A walk along Avenida dos Aliados, as well as a visit to the Ribeira quarter and the city market will bring you a lot of impressions. The city is famous for its magnificent wine cellars, and in the suburb of Port Vila Nova de Gaia there is a unique Museum of Port Wine.
Famous for its sights and the Portuguese city-museum Evora, where historical monuments await tourists literally at every step, and the unusually beautiful city of Aveiro. Also of great interest for tourists are cities such as Guimaraes, Braga, Obidos, Coimbra and worldwide. famous center pilgrimage Fatima. However, you will find many interesting places in all corners of this amazing country.
The most popular resorts in Portugal (besides Lisbon Riviera) are the Algarve, the Madeira archipelago and the Azores. These places are famous not only for their beautiful beaches and excellent tourist infrastructure, but also for their stunning beauty of natural landscapes and protected areas.
Portuguese cuisine
The main difference between Portuguese cuisine is the use of fish and fish products.
Fish cooking is the main focus of Portuguese cuisine. Favorite dishes of the Portuguese are the already mentioned sardines, tuna (although it is too expensive for the layman), salted cod, crab croquettes and other seafood. Portuguese cuisine is rich in sauces.
In Portugal, fish dishes are more popular than meat, the latter is rarely used here. But if the Portuguese hostess takes up the preparation of meat, then it turns out to be unusually tasty. This happens mainly due to the use of a large amount of herbs, garlic, onions and other spices. The national dish is salted cod, which is prepared in more than 150 ways. Most often, cod is eaten with potatoes, hard-boiled eggs and turnip sprouts, seasoned with olive oil and vinegar.
Rice is widely used, and not only as a side dish for main courses, but also as a dessert - with milk and eggs, with sugar, vanilla, cinnamon or lemon peel.
The Portuguese love sweet wine, and among the drinks they prefer port, as well as the white "Vimios" and "Verdos", which are exported. The Portuguese and various bowls cook excellently. The country has good beer, but the most common drink is a mixture of syrup, grated lemon peel and fresh water.
Tips
If you are satisfied with the service, leave about a 10% tip to the waiter. It is also customary for taxi drivers to leave 10% "for tea".
Visa
Opening hours of institutions
Banks are open on weekdays from 8.30 am to 3 pm, some bank branches in Lisbon and tourist areas close at 6 pm, and in large shopping centers of the Algarve they are open daily from 9 am to 9 pm. ATMs of the national system "MULTIBANCO" operate around the clock.
Shops are open on weekdays - from 9 am to 1 pm and from 3 pm to 7 pm On Saturdays, most shops close at 1 pm.
Purchases
VAT (IVA) is 8% on services and about 10% on goods. The prices must necessarily indicate whether VAT is included in the price of goods or services ("IVA incluido") or not ("mas 8% IVA"). Many stores offer tax refunds on purchases of goods for a certain amount (each store has its own, but usually at least 50 euros). You must receive a tax refund check, present your passport, fill out a special form, and the refund must be sent by bank transfer. You can also get a tax refund at customs when leaving the country at Lisbon airport (hall international departures), in Lisbon seaport, at the airports of Porto (before passing through passport control) and Funchal.
Souvenirs
In Portugal, you can buy high-quality and fashionable footwear and clothing, gold products, ceramics, original white or red port, the world-famous Portuguese Madeira wine.
Portuguese euro coins
Portugal(port. Portugal, Miranda. Pertual), officially Portuguese Republic(port.República Portuguesa, Miranda. República Pertuesa) - the most western state in the continental, located in the southwestern part. In the north and east it borders on, in the south and west it is washed by the Atlantic Ocean; thus, this state as a whole is a semi-enclave, or coastal enclave. The name of the country comes from the city (Latin Portus Cale).
On April 25, 1974, insurgent troops under the leadership of the Armed Forces Movement overthrew the fascist government ("carnation revolution"), activity allowed political parties... The decolonization of the former Portuguese colonies in Africa has been completed. The situation stabilized after a stage of tough political struggle and several sharp clashes. A new constitution was adopted in April 1976. In July 1976 - August 1978, the government was in power, formed by the Portuguese Socialist Party (PSP, founded in 1973), since January 1980 - the coalition government of the center-right Democratic Alliance, in 1983-1985 the coalition of the Socialist and Social Democratic parties was in power, since 1987 - the government of the Social Democratic Party, which for the first time received an absolute majority in parliamentary elections.
