Living in Portugal – Climate and Geography 

Portugal is a small European country located in the South-West of the continent, between West of Spain and the North Atlantic Ocean. It is a coastal country the coastline of which stretches out for 1800 kilometers. The total area of Portugal, if we include Madeira and Azores, is about 92,000 square kilometers, with 91,500 square kilometers of it being land, and approximately 500 square kilometers being water.

Portugal has five major rivers: Tagus, or “Tejo” in Portuguese, The Mondega, Guadiana, Douro, and Miho. Four out of five of these rivers originate in Spain and flow into the Atlantic ocean. Tagus, in particular, is the main river of Portugal and its firth splits the country into two different geographic areas. The Mondega river originates in the Serra da Estrela, the highest mountain in the Portuguese mainland.

Mountains, vineyards, and small farms are the idyllic landscapes that characterise the North of Portugal. The Northern parts of the country are significantly cooler than the Southern ones, with heavier rainfalls which provide fertile agricultural areas that mostly dominate the North.

The South of Portugal, in turn, is mostly characterised by rolling hills and planes, and warmer, as well as drier climate. Alentejo, which translates to “beyond the Tejo”, is a common name for the Southern Portugal among the Portuguese.
The Algarve region is the Southernmost region of Portugal. It is a dry and sunny region that is especially popular among the tourists. Its landscape is mostly characterised by its idyllic coastal and fishing towns.

Fabulous beaches and stunning landscapes characterise the widespread Portuguese coastline, most particularly the Algarve region, which is especially popular for these reasons.
Ria Formosa is a set of small Portuguese islands that make up yet another fascinating feature of the Portuguese coastline. It is a designated nature reserve and the islands combined cover approximately 170 square kilometers of land area. Every year, in spring and autumn, numerous different birds flock to these sandy islands, which then become their home for the season, thus enriching the local wildlife for the season.

Northern and central Portugal also have a magnificent coastline. Many kilometers of beautiful, sandy beaches are set alongside striking cliffs and stunning nature that has sat untouched by human hand by many centuries.