Algarve facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Quick facts for kids Algarve
Region
The city of Silves, the old capital of the Algarve .
Name origin: algarve from Arabic: الغرب the west

Country	Portugal

Capital	Faro
- elevation	11 m (36 ft)
- coordinates	37°0′52″N 7°56′7″W / 37.01444°N 7.93528°W / 37.01444; -7.93528
Highest point	Fóia
- location	Serra de Monchique
- elevation	902 m (2,959 ft)
- coordinates	37°18′54″N 8°35′47″W / 37.31500°N 8.59639°W / 37.31500; -8.59639
Lowest point	Sea level
- location	Atlantic Ocean
- elevation	0 m (0 ft)

Length	143 km (89 mi), East-West
Width	63 km (39 mi), North-South
Area	4,996.80 km² (1,929 sq mi)

Population	442,358 (2013)
Density	89 /km² (231 /sq mi)

Timezone	WET (UTC+0)
- summer (DST)	WEST (UTC+1)
NUTS	PT15

GDP (PPP)	2013 estimate
- Total	€ 9.274 billion
- Per capita	€ 20,900
GDP (nominal)	2013 estimate
- Total	€ 7.232 billion
- Per capita	€ 16,300

Statistics from INE (2011)

The Algarve is the southernmost part of Portugal. Its name comes from the Arabic words al-Gharb, meaning "the West". The main city and capital of the Algarve is Faro. You can find an airport and a public university (University of Algarve) there.

The Algarve region is known for its beautiful beaches and old buildings. Because of this, tourism is the most important way people make money here. The region today is the same as the old province and the Faro district.

History of Algarve
Geography of Algarve
Administrative Divisions
Economy of Algarve
Gallery
Images for kids
See also

History of Algarve

The name Algarve comes from Gharb Al-Andalus. This means "The West of Al-Andalus" in Arabic. The Muslim people who lived in Iberia gave this name to the area west of Andalusia.

Geography of Algarve

The Algarve covers an area of about 4,997 square kilometers (1,929 square miles). To the north, it shares a border with the Alentejo region. The Atlantic Ocean is to its west and south. To the east, it borders the Guadiana river and Andalusia in Spain.

The Algarve region is split into two main parts:

Barlavento: This is the western part. Its main city is Portimão.
Sotavento: This is the eastern part. Its main city is Faro.

The region has several mountain ranges. These include Serra de Monchique, Serra de Espinhaço de Cão, and Serra do Caldeirão. The highest point in the Algarve is Fóia mountain. It is 902 meters (2,959 feet) high and is part of the Serra de Monchique mountains.

The westernmost point of the Algarve, and of continental Europa, is Cape St. Vincent. You can find it in the municipality of Vila do Bispo.

Administrative Divisions

The Algarve is made up of 16 municipalities, also called concelhos. These municipalities are further divided into 67 smaller areas called freguesias.

Municipalities of Algarve

Among the 16 municipalities, Loulé is the largest. It covers an area of about 764 square kilometers (295 square miles). Both Loulé and Silves touch both the Alentejo region and the Atlantic Ocean. Vila Real de Santo António is the smallest municipality, with an area of about 61 square kilometers (24 square miles).

Only three municipalities in the Algarve do not have a coastline: Monchique, São Brás de Alportel, and Alcoutim.

Economy of Algarve

Apartments overlooking the beach in Praia da Rocha, Portimão.

The Algarve grows many different farm products. These include figs, almonds, oranges, carob beans, strawberry trees, and cork oak. Growing plants and flowers (called Horticulture) is also important. Along the coast, Fishing and raising fish (called aquaculture) are big activities.

The wines from the Algarve are well-known. Four wines from the region have a special quality mark called "Protected Designation of Origin" (DOC). These are Lagoa DOC, Lagos DOC, Portimão DOC, and Tavira DOC.

Other important industries include making food products, cement, and construction.

Tourism is a huge part of the Algarve's economy, especially in the summer. Many people visit for the beaches and sunny weather.