- List of rulers of Portugal
- History Dates of Portugal
State structure
Portugal is a parliamentary-presidential republic. Legislature - Assembly ( Assembleia da República), consists of 230 deputies ( deputados) and is elected by party lists for 4 years. The head of state is the president ( Presidente da República Portuguesa), elected by universal suffrage for 5 years; advisory body to the President - Council of State ( Conselho de Estado), the executive body - the Council of Ministers, consists of the Prime Minister ( Primeiro-ministro) and ministers, is appointed by the president and is responsible to the Assembly, the representative bodies of the autonomous regions are legislative assemblies ( Assembleia Legislativa), executive - regional governments ( governo regional), consisting of the heads of regional governments ( presidente) and regional secretaries ( Secretário regional), representative bodies of parishes - assemblies of parishes ( Assembleia de freguesia), executive bodies of parishes - parish councils ( Junta de freguesia), consisting of chairmen of parish councils ( presidente) and vowels (vogais), the body of constitutional supervision - the Constitutional Court ( Tribunal Constitucional), appointed by the Assembly, the highest court is the Supreme Court of Justice ( Supremo Tribunal de Justiça), courts of appeal are court tribunals of second instance ( Tribunal judicial de Segunda Instância), courts of first instance - court tribunals of first instance ( Tribunal judicial de Primeira Instância), the highest court of administrative justice ( Supremo Tribunal Administrativo), courts of first instance of administrative justice - administrative courts ( Tribunal administrativo), the highest control body - the Accounts Court ( Tribunal de Contas), the body of prosecutorial supervision - the General Prosecutor's Office ( Procuradoria-Geral da República Portuguesa), courts of financial justice - fiscal courts ( Tribunal fiscal), courts of military justice - military courts ( tribunais militares), an official authorized to control the activities of government agencies - the Ombudsman General ( Provedor de Justiça).
Ministries of Portugal:
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Fisheries
- Ministry of Public Institutions, Transport and Communications
- Ministry of Finance and Public Administration
- Ministry of Labor and Public Solidarity
- Ministry of Health
- Ministry of Homeland Security
- Ministry of Education
- Ministry of Internal Administration
- Ministry of Justice
- Ministry of Science, Technology and Higher Education
- Ministry of Culture
- Ministry of Environmental Protection, Territorial Order and Regional Development
- Ministry of Economy, Innovation and Development.
Political parties
Rights
- National Renewal Party (Portugal) - ultra-right nationalist
- Monarchist People's Party (Portugal) - Royalist
Center-right
- Social Democratic Party of Portugal - Liberal Conservative
- People's Party (Portugal) - Conservative
- New Democracy (Portugal) - Conservative
- Earth Party (Portugal) - conservative environmentalist
Center-Left
- Socialist Party - Socialist
- Portuguese Workers' Party - Social Democratic
- Humanist Party (Portugal)
- Democratic Party of the Atlantic - Azores former right-wing party that has shifted to the left
Left
- Coalition for Democratic Unity:
- Portuguese Communist Party
- Green Party (port Os Verdes) - environmentalist
- The Left Bloc (port Bloco de Esquerda) - a union of communist parties, including the Trotskyist Revolutionary Socialist Party and the ex-Maoist People's Democratic Union
- Communist Party of Portuguese Workers - Maoist
- Workers' Party of Socialist Unity - Trotskyist
- LIVRE - eco-socialist
- Party for animals and nature - animal protection
Unions
- General Union of Workers ( União Geral de Trabalhadores) - the main trade union center, traditionally associated with the Socialist Party, has 400 thousand members.
- General Confederation of Portuguese Workers ( Confederação Geral dos Trabalhadores Portugueses), traditionally associated with the Communist Party, has 800,000 members.
Administrative division
Continental Portugal map with districts borders.
Capital
Located on the banks of the Tagus River. The area of the capital is 84 km². Population - 556 797 people. Greater Lisbon (metropolitan area) - 2,750 km² and a population of 2.1 million.
The mayor of the city is Antonio Luis Santos da Costa.
Other cities
Lisbon
Climate
The climate is subtropical, Mediterranean. Average January temperatures are 5-10 ° C, July 20-27 ° C. Precipitation on the plains is from 400 to 800 mm, in the mountains from 1000 to 2500 mm per year.
