Short facts about the geography of Portugal

Location:

Southwestern Europe, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Spain

Geographic coordinates:

39 30 N, 8 00 W

Map references:

Europe

Area:

total:  92,391 sq km land:  91,951 sq km water:  440 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:

contiguous zone:  24 NM continental shelf:  200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation exclusive economic zone:  200 NM territorial sea:  12 NM

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), tungsten, iron ore, uranium ore, marble, arable land, hydro power

Land use:

arable land:  26% permanent crops:  9% permanent pastures:  9% forests and woodland:  36% other:  20% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land:

6,300 sq km (1993 est.)

Natural hazards:

Azores subject to severe earthquakes

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, 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 signed, but not ratified:  Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Environmental Modification, Nuclear Test Ban

Geography - note:

Azores and Madeira Islands occupy strategic locations along western sea approaches to Strait of Gibraltar

Source: World Factbook