A PAIN WITH SPAINBY JORDAN BARNETT

(GEOGRAPHY)

PORTUGAL IS ON THE WEST COAST OF THE IBERIAN PENINSULA, WHICH IT SHARES WITH SPAIN. COVERING 35,672 SQUARE MILES OR 92,391 SQUARE KILOMETERS, PORTUGAL’S TOTAL LAND AREA IS ABOUT THE SIZE OF INDIA. THE PORTUGUESE REPUBLILIC INCLUDES THE MAINLAND, THE MADERIA ARCHIPELAGO, AND THE OZORES ARCHE PELAGO.

(CLIMATE)

NORTHERN PORTUGAL HAS A GENERALLY COOLER CLIMATE THAN THE SOUTH, WITH HEAVIER RAINFALL. ABOUT 60 INCHES OF RAIN FALLS EACH YEAR. THIS CONTRASTS WITH SOME 20 INCHES IN THE SOUTH. TEMPS. ARE MILD OVER MOST OF PORTUGAL DURING THE WINTER. THE EXCEPTIONS ARE IN THE MOUNTAINS OF THE NORTHERN INTERIOR, WHERE IT IS COLD AND SNOWY. SUMMERS ARE WARM IN THE NORTHERN VALLEYS AND COASTAL DISTRICTS. THEY ARE HOT IN THE DRY PLAINS OF THE SOUTH.

(NATURAL RECOURCES)

PORTUGAL HAS LIMITED NATURAL RECOURCES. ITS SOILS ARE NOT ESPECIALLY FERTILE, EXCEPT IN THE LARGE RIVER VALLEYS. MUCH OF THE LAND IS SUITABLE ONLY FOR GRAZING LIVESTOCK. FORESTS COVER NEARLY ONE THIRD OF PORTUGALS LAND. OF THE VARIETIES OF TREES FOUND, THE CORCK OAK IS THE MOST VALABLE. IRON, ORE, COOPER, ZINK, TIN, AND WOLFRAMITE ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT MINERALS. THE COASTAL WATERS ARE RICH IN A VERIETY OF FISH. THE SWIFT RIVERS OF THE NORTH ARE AN IMPORTANT SOURCE OF HYDRO—ELECTRIC POWER.

(GOVERNMENT)

PORTUGAL IS A REPUBLIC WITH AN ELECTED PARLIAMENT AND ELECTED PRESIDENT. THE PORTUGUESE PARLIAMENT, CALLED THE ASSYMBLY OF REPUBLIC, HAS 254 MEMBERS. ALL MEMBERS OF THE PARLIAMENT SERVE FOUR YEAR TERMS. THE PRESIDENT, WHO IS HEAD OF THE STATE, SERVES A FIVE YEAR TERM. THE PRESIDENT CHOOSES A PRIME MINISTER AS WELL AS A CABINET OF MINISTERS.

MORE ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT

THE PORTUGUESE JUDICIAL SYSTEM HAVE COURTS TO A SUPREME COURT.

MAINLAND PORTUGAL IS DIVIDED INTO EIGHTEEN ADMINISTRATIVE DISTRCITS. EACH DISTRICT ELECTS ITS OWN GOVERNER AND HAS ITS OWN LEGISLATURE.

(ECONOMY)

SINCE PORTUGAL BECAME A MEMBER OF THE EU, MANUFACTURING HAS BEEN THE NATIONS FASTEST GROWING INDUSTRY. THE COUNTRY MANUFACTURES A WIDE RANGE OF PRODUCTS, FROM TEXTILES AND PAPER TO OIL AND STEEL.

PORTUGALS LEADING EXPORTS ARE CLOTHING, FOOTWEAR, CORK, AND WINE. ITS MAIN TRADING PARTNERS ARE OTHER MEMBERS OF THE EU.

(PEOPLE AND LIFESTYLE)

PORTUGAL HAS A POPULATION OF JUST OVER 10 MILLION PEOPLE. MOST PORTUGUESE HAVE DARK HAIR, BROWN EYES, AND OLIVE SKIN. THEIR SIMILAR APPEARANCE IS A RESULT OF THE GRADUAL MIXING OF THE ETHNIC GROUPS THAT LIVED IN PORTUGAL OVER THE CENTRIES.

PORTUGAL ALSO HAS A FEW MINORITY GROUPS, INCLUDING AFRICANS, WHO CAME FROM THE COUNTRIES FORMER COLONIES, AND JEWS.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PzkxDPOvUOE&feature=player_embedded

(FAMILIES)

FAMILY IS IMPORTANT TO THE PORTUGESE. MOST YOUNG ADULTS STAY IN CONTACT WITH THEIR PARENTS EVERY DAY, EVEN IF THEY HAVE STARTED A FAMILY OF THEIR OWN.

THE END!!!!!!!!