Relief
Coast of Praia da Marina in the Algarve region of southern Portugal
The relief of the provinces of Minho in the west and Alto Traz-uzh-Montis and Alto Douro in the east, located north of the river. Douro, rugged, mountainous. Beira province, stretching from the river. Douro to the upper section of the river. The Tagus, with the exception of the coastal plain, is also occupied by mountains. In its central part is the highest point of Portugal - Mount Estrela (1993 m). Fertile plains in the lower reaches of the river. The Tagus (province of Ribatejo) and the coastal area north and south of the capital of the country belong to the province of Estremadura. To the east and south of it stretches the province of Alentejo, with a soft hilly relief, and the entire southern part of Portugal is occupied by the plains of the Algarve province, in terms of natural conditions similar to the Mediterranean zone.
Rivers and lakes
On the territory of Portugal, the valleys of the Douro (Duero) and Tagus (Tajo) rivers are clearly distinguished. In the upper reaches, they are narrow and deeply incised, downstream they expand and near the coast of the Atlantic Ocean pass into flat lowlands. These rivers are the natural boundaries of five of the country's six geographic regions.
Flora and fauna
Laboreiro Falls in the Viana do Castelo district in the north of the country
Despite the human factor, the climatic features of the region are reflected by the natural environment: flora and fauna. Pine dominates the vegetation near the coast. The coastal strip of the central and northern parts of the country is occupied by forests (mainly Portuguese oak, among shrubs - broom). In arid areas, climatic conditions favor the growth of cork and stone oaks.
In general, about a fifth of the Portuguese territory is covered with forest. Coniferous trees make up about 50% of the forest (mostly pine). Cork oak is planted on an area of 607 thousand hectares. As a result, Portugal supplies about 50% of cork bark worldwide. The area of eucalyptus plantations is growing, which are characterized by rapid growth and this is the most important source of raw materials for the pulp and paper industry. It can be said that the Portuguese economy is largely dependent on forests.
The fauna of Portugal is generally in line with the rest of the countries. On its territory you can find both lynxes and wild forest cats, wolves, foxes, wild boars, bears and many species of rodents. Representatives of the North African fauna - geneta, chameleon, etc. Due to the fact that Portugal is located on one of the main migration routes of migratory birds, you can meet a huge variety of birds. The proximity of the ocean facilitates fishing (about 200 species of fish live in the coastal waters of the Atlantic Ocean): sardines, anchovies, tuna.
Soil cover
Portugal's soils are mostly sandy acidic, formed mainly on volcanic rocks. The exception is the fertile loamy soils of the alluvial plain in the lower reaches of the river. I tag along. Several seismically active zones are distinguished on the territory of Portugal, the largest of them are located in the Algarve, Minho and near Lisbon.
Economy
Vine plantations
Portugal is an industrial and agricultural country. The most important traditional industries are (cotton and wool), sewing, winemaking (especially port wine production), olive oil, canned fish, cork processing (leading in the world), ferrous and nonferrous metallurgy, mechanical engineering (shipbuilding and ship repair, car assembly, electrical); the chemical, oil refining, petrochemical, and cement industries are developing. Agriculture is dominated by agriculture. About half of the cultivated land is arable land; viticulture, fruit growing, olive plantings. In animal husbandry, cattle breeding, sheep breeding, pig breeding, fishing.
The main foreign trade partners are the countries of the European Community.
Foreign tourism - approx. 10 million people a year.
In connection with a change in the text of the constitution (1990), a privatization law was adopted (enterprises nationalized after 1974 were privatized; the role of state regulation in the economy decreased; private investment of Portuguese citizens in domestic enterprises was allowed). The state pledged to promote the restructuring of unprofitable enterprises and the development of the Portuguese capital market. Huge money was allocated for improvement: in 1993-2000, the share of the population using the drinking water supply system increased from 61 to 95%, and the sewerage network from 55 to 90%.
