Portugal

Portugal Neighbouring Spain and with the coast line by the Atlantic Ocean, Portugal gives you beautiful beaches, going north forested mountains, and of course nice cities like Lisbon, where you will find a small port city with ancient history, little streets and nice shops and cafès. Eventhough Lisbon have been the wealthiest city back in time, due to foundings of new travel routes, it has also had its bad luck with civil wars, and military coup.

Area: 91.854 Km²
Population: 10.066.000 (2001 est.)
Density: 110 pop/Km²

System of government: Parliamentary democracy
Capital: Lisbon (682.000 pop.)
Major cities: Porto 310.000 pop.
Ethnic majority: Portuguese 99%
Border countries: Spain NORTH and EAST

Principal mountains: Ponta do Pico (on Ilha do Pico, Azores) 2351 m, Malhão da Estrêla 1991 m
Principal rivers: Duero 195 Km (portuguese tract, total 895 Km), Tagus 217 Km (portuguese tract, total 1007 Km)
Principal lakes: Barragem do Santa Clara
Principal islands: Azores 2247 Km² (Sao Miguel 747 Km²), Madeira 794 Km²
Climate: Oceanic (atlantic)

Language: Portuguese
Religion: Catholic 97%
Currency: Euro (€)

Fixed public holidays: 1/1, 25/4, 1/5, 10/6, 13/6 (only in Lisbona), 15/8, 5/10, 1/11, 1/12, 8/12, 24/12, 25/12
Dialling code: 00351
GMT: 0

World Heritage List:

• Central Zone of the Town of Angra do Heroismo in the Azores (1983)
• Convent of Christ in Tomar (1983)
• Monastery of Batalha (1983)
• Monastery of the Hieronymites and Tower of Belem in Lisbon (1983)
• Historic Centre of Evora (1986)
• Monastery of Alcobaça (1989)
• Cultural Landscape of Sintra (1995)
• Historic Centre of Oporto (1996)
• Prehistoric Rock-Art Sites in the Côa Valley (1998)
• Laurisilva of Madeira (1999)
• Alto Douro Wine Region (2001)
• Historic Centre of Guimarães (2001)
• Landscape of the Pico Island Vineyard Culture (2004)