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Location:
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Southwestern Europe, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Spain
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Geographic coordinates:
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39 30 N, 8 00 W
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Map references:
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Europe
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Area:
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total: 92,391 sq km
land: 91,951 sq km
note: includes Azores and Madeira Islands
water: 440 sq km
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Area - comparative:
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slightly smaller than Indiana
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Land boundaries:
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total: 1,214 km
border countries: Spain 1,214 km
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Coastline:
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1,793 km
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Maritime claims:
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contiguous zone: 24 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
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Climate:
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maritime temperate; cool and rainy in north, warmer and drier in south
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Terrain:
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mountainous north of the Tagus River, rolling plains in south
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Ponta do Pico (Pico or Pico Alto) on Ilha do Pico in the Azores 2,351 m
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Natural resources:
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fish, forests (cork), tungsten, iron ore, uranium ore, marble, arable land, hydropower
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Land use:
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arable land: 20.57%
permanent crops: 7.74%
other: 71.69% (1999 est.)
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Irrigated land:
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6,320 sq km (1998 est.)
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Natural hazards:
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Azores subject to severe earthquakes
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Environment - current issues:
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soil erosion; air pollution caused by industrial and vehicle emissions; water pollution, especially in coastal areas
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Environment - international agreements:
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party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Environmental Modification, Nuclear Test Ban
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Geography - note:
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Azores and Madeira Islands occupy strategic locations along western sea approaches to Strait of Gibraltar
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