What Are The Main Contrasts To Be Found In Portugal? :: essays research papers fc

What argon The Main Contrasts To Be Found in Portugal?When answering a disbelief such as this, unmatchedness must(prenominal) primarily begin bypointing out that not lonesome(prenominal) does Portugal have a great umteen contrasts within itsland, but also that it contrasts greatly with the other Mediterranean countries.Portugal is not to be considered by any means as Spains poor neighbour, norshould a shadow be cast over it by such a formidable nation. Portugal has agreat deal to offer any visitor, it is not merely a tourists paradise, yet thisis regrettably how it is viewed by a cock-a-hoop number of individuals. One must alsonot forget Portugals explanation of being, in days gone by, one of the greatermaritime nations, one of the more advanced exploring countries of Europe. WhilstSpain was occupied with discovering the Indias and consequently the Americas,Portugal was itself busy exploring Africa and making its sustain invaluablediscoveries, although these are for the mo st part overlooked.Being situated on the westernmost edge of Europe and the IberianPeninsula, Portugal enjoys a relative retirement and independence from the rest ofMediterranean countries. Bordering on Spain on two sides and the sea on theothers, the nation as naturally turned towards the sea, from which it draws bothits specialness and wealth and turned its back on its greatest rival, Spain. Due toits invariant waves of invasion throughout the ages, Portugal is a vastly diverseland, not only in geographical call but also in terms of heritage. It is trueto say that Portugal does share a number of similarities with Spain, but it isby no means identical. Rather it is a nation which blends Moorish influences,British tradition and Mediterranean culture to form a truly fantastic land ofpeoples.When considering the diversity of a country such as Portugal, the book of facts of which immediately conjures up a melange of images from North Afri kittyto westward European, from hot and balmy weather to snow capped mountains, onemust really begin by describing the two principle factors, those of climate andgeography, which themselves are interwoven. These in turn have a great effecton and to a certain extent bring about other differences which rear end be notedwithin the narrow confines of this nation, such as those of vegetation, economyand landscape.On examining Portugal in terms of contrasting regions or areas, one mustobviously have a starting point and that is broadly speaking considered to be acomparison between north and south, the River Tagus (Tejo) being the dividingline. However, Portugal can naturally be divided into three great natural