Gallery

The city of Tavira
The historic centre of Lagos
Portimão at night
Partial view of Carvoeiro
A beach in Albufeira
Vila Real de Santo António
Municipal market of Loulé
Silves Cathedral

Images for kids

Conii script, 8th century BC.
The Roman temple of Milreu in Estói
Mosaic of Roman God Oceanus, found in Ossonoba, modern day Faro
A Visigothic capital found in Silves
The city of Silves, the first capital of the Algarve and an example of the noticeable Moorish influence in the region
Statue of King Afonso III of Portugal in Faro, Algarve, Portugal
Portrait of Henry the Navigator who based himself near Lagos, in the Algarve, and conducted various maritime expeditions.
The walls of the ancient town of Lagos which was severely destroyed during the 1755 earthquake
Opened in July 1965, Faro International Airport became a hub for the first time in March 2010 when Ryanair decided to base a number of its aircraft there.
Aerial view of Ria Formosa
In the summer, droughts and very high temperature spells in the interior Algarve often result in wildfires
Cape St. Vincent, Europe's southwesternmost point, has a dry and very moderate climate (temperatures usually vary between 13 and 19 °C (55 and 66 °F) throughout the year)
A partial view of Portimão, the second largest city of the Algarve
A view of Odeceixe, in the northwestern Algarve
The interior of the Algarve consists of small villages and is sparsely inhabited.
Faro International Airport.
A panoramic view of Faro, the capital of the Algarve
A22 motorway near Albufeira, Algarve, Portugal.
Praia da Rocha, Portimão, one of many sites that attract tourists
The Saffron Indian restaurant in the shopping arcade located in the neighborhood of Cerro Grande, Albufeira, Algarve, Portugal.
Aerial view of Monte Gordo, in the Algarve, Portugal.
The Algarve features some of Europe's top golf courses.
A view of Vilamoura, its marina and hotels.
Postcard of the early 20th century with a photograph of the Costa de Oiro (Golden Coast) near the city of Lagos, Algarve, in southern Portugal. In the center is the Dona Ana Beach, and the building on the left is the Convento da Trindade (Trinitarian Convent).
Scotland fans dancing on Francisco Sá Carneiro Avenue (The Strip) in Albufeira after the Gibraltar vs. Scotland UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying game played at Estádio Algarve.
Silves Municipality coat of arms: Arab and Berber influences due to Islamic occupation of the territory of the Algarve between the 8th and the 13th centuries are seen in language, architecture, food, faces and even the Algarvean municipalities' coats of arms.
A view of the Castle of Loulé with the Portuguese flag.
Typical architecture of the Algarve: ornate chimneys and platibandas are unique in their designs and first appeared in the 19th century.
A central street in Tavira, Portugal.
Algarve ceramic and pottery shop in Lagos.
Typical sweets of the Algarve: Dom Rodrigo, doces de amêndoa (marzipan sweets) and fig paste sweets.
Seafood Cataplana at World Heritage Cuisine Summit & Food Festival 2018: the cataplana is a Portuguese method of cooking, item of cookware used for cooking a wide variety of ingredients and typical dish from the Algarve.
Portuguese Water Dogs are native to the Algarve; they were the fisherman's main companion and often accompanied sailors during the Portuguese discoveries.
A Mediterranean chameleon
Map of the land area of the Southwest Alentejo and Vicentine Coast Natural Park in the southwest corner of Portugal. This Portuguese natural park covers territory of coastal Algarve from Burgau to Odeceixe.
Almond blossom (Prunus dulcis) in Algarve, Portugal.
Quercus suber in Algarve.
Arbutus unedo (strawberry tree) fruits in Algarve.
The 30,000-seat Algarve Stadium (Estádio Algarve) was built as a venue for UEFA Euro 2004.
Algarve International Circuit holds since 2020 the Formula One
Aníbal Cavaco Silva, Prime Minister and President of Portugal.
José Mendes Cabeçadas, Portuguese Navy officer, revolutionary and politician.
Laura Ayres, virologist.
Maria Keil, visual artist.
A street in Silves
Marina beach in Vilamoura
Typical view of the Algarve coast
Beach in Quarteira
Shepherd and sheep near Lagos
Desert island near Faro
Sagres Point, in the extreme of continental Portugal
The bog fountain in Alte
Silves Cathedral
The open fields of the Algarve in spring
The spa resort town of Caldas de Monchique