The economic policy is aimed at liberalizing and modernizing the economy, further privatizing state-owned companies, and restructuring the banking and telecommunications sectors. The fiscal sphere after the tax reform ensured an inflow of state revenues and a reduction in the budget deficit for 1996-2003. from 5 to 2.4% of GDP. In the monetary sphere, measures were taken to ensure budgetary and financial stability. Budget revenues amounted to $ 45 billion, expenditures - $ 48 billion. In 1996-2003. the annual inflation rate fell from 7.8% to 3.1%. Social policy is aimed at reforming the system of social and labor relations and ensuring employment. In 2002, the unemployment rate was 4.7%, the human development index was 0.925.
Thanks to the growth of exports in the II quarter. In 2013, the growth of the Portuguese economy turned out to be the strongest among the EU countries: GDP increased by 1.1% compared to the first quarter; before that, the economy was in recession for 10 consecutive quarters.
The minimum wage in Portugal in 2018 is 676.67 euros. The average wage in Portugal for 2018 is 1144.61 euros.
Population
Population density of Portugal by counties and autonomous regions
Number of
- 1911 - 5.97 million people
- 1920 - 6.03 million people
- 1930 - 6.82 million people
- 1940 - 7.72 million people
- 1950 - 8.51 million people
- 1960 - 8.85 million people
- 1970 - 8.65 million people
- 1981 - 9.83 million people
- 1991 - 9.86 million people
- 2001 - 10.35 million people
- 2011 - 10.56 million people
Age structure: from 0-14 years old: 16.4% (m.w. - 912.995 / f.y. - 835.715) from 15-64 years: 66.2% (m.w. - 3.514.905 / f.y. - 3,555,097) from 65 years: 17.4% (male - 764.443 / female - 1,093,755).
The average age is 39.1 years (for men - 37 years; for women - 41.3 years). The annual growth rate is 0.305%. Birth rate - 10.45 (per thousand people). The fertility rate is 1.49. The mortality rate is 10.62 (per thousand people).
The culture
Holidays and weekends
- New Year- 1st of January;
- Carnival tuesday- February / March, the day before Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent;
- Good friday- March / April, Friday during Holy Week;
- Freedom Day- April 25, the anniversary of the 1974 revolution;
- Labor Day- 1st of May;
- Corpus Christi- May / June, ninth Thursday after Easter;
- Portugal Day- June 10th;
- Feast of the Assumption of the Virgin- August 15;
- Republic Day- October 5, anniversary of the proclamation in 1910 of the Republic of Portugal;
- All Saints' Day- Nov. 1;
- Independence Day- December 1, the anniversary of the proclamation of independence from Spain in 1640;
- Feast of the Immaculate Conception- December 8;
- Christmas- December 25.
media
Seal
- Jornal de Notícias - Magazine de Notícias
- Correio da Manhã - Curreio da Magna
- Diario de Notícias - Diario de Notícias
- Expresso - Espresso
- Publico - Public
- Jornal de Coimbra - Magazine de Quimbra
TV and radio broadcasting
Television and radio broadcasting in Portugal is divided into public, commercial, in addition, in Portugal there is an element of state television and radio broadcasting in the form of the parliamentary television channel ARtv. Public Service Broadcaster - RTP ( Rádio e Televisão de Portugal- Radio and Television of Portugal), broadcasts on the 1st (RTP1) and 2nd TV channels (RTP2) and through 3 radio stations (Antena 1, Antena 2 and Antena 3). Commercial broadcasters - SIC and TVI. Observance of media laws by public service broadcasters is monitored by the Independent General Council ( Conselho Geral Independente), for commercial broadcasters - Social Communications Regulation Department ( Entidade Reguladora para a Comunicação Social) (formerly - Higher Department of Social Communications ( Alta Autoridade para a Comunicação Socia)).
Depending on the method of signal distribution, television in Portugal is divided into terrestrial, cable, satellite and IPTV, radio broadcasting is only terrestrial, public radio stations can broadcast through terrestrial, cable, satellite television and IPTV, in common multiplexes with public television channels, in addition, there are several Internet - radio stations, broadcasting is conducted in the analogue standard on VHF, in the VHF version OIRT, Antena 1 also on CB and the digital DAB standard on MV.
Russian-language media
- Newspaper "Slovo" - "Slovo" - Russian-language newspaper for tourists and Russian-speaking people living in Europe
- Lighthouse of Portugal - "Lighthouse of Portugal" - Russian-language newspaper for immigrants from Eastern Europe
Literature
"Amadis of Gali" is of Portuguese origin - one of the most famous knightly novels of the late Middle Ages, which has come down to us in the later Spanish alterations of the 16th century.
