Portugal: Geography

The World Factbook 1993: Portugal Geography

Location: Southern Europe, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean west of Spain

Area: total area: 92,080 km2 land area: 91,640 km2 comparative area: slightly smaller than Indiana

note: includes Azores and Madeira Islands

Land boundaries: total 1,214 km, Spain 1,214 km

Coastline: 1,793 km

Maritime claims: continental shelf: 200 m depth or to depth of exploitation exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm

International disputes: sovereignty over Timor Timur (East Timor Province) disputed with Indonesia

Climate: maritime temperate; cool and rainy in north, warmer and drier in south

Terrain: mountainous north of the Tagus, rolling plains in south

Natural resources: fish, forests (cork), tungsten, iron ore, uranium ore, marble

Land use: arable land: 32% permanent crops: 6% meadows and pastures: 6% forest and woodland: 40% other: 16%

Irrigated land: 6,340 km2 (1989 est.)

Environment: Azores subject to severe earthquakes

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