Geography & environment — Portugal
Location, land area, terrain, climate, and natural resources.
Profile updated 2026-06-02
⚡ Geography & environment at a glance
Location, land area, terrain, climate, and natural resources. Key figure for Portugal: Europe
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Location & size
- Geographic Location
Europe
- Geographic Coordinates
39 30 N, 8 00 W
- Total Area
35,556 Square Miles 92,090 Square Kilometers
- Land Area
35,317 Square Miles 91,470 Square Kilometers
- Water Area
239 Square Miles 620 Square Kilometers
- Land Boundaries
754 Miles 1,214 Kilometers
- Border Countries
Spain 1,214 km
- Coastline
1,114 Miles 1,793 Kilometers
Physical geography
- Terrain
mountainous north of the Tagus River, rolling plains in south
- Highest Point
2,351 Meters
- Highest Point Location
Ponta do Pico (Pico or Pico Alto) on Ilha do Pico in the Azores 2,351 m
- Lowest Point Location
Atlantic Ocean 0 m
- Natural Resources
fish, forests (cork), iron ore, copper, zinc, tin, tungsten, silver, gold, uranium, marble, clay, gypsum, salt, arable land, hydropower
- Irrigated Land
2,254 Square Miles 5,837 Square Kilometers
Climate & time
- Time Zone
UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) time zone note: Portugal has two time zones, including the Azores (UTC-1)
- Daylight saving time
+1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
Climate
- Climate
Mainland Portugal experiences two distinct seasons. From late October to mid-May rain is frequent and sometimes heavy. Temperatures may drop into the low 30s at night during the coldest months, with daytime highs in the 50s and 60s. Annual variations in rainfall can be considerable, with years of flooding followed by years of drought. The remainder of the year is normally sunny with minimal rainfall. Days are pleasant, with temperatures seldom exceeding 95° F, except in the southern interior of the country. Afternoons and evenings are breezy, with nighttime temperatures in the 60s and low 70s. Spells of intense heat are infrequent and last only a few days. The Tagus River, flowing west into the Atlantic at Lisbon divides mainland Portugal into two distinct climatic regions. The northern part is relatively cool and rainy. In the south the climate is drier and warmer, particularly in the interior. The Azores climate tends to be moist and moderate throughout the year.
- Terrain
mountainous north of the Tagus River, rolling plains in south
- Location
Southwestern Europe, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Spain
- Total Area
35,556 Square Miles 92,090 Square Kilometers
- Border Countries
Spain 1,214 km
Environment
- 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