Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume XIII.djvu/757

 PORTUGAL 737 from N. E. to S. W., traversing the provinces of Beira and Estremadura, in the former of which it is called Serra da Estrella, and in the latter successively takes the names of Serra do Aire, Patelo, Albardos, and Junto. The extreme S. W. spurs of this great range com- prise the mountains of Torres Vedras, Mafra, and Cintra. The highest peaks of the Estrella range reach an altitude of about 6,500 ft. Other ridges traverse the country obliquely in the same direction as the former, such as the Serra do Moradal, S. of that of Estrella in Beira, and the Serra d'Ossa in Alemtejo, which in the E. corner of that province unites with the Portalegre chain almost at right angles. The southern branch of the latter is called the Serra de Viana. The remarkable Serra de Monchique, the eastern ramification of which is called Serra de Caldeirao and the western Serra Figueira, runs nearly parallel to the S. coast, and forms a natural barrier between Algarve and the remainder of the kingdom. It terminates in the rocky precipice of Cape St. Vincent, and like all the Portuguese moun- tains is but the western ramification of a great Spanish system. All the mountain scenery is fine, but that of the beautiful region around Cintra is unequalled elsewhere. The most im- portant rivers are the Tagus (Tejo), Douro, Guadiana, Minho, and Lima, all entering the kingdom from Spain, and the Sadao, Mondego, and Cavado, entirely within Portuguese terri- tory, the largest of which is the Mondego. The Tagus separates the provinces of Beira and Alemtejo, traverses Estremadura, and reaches the ocean through a vast estuary re- sembling rather an arm of the sea than a river, in which is the commodious harbor of Lisbon. It is navigable to Abrantes, upward of 80 m. inland. The Minho, forming the boundary line with the Spanish province of Pontevedra, likewise expands into a fine estuary through which it falls into the sea. The Douro, after a S. W. course of nearly 60 m. between the two kingdoms, traverses Portugal, and empties through a wide mouth below Oporto. The Guadiana crosses the frontier a short distance W. of Badajoz, forms the boundary line with the province of Badajoz for about 40 m., and then flows entirely within Alemtejo generally S. to the N. E. corner of Algarve, from which point S. it serves as the dividing line with Spain to its mouth at the extreme S. E. point of Portugal. There are several smaller riv- ers, none of which are navigable, and a few unimportant lakes. Mineral and hot springs are abundant; but the scarcity of water in many districts, particularly in Alemtejo, ren- ders large tracts uninhabitable. In the vicin- ity of Setubal and near Aveiro are several salt marshes. Granite constitutes the great geolo- gical base, which is generally overlaid by clay surrounded by granitic and syenitic mountains. In this district, about 11 m. from Oporto, is the anthracite coal field of Vallongo. Lime- stone abounds on the declivities of the Serras Junto, Arrabida, Monchique, and Calderao. S. of Abrantes is a tertiary basin with an area of more than 2,000 sq. m., in which Lisbon stands. S. of this secondary beds appear, and still further S., between Alemtejo and Algarve, is a lofty chain of hills consisting of schist and slate. The mineral products are consider- able, though few mines are worked. The lead mine of Bracal, not far from the river Vouga, gives occupation to a large number of persons. Gold and silver are found in small quantities. The salt pits yield about 60,000,000 bushels annually. The climate is on the whole cooler than that of Spain, the summer heat being tempered all along the coast lands by delight- ful sea breezes. The mean annual temperature at Coimbra is 62 F., and at Lisbon 61. In the northern mountainous parts snow some- times falls heavily ; in the south it is almost unknown. Abundant rains visit the W. coast in winter, but violent storms are rare. The soil is rich and the scenery beautiful. In ad- dition to the oak, chestnut, pine, elm, and ash, there are the cork tree, olive, walnut, mul- berry, orange, lemon, citron, fig, peach, apri- cot, almond, and arbutus. The camellia japo- nica, acacia, mimosa, and tulip abound. Hum- boldt estimates the different species of indi- genous plants as exceeding 3,200. A few wild animals are still found, such as the wolf, the wild cat, and the wild boar. Small game and edible fish are abundant. Portugal is divided into six provinces, which, with their areas, population (estimate of 1871 from the census of 1868), and capitals, are as follows: PROVINCES. Area, sq. m. Population, 1871. Capital?. Minho 2,807 971,001 Oporto. Tras os Montes Beira 4,289 9,244 365,838 1,294,282 Braganfa. Coimbra. Estremadura. 6,8T2 839,691 Lisbon Alemtejo 9,416 881,841 Evora. Algarve 1,872 188,422 Faro. Total 84,500 3,990,570 The provinces are subdivided, into 17 districts, and these into 111 comarcas and 3,774 parish- es. Lisbon, the capital of the kingdom, has a population of about 225,000; the other impor- tant towns are Oporto, Coimbra, Elvas, Bra- ga, Setubal, Evora, and Ovar, only one of which, Oporto, has over 50,000 inhabitants. The Azores or Western Isles (area, according to latest calculations, 996 sq. m., pop. about 250,000) and the islands of Madeira and Porto Santo (area 317 sq. m., pop. about 118,000) are administratively regarded as forming a part slates "and micaceous schist^ forming the up- of the kingdom The other colonial posses- per strata of several provinces. The district of the upper Douro is formed of slate rocks belonging to the Silurian system, and nearly sions of Portugal, with their areas and popula- tion (according to the latest estimates), are as follows :