Looking
at a map
of Portugal, one sees a rectangular country in the Iberian Peninsula
that is bordered by Spain on the east and the Atlantic Ocean on the
west. In addition, any good map of Portugal includes the volcanic islands
of Azores, located 900 miles west of Lisbon in the Atlantic, and the
Madeira Islands, also in the Atlantic, approximately 550 miles from
the capital.
Although there are currently 18 different districts in Portugal,
the mainland is commonly divided up into five main regions for geographical
purposes.
Porto & Northern
Portugal Map
The northern
section of the country, which includes the city of Porto is Portugal’s oldest region. The Douro river originates in
Spain and winds its way through the area to the Atlantic. The region
has beautiful waterfront areas, but is famous for its vineyards
where Port wine is produced. Inland, there is a large national
park area covering the mountains of Peneda, Soajo and Gerês.
Beiras
Beiras is the
traditional name for the central region of Portugal running south
of Douro river and north of
Tagus river. The coastal area is lined
with beaches and fishing villages, while the interior is primarily
mountains and plateaus. Viewing a map of Spain and Portugal, one
can identify the Estrela Mountain Range, the highest in continental
Portugal, which runs through the central region.
Lisbon & Tagus
Valley
Lisbon (Lisboa),
has been the capital of Portugal since 1255. It is located near
the ocean, where the Tagus river creates an estuary as it empties
into the Atlantic. The area ranges from beautiful beaches and sea
cliffs, to lush river valley. Cabo da Roca, Europe’s
westernmost point, is located in this region as are several
historic sites and structures.
Alentejo
The region of
Alentejo is comprised of a series of rolling plains. The northern
section of the region is known for its medieval castles while further
south, the temperatures become warmer and the towns less frequent.
As with all of Portugal’s
regions, the western coast offers Atlantic beaches.
Algarve
Algarve, Portugal’s
southernmost region, is best known for its warm temperatures and
long sandy beaches that have long drawn tourists from around the
globe. Although the northern half of the region is bordered by
mountains and hosts fig trees, orange groves and other agricultural
products.
A detailed map of Portugal depicts additional information about
the country and is a helpful resource for anyone planning to visit
the country. Maps Worldwide.com and Stanfords are two good sources
for topographical, road, and political maps of Portugal.
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