Algarve
The Algarve is the southernmost region of Portugal. It has an area of 4989 km ² ( 5.59% of mainland Portugal ) and around 441,000 inhabitants ( 4.30% of mainland Portugal). The Algarve is one of the seven regions of Portugal ( Região do Algarve ). It is also congruent with the statistical subregion Algarve, the metropolitan region of Algarve ( Grande Área Metropolitana do Algarve ) and the District of Faro, one of 18 districts in the country (Distrito de Faro). Largest city and administrative center of the region is Faro. Especially the southern coast of the Algarve is more touristy developed.
Name and etymology
Has fallen since the old German name " Algarves " disuse, has become the norm in German " the Algarve ", although the name in Portuguese is male (o Algarve). As with many place names in the Iberian Peninsula also testifies in the Algarve the initial sound from the Arabic Al- Origin of name: The Arabic word al - Gharb / الغرب / al - Garb means in German, the West '.
The Algarve
In often only indistinct demarcation of each other, the term " Algarve " for different geographical, political and historical regions is used:
- Today's Algarve region
- Al- Gharb al -Andalus, the west of al -Andalus, one on today's Algarve region beyond (even most of the Alentejo and the Spanish province of Huelva comprehensive ) Province ( cora / kura ) of the Emirate of Cordoba or the Caliphate of Cordoba
- The created from the Moorish rest areas Kingdom Portuguese Algarve
- Algarve beyond the sea, the Portuguese conquests caused by expansion of the Kingdom of Algarve on the opposite coast of Morocco
- Principality of Algarve, in the Treaty of Fontainebleau (1807 ) provided part of State of Portugal south of the Tagus
South Portugal Kingdom, together with the Moroccan overseas as Algarves (plural: the Algarve ), formerly referred to as the Algarves.
Geography
The Algarve is a region in the extreme southwest of Europe. At Cabo de São Vicente in Sagres is the most south-westerly point of the continent and the Parque Natural do Southwest Alentejo and Costa Vicentina. The Algarve is bordered to the north by the region of Alentejo, in the west and south by the Atlantic Ocean and to the east of the Rio Guadiana forms the border with Spain. The coastline of the Algarve stretches over 155 km from east to west and 52 km from south to north.
Geographically, the Algarve is divided from north to south into three regions
- Serra
- Barrocal
The Serra is composed of sandstone and shale and hinziehendes at an altitude between 300-500 m hill country. In the north- west of the Serra de Monchique towers over the highest point Pico da Fóia (902 m). The Serra makes up about half of the area of the Algarve, it is sparsely populated and with the exception of Monchique and around tourists rarely visited. The foothills of the barrocal joins to the south and covers about a quarter of the region. On the up to 400 m high consisting of limestone hills agriculture is mainly operated. The densely populated coastal strip " littoral " is the tourist center of the Algarve. This can again be in the Sotavento ( lit., Lee ',' downwind ') in the eastern part between the Spanish border and Faro, the Barlavento (, Luv ', facing the wind ') between Faro and the Cabo de São Vicente and the Vicentine members on the west coast of the Algarve and beyond the Alentejo Litoral. The Barlavento called " Felsalgarve ," is but a furrowed 20-50 m high cliffs with picturesque formations of yellow and reddish-brown limestone and sandstone cliffs and coves. The Sotavento is also known as "Sand Algarve ", because the area is characterized by sandy beaches and lagoon landscapes. In the east, the wide bay of the Gulf of Cádiz connects.
Largest communities ( census 2008)
Prehistory and history
The presence of man is in Portugal since Homo erectus. From Neanderthal traces are already apparent from a storage bin in Vilas Ruivas in the district of Castelo Branco. Conch shell heaps, called by archaeologists Køkkenmøddinger, emerged from the Mesolithic to the early Neolithic period by eating mussels at always the same point. For these middens and burials are known. From about 5000 BC agriculture is busy ( cardial or Impressokultur ). Later the numerous megalithic sites ( Alcalar ) emerged.
