Location:
Southwestern Europe, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Spain
Geographic coordinates:
39 30 N, 8 00 W
Map references:
Europe
Area:
Area - comparative: Land boundaries:
Coastline: Maritime claims:
Climate: Terrain: Elevation extremes:
Natural resources: Land use:
Irrigated land: Total renewable water resources: Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
Natural hazards: Environment - current issues: Environment - international agreements:
Geography - note:
total:
92,090 sq km
country comparison to the world: 111
land:
91,470 sq km
water:
620 sq km
note:
includes Azores and Madeira Islands
slightly smaller than Indiana
total:
1,214 km
border countries:
Spain 1,214 km
[see also: Land boundaries country ranks ]
1,793 km
[see also: Coastline country ranks ]
territorial sea:
12 nm
contiguous zone:
24 nm
exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
continental shelf:
200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation
maritime temperate; cool and rainy in north, warmer and drier in south
More Climate Details
mountainous north of the Tagus River, rolling plains in south
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
fish, forests (cork), iron ore, copper, zinc, tin, tungsten, silver, gold, uranium, marble, clay, gypsum, salt, arable land, hydropower
arable land:
11.88%
permanent crops:
7.71%
other:
80.41% (2011)
5,837 sq km (2007)
[see also: Irrigated land country ranks ]
68.7 cu km (2011)
[see also: Total renewable water resources country ranks ]
total:
8.46 cu km/yr (12%/18%/69%)
per capita:
812 cu m/yr (2005)
Azores subject to severe earthquakes
volcanism:
limited volcanic activity in the Azores Islands; Fayal or Faial (elev. 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
soil erosion; air pollution caused by industrial and vehicle emissions; water pollution, especially in coastal areas
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
Azores and Madeira Islands occupy strategic locations along western sea approaches to Strait of Gibraltar