Among the most famous and significant works of the Renaissance in Portuguese literature can be noted the epic poem "Lusiada" (1572) by Luis de Camões. This is the first work describing geographical discoveries. Other prominent Portuguese poets of the time included Sa de Miranda. The playwright Gil Vicente made a great contribution to the development of Portuguese theater in the 16th century.
The largest representative of Portuguese literature of the 19th century was the realist writer Jose Maria Esa de Queiroz. Portuguese authors of the 20th century include the symbolist Eugeniu de Castro, the mystic and impressionist Raul Brandan, Wenceslau de Morais, the religious symbolists Antonio Correia d'Oliveira and Afonso Lopis Vieira.
After the fall of the monarchy in 1910, a differentiation of the bourgeois intelligentsia took place. The extreme right flank is occupied by Antonio Sardinha, Manuel Ribeiro, Teixeira de Pasquais, Jaime Cortezan, Alberto Monsaras. In opposition - the literary direction of the ultra-left and pacifist sentiment. Its representatives are Aquilina Ribeiro, Pina di Morais, Ezekiel di Campos. Peasant ideology is represented by Raul Brandau, Samuel Mapa, Ippolita Reposa, Antonio Ferru.
The brightest phenomenon in the Portuguese literature of the XX century was the work of Jose Saramago. A member of the once banned Communist Party of Portugal, Saramago invariably gravitates towards the left. His phantasmagoric prose is filled with the idea of universal human equality and deep humanism. The author's anticlerical views have repeatedly caused fierce accusations from the Catholic Church, which did not prevent him, after the publication of the novel "The Gospel of Jesus", from becoming the winner of the 1998 Nobel Prize in Literature.
Music
The basis of culture, including music, of the Portuguese is the Romanesque culture, which, during the formation and development of the Portuguese state, experienced the influence of many cultural components brought in by both the conquerors of the Portuguese lands and the peoples of the vast territories seized by the Portuguese. The music of Portugal has common origins with the music of Spain and has evolved over the centuries in interaction with it, while being distinguished by a vivid identity.
The most common song genre is fado (solo lyric song), which plays an important role in the national identity of the Portuguese, as it draws a clear line between the vibrant and lively Spanish rhythms, representing the violent and harsh Spanish character, and the soft and melancholic soul of the Portuguese people.
art
Amadeu di Sosa-Cardoso, Hounds
Portugal has never been a leading European power in the visual arts. Even during the Renaissance, during the country's highest heyday, Portuguese artists, the largest of whom was Nuno Gonçalves, remained on the periphery of European development. In the 19th century, the most notable representatives of Portuguese painting and, in fact, the founders of the modern national artistic tradition were José Maglioa, José Julio de Sousa Pinto and Columbán Bordalu Pinheiro. The most famous Portuguese artist is considered to be Amadeu di Sosa-Cardoso, who died at the age of 30, who received his art education in France and worked in the avant-garde styles of painting.
Language
Portugal is a country with a single state official language - Portuguese. It is spoken by over 200 million people worldwide on three continents: Eurasia, Africa and South America. Portuguese is similar to Spanish in that both belong to the Ibero-Romance subgroup of the Romance group of languages, but with a similar grammatical structure, there are significant differences in pronunciation between them. The formation of the language was greatly influenced by the Germanic tribes and the Arabs (), from whom the Portuguese language borrowed many words, as well as the contacts of travelers, discoverers and merchants with Asian peoples.
In addition, since 1999 the status of the official language of Portugal has been the Miranda language, which is spoken by the population of a small area in northeastern Portugal (the municipalities of Miranda do Douro, Vimioso, Mogadoru).
The Galician language, which does not have an official status, is quite widespread throughout Portugal and especially its northern part.
Religion
View of the Monastery of San Vicente de Fora from the Castle of St. George.
About 90% of the country's population is Catholic. Catholicism in Portugal has always been associated with local traditions, the population honored the memory of many popular local saints, whose memorable days are celebrated solemnly, like church holidays. The village where the Virgin Mary is believed to have appeared to three children in 1917 has become a popular pilgrimage site.