Around 1000 BC the Celts invaded here and mingled with the locals Celtiberian. Around the same time built the first Phoenician ports along the coast of the Algarve. The Carthaginians founded about 550 BC Portimão (Latin Portus Hanni Bali ). In the second century BC, the Iberian peninsula originated during the Roman colonization of villas, the ruins ( Abicada, Boca do Rio, Milreu - Estói, Vilamoura ) - can be visited - mainly in the area of Faro and Lagos.
Following conquest by the Goths in the fifth century, the Algarve was occupied from 711 by the Muslim Moors. The Arabic name al - Gharb (the West ) can be explained from the geographical point of view of Andalusia. The Moorish rule was ended by the Portuguese conquest ( Reconquista ) in the 13th century. From 1595 to 1808, the Algarve was a semi- autonomous region with its own fiscal sovereignty under the crown of Portugal. The Portuguese kings led in this time the title of King of Portugal and the Algarve. When in 1807 Napoleon invaded the north of Portugal, the Algarve was occupied by Spanish troops, the Spanish minister Manuel de Godoy was Prince of the Algarve. This occupation ended by the rebellion of Olhão in 1808.
Climate
In the Algarve, the most sunny days are counted throughout Europe. The summers are hot and dry; even in winter the temperature rarely drops below 10 degrees Celsius. Even the January offers sunny days around 20 degrees. The night temperatures are consistently pleasant. Strong summer heat is usually only for a few days, if, instead of the cool winds from the Atlantic called the Levante blows from Africa. In recent decades, the fire danger has increased.
Vegetation
The vegetation no longer meets today the original natural conditions, because Portugal was covered with the exception of the dunes and marshes on the coast with forest. The clearing began some already in the megalithic culture and reached its peak around 1550, when the Spaniards needed more wood for ships and craft.
Today there are mostly only maquis. In the late 1970s began a major reforestation campaign in which mainly conifers and eucalyptus seedlings were planted. Among other things, there are still growing hardy species of oak and cork trees. In the southern coastal area you will also find carob, fig, almond, laurel, and pomegranates. They were introduced by the Romans, who also spread the typical Mediterranean olive tree. The originating from South America Palisanderholzbäume ( Jacaranda mimosifolia ) is often found as an urban street trees that stand by their blue - purple flowers in spring. The Algarve region is also a growing area of cork oak.
Cabo de São Vicente
Museu Municipal in Faro
Steep coast near Sagres
Golfing in the Algarve
Economy
Expressed in comparison with the EU GDP in purchasing power standards, the region reached an index of 78.7 (EU -25: 100 ) (2003 ).
Tourism
While on the 4989 km ² only 440 777 (2010) permanent inhabitants, this number may increase in the summer months to more than three times when the summer quarters are filled. Famous the Algarve is famous for its numerous sandy beaches and the sometimes bizarre and monumental rock formations in the western part of the coast. Because of the many golf courses, some of which are directly applied to the cliff towards the area is popular with golfers. The archaeological sites are located in the coastal hinterland. Here especially Roman villas are interesting.
- Abicada ( Roman villa )
- Alcalar ( Megalithnekropole with restored plants ( Alcalar VII) )
- Milreu - Estói ( Roman villa )
- Silves (castle, Roman Bridge and Museum )
- Villa Vilamoura ( Roman villa )
The most south-westerly tip of Europe at Cabo de São Vicente, near the town of Sagres was formerly known as the end of the world. Tourism in the Algarve is the most important source of income throughout the region.
Management
The Algarve is in contrast to the other Portuguese administrative units both a region, subregion and with the district Faro, a homogeneous administrative unit that exactly the same area and population has. The Algarve is divided into the following 16 Municipalities:
- Loulé
- Monchique
- Olhão
- Portimão
- São Brás de Alportel
- Silves
- Tavira
- Vila do Bispo
- Vila Real de Santo António
Gallery
Praia da Luz
Historic center of Lagos
Marina beach in Vilamoura
Vila Real de Santo António