Portugal :: essays research papers

The republic of Portugal is located in the southwestern part ofEurope, situated in the western distribute of the Iberian Peninsula,bordered by Spain on the north and east and by the Atlantic Oceanon the south and west. The Azores and Madeira Islands in theAtlantic be independent regions of Portugal, considered integralparts of the republic. Portugal administers one overseasterritory, Macau (Macao) in eastern Asia near Hong Kong. Macau isscheduled to return to Chinese administration in 1999. The amount of money area of metropolitan Portugal, including the Azores (2247 sq.km./868 sq. mi.) and the Madeira Islands (794 sq. km./307 sq.mi.), is 92,345 sq. km. (35,655 sq.mi.). The capital and thelargest city is Lisbon.Climate varies in Portugal concord to the altitude inwhich you are located. Low temperatures occur only in thecomparatively low regions of the south. The mean annualtemperature north of the Douro River is about 10 C (about 50 F).Between Tajo and Douro the temperature is about 16 C (about 60F). The temperatures in the valley of the Guadiana are at about18 C (about 65 F). Rainfall is very heavy, especially in thenorth.Minerals are the or so valuable natural resources inPortugal. Much of these resources were developed until after introduction War 2 (1939-1945). Some of the mineral resources are coal,copper, gold, iron ore, kaolin, tin, and wolframite, which is Acosta 2source of tungsten. The most sufficient trees are the evergreenoak, cork, poplar, and olive. Portugal is also a home of manykinds of fantastical animals. whatsoever of these wild animals include thewolf, lynx, wildcat, fox, wild boar, wild goat, deer, and hare.Portugal also has big waterpower resources in its rivers andmountain streams.The Portuguese are a combination of several ethnicelements, principally Iberians, Romans, Visigoths, and laterMoors. The sight still live for the most part, in ruralvillages. The population of Portugal, including the Azores andMadeira Islands, is 9,93 1,045. The boilers suit population density is108 people per sq. km. (280 per sq. mi.). Mainland Portugal isdivided into 18 districts for administrative causes Aveiro,Beja, Braga, Bragnca, Castelo Branco, Coimbra, vora, Faro,Guarda, Leiria, Lisbon, Porto, Portalegre, Santarm, unbendingbal,Viana do Castelo, Villa Real, and Viseu. The Azores and theMadeira Islands each constitute an autonomous region.Roman Catholicism is the combine of more than 94 percentof the Portuguese people. The Constitution guarantees freedom ofreligion, and some Protestant churches have been established. Theofficial language of the country is Portuguese.Portuguese nicety is closely related to the Spanish cultureand has been influenced by the three native cultures from which