ALGARVE
Geography and Landscape

Basic information
Official language	Portuguese
Capital	Faro
Area	6.500 km²
Population	438,864  (2019)
Currency	euro  (EUR)
Web	.pt
Code.	PRT
Tel.	+351

Popular destinations PORTUGAL

Algarve	Azores	Costa de lisboa
Costa verde	Madeira

Geography and Landscape

Geography

The Algarve is the southernmost part of Portugal. To the east, the Algarve is bordered by the Rio Guadiana. This river also forms the border with Spain. In the north the Algarve borders the Spanish province of Alentejo and to the south and west of the Algarve lies the Atlantic Ocean.

Algarve Rock Formations_{Photo: Triops 1972 CC 4.0 International no changes made}

The total area of Algarve covers more than 6,500 square kilometers. There is a coastline of 170 kilometers. From the coast to the northernmost point is a maximum of 40 kilometers.

Landscape

The landscape of the Algarve is very varied. The coast has the well-known rock formations with small beaches to the west of Faro. Many rocks, caverns and caves formed by water and wind can be found here. East of Faro are lagoons and kilometers of sandy beaches. The coastline is almost completely protected nature reserve (Parque Natural da Ria Formosa). Albufeira, Lagos and Portimao are the somewhat larger coastal towns.

View from Foia , the highest point in the Algarve _{Photo: Glen Bowman CC 4.0 International no changes made}

The interior of the Algarve is sparsely populated and virtually untouched by tourism. Here you can admire beautiful villages and towns and castles where it seems as if time has stood still. This area is hilly with the highest peak being Foia (902 m) near Monchique.

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Sources

Champion,N. / Portugal Corona

Dominicus, J. / Portugal Gottmer

Encarta Encyclopedie

Holisova, J. / Algarve ANWB

Keuning, T. / Portugal ANWB

Wakeren, B. van / Algarve, Zuid-Portugal, Lissabon Gottmer

CIA - World Factbook

BBC - Country Profiles

Last updated November 2024
Copyright: Team The World of Info