Page last updated on February 28, 2018

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

Geographic coordinates:
39 30 N, 8 00 W

Map references:
Europe

Area:
total: 92,090 sq km
[see also: Area - total country ranks ]
land: 91,470 sq km
[see also: Area - land country ranks ]
water: 620 sq km
[see also: Area - water country ranks ]
note: includes Azores and Madeira Islands
country comparison to the world: 112

Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Virginia

Land boundaries:
total: 1,224 km
[see also: Land boundaries - total country ranks ]
border countries (1): Spain 1,224 km

Coastline:
1,793 km
[see also: Coastline country ranks ]

Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
[see also: Maritime claims - territorial sea country ranks ]
contiguous zone: 24 nm
[see also: Maritime claims - contiguous zone country ranks ]
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
[see also: Maritime claims - exclusive economic zone country ranks ]
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
[see also: Maritime claims - continental shelf country ranks ]

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

Terrain:
the west-flowing Tagus River divides the country: the north is mountainous toward the interior, while the south is characterized by rolling plains

Elevation:
mean elevation: 372 m
[see also: Elevation - mean elevation country ranks ]
elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Ponta do Pico (Pico or Pico Alto) on Ilha do Pico in the Azores 2,351 m

Natural resources:
fish, forests (cork), iron ore, copper, zinc, tin, tungsten, silver, gold, uranium, marble, clay, gypsum, salt, arable land, hydropower

Land use:
agricultural land: 39.7% arable land 11.9%; permanent crops 7.8%; permanent pasture 20%
[see also: Land use - agricultural land country ranks ]
forest: 37.8%
[see also: Land use - forest country ranks ]
other: 22.5% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - other country ranks ]

Irrigated land:
5,400 sq km (2012)
[see also: Irrigated land country ranks ]

Population - distribution:
concentrations are primarily along or near the Atlantic coast; both Lisbon and the second largest city, Porto, are coastal cities

Natural hazards:
Azores subject to severe earthquakes
volcanism: limited volcanic activity in the Azores Islands; Fayal or Faial (1,043 m) last erupted in 1958; most volcanoes have not erupted in centuries; historically active volcanoes include Agua de Pau, Furnas, Pico, Picos Volcanic System, San Jorge, Sete Cidades, and Terceira

Environment - current issues:
soil erosion; air pollution caused by industrial and vehicle emissions; water pollution, especially in coastal areas

Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Environmental Modification

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