THE ROAD TO PORTUGAL

Written by MOTORBIKE EUROPE Road Writers - Thursday, 24 March 2011 10:27

Portugal share borders only with Spain, and is otherwise surrounded in the west and south, by the Atlantic. The country is nearly rectangular, approx. 560 km from north to south, and 220 km from east to west. In Portugal, you can find mainland Europe's westernmost point, Cape Roca.

The major Portuguese cities are Lisbon, Porto, Coimbra, Braga, Faro, Portimão, Évora, Leiria, Beja, Vizeu, Guarda, Guimarães and Bragança, and each has something different to offer the touring motorcyclist, as well as the motorcycling tourist. Portugal's largest rivers are the Tagus, Douro, Mondego, Guadiana and Sado e Minho.

The top of the volcano on Pico, with its 2,351 meters, is Portugal's highest point. The area north of the Tagus river, consists mostly of highlands, with pine forests. South of the Tagus, the country consists mainly of undulating plains. The climate in northern Portugal is humid and mild, thanks to the Atlantic. In the south, the climate is warmer and drier, with mild winters.

The central area is very dry, extremely hot in summer, and very cold in winter. The temperature record is 43 degrees in the daytime, and there are often fires in the forests. On occasion, smaller cities have been surrounded by various fires, some of which have been very difficult to control.

Maritime transport has always been important to the Portuguese economy, and in the 14th century, an expansionary period began, and the country organized several expeditions. Portuguese ships were moving gradually further south along the west coast of Africa, and in 1488, a ship led by Bartolomeu Dias turned the Cape of Good Hope, for the first time. These expeditions ensured that Portugal could secure colonies in Brazil, and in the Indian Ocean.

Take a ride to the Port country, and enjoy life at the beaches, or in the highlands by the rivers. See you there, this summer.