The first Protestant community in Portugal emerged in the 17th century among British subjects. The preaching of Protestantism among the Portuguese began only in the 19th century. As of 2010, there were 373 thousand Protestants living in Portugal. The largest Protestant denomination in the country is made up of Pentecostals and Charismatics (neo-Pentecostals) (289 thousand).
Over the past 25 years, in connection with the massive labor migration from Eastern European countries, the number of Orthodox Christians has noticeably increased in Portugal (60-80 thousand). Another 135 thousand Portuguese are followers of various pseudo-Christian religious organizations; first of all, these are Jehovah's Witnesses and Mormons.
Among the foreigners and migrant workers living in the country are Buddhists (60 thousand), Muslims (26-65 thousand), Hindus (6.5 thousand), adherents of the Chinese folk religion (22 thousand). In the 2011 general census, 615,000 Portuguese residents (6.8% of the population) identified themselves as non-religious).
Military establishment
Army, Navigation (Portuguese Navy including Maritime Command), Air Force (Portuguese Air Force - FAP), National Republican Guard (GNR) Volunteers can enter military service from the age of 18, as general compulsory military service was canceled in 2004 year. Women are allowed to serve in the military forces of Portugal, in the navy since 1993, but are prohibited from being in any combat specialties (order of 2005).
- Citizens for the armed forces: men (16-49 years old) - 2,573,913; women (16-49) - 2,498,262.
- Citizens fit for service in the armed forces of Portugal: men (16-49) - 2,099,647; women (16-49) - 2,060,559.
Every year the number of citizens of the Portuguese Armed Forces increases by 64 910 men (aged 16 to 49) and 58 599 women (aged 16 to 49).
Military spending is 2.3% of annual GDP.
see also
- Transport in Portugal
- International relations of Portugal
- PSI-20 (stock index with Portuguese companies)
- Colonies of Portugal
Notes (edit)
- World Atlas: The most detailed information / Project leaders: A. N. Bushnev, A. P. Pritvorov. - Moscow: AST, 2017 .-- S. 14. - 96 p. - ISBN 978-5-17-10261-4.
- Census.gov. Country Rank. Countries and Areas Ranked by Population: 2013. U.S. Department of Commerce (2013). Retrieved May 9, 2013. Archived May 9, 2013.
- Portugal. International Monetary Fund. Retrieved October 1, 2009. Archived August 21, 2011.
- Until 2002 - Portuguese escudo.
- Also.eu as a member of the EU.
- Cupulas Ibero-Americanos: http://www.cumbresiberoamericanas.com/
- Portal do Governo: http://www.portugal.gov.pt/Portal/PT/Governos/Governos_Constitucionais/GC17/Ministerios/
- - Camara Municipal da Lisboa - Site of the Lisbon City Hall
- Ministério do Ambiente, do Ordenamento do Território e do Desenvolvimento Regional
- Portugal and integration processes in the modern world: political aspects. E. B. Pavlova, St. Petersburg: 2001
- http://www.ieras.ru/pub/monografii/coseuropa.pdf
- Countries and regions of the world: economic and political reference book. A.S. Bulatova. - M.: 2006
- Syrian war knocks down Asian markets - Breaking news - Finmarket
- - The World Fact Book - CIA website data for regions and countries of the world
- Feriados da Alemanha 2010 - Calendário de feriados 2010
- Periódicos de Portugal: http://www.mediatico.com/es/periodicos/europa/portugal/
- Lusiads. World digital library(1800-1882). Retrieved September 2, 2013.
- Portuguese literature
- Jason Mandryk. Portugal // Operation World: The Definitive Prayer Guide to Every Nation. - InterVarsity Press, 2010. - P. 692-694. - 978 p. - (Operation World Set). - ISBN 0-8308-5724-9.
- Global Christianity (eng.). The Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life.19 December 2011. Retrieved May 13, 2013. Archived May 23, 2013.
- Tiago Santos, Pedro Soares, and Miguel Farias. Portugal // Religions of the World: A Comprehensive Encyclopedia of Beliefs and Practices / J. Gordon Melton, Martin Baumann. - Oxford, England: ABC CLIO, 2010 .-- S. 2278 .-- 3200 s. - ISBN 1-57607-223-1.
- The Future of the Global Muslim Population (eng.). Pew Research Center (January 2011). Retrieved March 7, 2014.
