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GeographyLocation
Southwestern Europe, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Spain Geographic coordinates
39 30 N, 8 00 W
Map references
Europe
Area World Ranking: 111
Total 92,090 sq km
Land 91,470 sq km Water 620 sq km Note Includes Azores and Madeira Islands Area - comparative
Slightly smaller than Indiana
Land boundaries
Total 1,214 km
Border countries Spain 1,214 km Coastline
1,793 km
Maritime claims
Territorial sea 12 nm
Contiguous zone 24 nm Exclusive economic zone 200 nm Continental shelf 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation Climate
Maritime temperate; cool and rainy in north, warmer and drier in south Terrain
Mountainous north of the Tagus River, rolling plains in south Elevation extremes
Lowest point Atlantic Ocean 0 m
Highest point Ponta do Pico (Pico or Pico Alto) on Ilha do Pico in the Azores 2,351 m Natural resources
Fish, forests (cork), iron ore, copper, zinc, tin, tungsten, silver, gold, uranium, marble, clay, gypsum, salt, arable land, hydropower Land use
Arable land 17.29%
Permanent crops 7.84% Other 74.87% (2005) Irrigated land
5,840 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources
73.6 cu km (2005)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)
Total 11.09 cu km/yr (10%/12%/78%)
Per capita 1,056 cu m/yr (1998) Natural hazards
Azores subject to severe earthquakes Volcanism Limited volcanic activity in the Azores Islands; Fayal or Faial (elev. 1,043 m) last erupted in 1958; most volcanoes have not erupted in centuries; historically active volcanoes include Agua de Pau, Furnas, Pico, Picos Volcanic System, San Jorge, Sete Cidades, and Terceira Environment - current issues
Soil erosion; air pollution caused by industrial and vehicle emissions; water pollution, especially in coastal areas Environment - international agreements
Party to
Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling Signed, but not ratified Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Environmental Modification Geography - note
Azores and Madeira Islands occupy strategic locations along western sea approaches to Strait of Gibraltar
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Portugal (Lisbon):
 
GPS points from Portugal (Lisbon)
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Following its heyday as a global maritime power during the 15th and 16th centuries, Portugal lost much of its wealth and status with the destruction of Lisbon in a 1755 earthquake, occupation during the Napoleonic Wars, and the independence of its wealthiest colony of Brazil in 1822. A 1910 revolution deposed the monarchy; for most of the next six decades, repressive governments ran the country. In 1974, a left-wing military coup installed broad democratic reforms. The following year, Portugal granted independence to all of its African colonies. Portugal is a founding member of NATO and entered the EC (now the EU) in 1986. In January 2011, Portugal assumed a nonpermanent seat on the UN Security Council for the 2011-12 term.