Portugal :: essays research papers

The republic of Portugal is located in the southwestern part ofEurope, situated in the western portion 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 are independent regions of Portugal, considered integralparts of the republic. Portugal administers adept overseasterritory, Macau (Macao) in eastern Asia near Hong Kong. Macau isscheduled to return to Chinese administration in 1999. The totalarea 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. clime varies in Portugal according 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 astir(predicate) 10 C (about 50 F).Between Tajo and Douro the temperature is ab out 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 most valuable natural resources inPortugal. Much of these resources were developed until afterWorld state of 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 umpteenkinds of wild animals. some 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(prenominal) ethnicelements, principally Iberians, Romans, Visigoths, and laterMoors. The people still live for the most part, in ruralvillages. The population of Portugal, including the Azores andMadeira Islands, is 9,931, 045. The overall population density is108 people per sq. km. (280 per sq. mi.). Mainland Portugal is change integrity into 18 districts for administrative causes Aveiro,Beja, Braga, Bragnca, Castelo Branco, Coimbra, vora, Faro,Guarda, Leiria, Lisbon, Porto, Portalegre, Santarm, Setbal,Viana do Castelo, Villa Real, and Viseu. The Azores and theMadeira Islands each constitute an autonomous region.Roman Catholicism is the faith of more than 94 percentof the Portuguese people. The brass guarantees freedom ofreligion, and some Protestant churches have been established. Theofficial language of the country is Portuguese.Portuguese culture is closely related to the Spanish cultureand has been influenced by the deuce-ace primary cultures from which