- Instituto Nacional de Estatistica Statistics Portugal. POPULACAO RESIDENTE COM 15 OU MAIS ANOS, SEGUNDO A RESPOSTA A PERGUNTA SOBRE RELIGIAO// Censos 2011 Resultados Definitivos - Portugal / Alda de Caetano Carvalho. - Lisbon: Instituto Nacional de Estatistica, I.P., 2013. - P. 530. - 560 p. - ISBN 978-989-25-0181-9.
- Exercito POrtugues - Website of the Portuguese Armed Forces
Literature
- Kaplanov Rashid M. Portugal after the Second World War (1945-1974). Moscow: Nauka, 1992.
Links
- Presidência da República Portuguesa - Official site of the President of Portugal
- Camara Municipal da Lisboa - Site of Lisbon City Hall
- FM radio from Portugal - Radio Stations broadcasting from Portugal
- Tourism in Portugal - Country Guide
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Portuguese Republic.
The name of the country comes from the city of Porto (Latin Portus Cale - "warm port").
Capital of Portugal... Lisbon.
Portugal square... 92389 km2.
Portugal population... 10066 K people
Location of Portugal... Portugal is located in the extreme southwest in the western part of the Iberian Peninsula. It also owns the Azores and Madeira Islands, located in. In the north and east, Portugal borders on, in the south and west it is washed by the Atlantic Ocean.
Administrative divisions of Portugal... Portugal is divided into 22 districts, including 18 on the continent, and 2 autonomous regions - the Azores and the Madeira archipelago.
Form of government of Portugal... Republic.
Head of State Portugal... President elected for a term of 5 years.
Highest legislative body in Portugal... Assembly of the Republic (unicameral parliament), term of office - 4 years.
Highest executive body of Portugal... Government.
Major cities of Portugal... Porto, Coimbra, Braga, Evora.
Official language of Portugal... Portuguese.
Religion in Portugal. 97% - .
Ethnic composition Portugal... 99% are Portuguese.
Portugal currency... Euro = 100 cents.
The Republic of Portugal is a small state with a warm climate, picturesque nature and rich history. This is the most western country Europe, on the territory of which there is one of the extreme points of the continent of Eurasia. What is the geographical position of Portugal characterized by? You will find a photo and description of the main features of the country in our article.
"Warm Port"
Portugal covers an area of only 92,151 km 2 and is 109th in the world in terms of size. As a whole and independent country, it appeared on the world stage in 1143, turning from a county to a kingdom.
Due to the features geographic location Portugal, its territory has never been empty and was inhabited even before our era. At various times, the Lusitanians, Romans, Visigoths and even Arabs lived within its boundaries. The location on the coast contributed to the development of the state as an important seaport at the intersection of trade routes between continents. Even the name of the country comes from the Roman name of the settlement Portus Cale, which is translated from Latin as "Warm Port".
In the era of the great geographical discoveries, it was from Portugal that the first trade and research expeditions were sent to Africa, Asia, North and South America... The sailors of this country discovered Brazil, and Saint Helena, Mauritius, the Tristan de Cunha archipelago, Madagascar, opened the sea route to Japan. Later, the Portuguese kingdom owned dozens of colonies in Africa, the North Atlantic, Latin America, Southeast Asia and the Persian Gulf.
Today the country is a parliamentary republic. It is home to 10.3 million people. In terms of the number of inhabitants, Portugal surpasses Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, Austria, but is inferior to them in economic development. It is part of the Schengen area, is a member of NATO, UN, EU, OECD and the commonwealth of Portuguese-speaking countries.
Geographical position of Portugal (briefly)
Portugal is located in the southwestern part of Eurasia, occupying one-sixth of the Iberian Peninsula. It also includes several islands located in the waters of the Atlantic. Madeira Island is 600 km away from it, and the Azores is 1500 km away.
The geographical position of the country of Portugal on the mainland is characterized by isolation. Of all European states on land, it borders only with Spain, which occupies the rest of the Iberian Peninsula. From the west and south, Portugal is washed by the Atlantic Ocean and related to it. On the other side of the bay, about 250-300 kilometers from the country, is Morocco.
Portugal is strongly stretched from north to south. In this direction, its length is 550 kilometers. From west to east, it is much more compact and on average its width reaches 180 kilometers. Cape Roca, the westernmost point of Eurasia, is located about 40 kilometers from Lisbon.
