PORTUGAL - BASIC FACTS

Portugal, officially called The Portuguese Republic.

The country is located in south-western Europe on the Iberian Peninsula (Spain, Portugal, Andorra and Gibraltar).

Portugal is boarded by the Atlantic Ocean to the west and south and by Spain to the north and east. The Atlantic archipelagos of the Azores and Madeira are also part of Portugal.

Continental Portugal is split in two by its main river, the Tagus. The highest point of Portugal is Mount Pico (2 351 above the sea level).

The Azores and Madeira are located in the Mid-Atlantic Ridge; some of the islands had recent volcanic activity. Originally two islands, São Miguel Island were joined by a volcanic eruption in 1563.

The Portuguese coast is 1860 km long (943 km in continental Portugal, 667 km in the Azores and 250 km in Madeira and in the Savage Islands).

The capital city of República Portuguesa is Lisbon (population: 609 000).

Portugal is a member of the European Union and its official currency is the Euro (EUR).

The population of Portugal is 10 623 032.