Algarve facts for kids

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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 (from Arabic: الغرب al-Gharb "the West") is the southernmost region of continental Portugal. The capital of the Algarve is the city of Faro. There is an international airport and a public university (University of Algarve).

The present region of Algarve coincides with the old province of the same name and with the Faro district. The main economic activity in the region is tourism because its beaches and its historical buildings.

History
Geography
Administrative division
Economy
Gallery
Images for kids
See also

History

The name Algarve comes from Gharb Al-Andalus (Arabic: غرب الأندلس, gharb al-ʼandalus; "The West of Al-Andalus"), or just Al-Gharb (Arabic: الغرب, al-gharb; "The West"), the name given by the Muslims of Iberia to the region to the west of Andalusia.

Geography

Algarve has an area of 744.57 km² (287.48 sq mi). It borders with the Alentejo region (Alentejo Litoral and Baixo Alentejo subregions) to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the west and south, and the Guadiana river, and Andalusia (Spain), to the east.

The Algarve region is divided in two zones, each with eight municipalities:

Barlavento, the western zone, with Portimão as main city; and
Sotavento, the eastern zone, with Faro as main city.

The main mountain ranges are Serra de Monchique, la Serra de Espinhaço de Cão and Serra do Caldeirão. The highest point in the region is the Fóia mountain, 902 m (2,959 ft) high, in the Serra de Monchique mountain range.

The westernmost point of the region, and of continental Europa, is Cape St. Vincent (Portuguese: Cabo de São Vicente), in the municipality of Vila do Bispo.

Administrative division

Algarve is formed by 16 municipalities (or concelhos) and 67 freguesias.

Municipalities of Algarve

Map	Municipality	Population (2011)	Area (km²)	Population density	Freguesias
Barlavento zone
1	Vila do Bispo	5,258	179.06	29.4	4
2	Aljezur	5,884	323.50	18.2	4
3	Monchique	6,045	395.30	15.3	3
4	Lagos	31,049	212.99	145.8	4
5	Portimão	55,614	182.06	305.5	3
6	Lagoa	22,975	88.25	260.3	4
7	Silves	37,126	680.06	54.6	6
8	Albufeira	40,828	140.66	290.3	4
Sotavento zone
9	Loulé	70,622	763.67	92.5	9
10	Faro	64,560	202.57	318.7	4
11	São Brás de Alportel	10,622	153.37	69.3	1
12	Olhão	45,396	130.86	346.9	4
13	Tavira	26,167	606.97	43.1	6
14	Alcoutim	2,917	575.36	5.1	4
15	Castro Marim	6,747	300.84	22.4	4
16	Vila Real de Santo António	19,156	61.25	312.8	3

Among the 16 municipalities, Loulé is the largest of the region, with an área of 763.67 km² (294.85 sq mi); this municipality and Silves border both the Alentejo region and the Atlantic Ocean. Vila Real de Santo António is the smallest municipality with an área of 61.25 km² (23.65 sq mi).

Only three municipalities do not border the ocean: Monchique, São Brás de Alportel and Alcoutim.

Economy

Apartments overlooking the beach in Praia da Rocha, Portimão.

Farming products of the region include fig, almond, orange, carob bean, strawberry tree and cork oak. Horticulture is also important. Fishing and aquaculture are important activities in the coastal area of Algarve.

The wines of the region are well-known. There are four wines in the region which have Protected Designation of Origin (Denominação de Origem Controlada – DOC): Lagoa DOC, Lagos DOC, Portimão DOC and Tavira DOC.

Food processing, cement and construction, are the main industries.

Tourism related activities are extensive and make the bulk of Algarve's economy during summer time.

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.
A glimpse of Loulé Carnival. Carnival is celebrated yearly in the region of the Algarve and many cities and towns organize carnival parades.
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