Due to its proximity to the Strait of Gibraltar and Portugal, it has always been considered strategically important. That is why its territory is used as a springboard for the deployment of NATO military bases, in particular on one of the Azores - Terceira. In the city of Oyeras, near Lisbon, the headquarters of the NATO Allied Forces is located.
- Portugal is considered a mono-ethnic country, almost 90% of its inhabitants are ethnic Portuguese.
- There are Muslims, Hindus, Protestants, Buddhists in the country, but 90% of its inhabitants profess the Catholic religion.
- Colonial times have left their mark. Today 8 more countries speak Portuguese: Brazil, Cape Verde, Mozambique, East Timor, Angola, Guinea-Bissau, Sao Tome and Principe.
- American surfer Garrett McNamare conquered Portugal's largest wave, 23.77 meters, in 2011. The achievement is listed in the Guinness Book of Records.
- According to international law in marketing, the title "port" can only refer to those drinks that are produced using a special technology in the Douro valley near the city of Porto.
- Lisbon is home to the world's oldest bookstore, Livraria Bertrand, which opened back in 1732.
Climate
Portugal's geographical position is one of the most significant factors affecting its natural and weather... Its entire territory lies within the subtropical zone, an area of the Mediterranean type of climate.
The Canary Islands runs along the entire western coast of the country. It makes the climate cooler and the weather more unpredictable than in the rest of the Mediterranean. Despite this, the average temperature on the coast of Portugal is +20 ˚С.
In winter, a lot of snow falls on the territory of the country. However, the absence of significant disadvantages does not allow him to stay for a long time. Most rainfall occurs in the mountains and mainly during the winter months. Summers can be quite dry. The driest months of the year are August and July.
Portugal nature
The marginal, border geographic position of Portugal is fully reflected in its natural complexes. The country seems to have grown together two worlds: Central European and North African. This is expressed both in landscapes and in the representatives of the local fauna.
In the north and central parts of Portugal, there are mountains and forests, consisting mainly of conifers. Mostly pine trees grow here, but oaks and eucalyptus plantations are present. Animals are represented by wild boars, Iberian lynxes and wolves, foxes, bears, wild forest cats.
The south of Portugal is dominated by hilly plains covered with evergreen stiff-leaved shrubs. In this part, there are desert and semi-desert species close to African ones, for example, lizards, chameleons, wivvers, genets, and various snakes.
The coast of Portugal is weakly indented and is disturbed only by the estuaries of the rivers flowing into the Atlantic Ocean. In the north to the lowlands sandy beaches mountains come close to each other, in the south there are many lagoons and small bays. On the shores of the country there are many waterfowl, and the waters washing them are inhabited by dolphins, sperm whales, molluscs, shrimps, anchovies and sardines.
Economy
Traditionally, Portugal is an industrial-agrarian country, the main focus of which is on the garment, cotton, wool industry, the production of port wine, olive oil and canned fish. Recently, tourism and the service sector have gained great importance.
The country has about 600 thousand hectares of oak plantations - the source of almost half of the world's cork bark. Eucalyptus groves in Portugal are an important source of raw materials for the paper industry. In addition, uranium, tungsten, pyrites, coal are mined in the country, cement, facing tiles, petrochemical products are produced, and ships are being built.
Despite the favorable, Portugal in 2017 was in about 43rd place in terms of GDP in PPP among the countries of the world. In Europe, it is inferior not only to Switzerland and Austria, but also to Lithuania, Slovakia, Slovenia, the Czech Republic and Estonia. The local market is closely linked to the Spanish state in the transport, banking and energy sectors. Business development and investment inflows are largely hindered by strict government regulation.
Cities
Due to the geographic location of Portugal, its Largest cities are located on the coast. The greatest settlements countries - Lisbon and Porto. Both of them are included in the list of global cities and are key elements of world trade and economy.
Lisbon is home to approximately 550,000 people (in the metropolitan area about 2.3 million). It is the capital of Portugal, as well as the largest port, transport and economic hub of the state. It is one of the oldest European cities and was first mentioned back in 205 BC.
Porto is home to about 220,000 people (in the agglomeration about 2 million). In the past, it was he who was the capital of Portugal, but now the city is simply a major industrial center and port. He is best known for the production of port wine. The old city center is a cultural asset and is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
