The name of
Portugal derives from the Roman name Portus Cale. It pierces was the
name of a located primitive establishment in the opening of the Duero, that
flows towards the Atlantic Ocean in the north of the present country. During the
Second Punic War (final of century III a. Cs.) the Romans take part in the
Iberian Peninsula against the Carthaginians. In that conflict they conquered the
locality of Pierces (port of Greek origin near the present Oporto) happening to
denominate it Portus Cale. During the Average Age, the surrounding region to
Pierces happened to be denominated by the visigodos Portucale. That name would
derive in Portugale during centuries VII and VIII. The term was used to talk
about to the region between the Duero and Miño. Some historians think that the
word Pierces drift of the Greek Kalles (" bonito"), talking about to the beauty
of the valley of the Duero, where the Greeks decided to settle down. The word
would be transformed by the Phoenicians into Pierces, thus happening to the
Romans. Other authors think that She pierces drift of the galaicos towns that
lived in the zone. Portu comes from the word Port, name that also receives the
city that is at the moment in the place, Oporto (Porto in Portuguese). The
location of the old one Pierces is the present Gaia (Vila Nova de Gaia), a town
to the other side of the river. Many think that both cities must be united, due
to their proximity and to its historical connections.
Portugal is a member of the
European Union
since 1986 and chaired the
European
Council during the first half of 2000. During that period, the Portuguese
diplomatic efforts spent to establish a dialogue with African countries as well
as give the
European economy more competitive. In 2007 it was again the presidency of
the Council of
Europe. On this occasion it was agreed the Lisbon Treaty
Portugal 01 - Portugal 02
El Algarve it is the most southern region of continental
Portugal. It includes a statistical sub-region with the same name and the same
dimensions, and that also corresponds, in its totality, to the old province of
the same name, to the district of Light and the new Great Metropolitan Area of
the Algarve.
The relief of the Algarve is characterized by
smooth hills crossed by valleys. The main mountainous zones are the mountain
range of Monchique and the mountain range of Caldeirão.
Portugal has become a diversified
and increasingly service-based since it joined the
EU in 1986. In
the last decade, governments have privatized many state enterprises and
liberalized key areas of the economy, including the financial and
telecommunications. The country qualified for the
European
Monetary Union (EMU) in 1998 and began circulating its new currency, the
euro, on
January 1, 2002, along with 11 other member economies
UE.
Economic growth has been above the
EU average for
much of the last decade (1991-2000). In 2007 the value of GDP reached 1.9%.
The ordered list of 2005's annual competition of the
World
Economic Forum (WEF -
World
Economic Forum), puts Portugal in position 22 º,
compared to countries like
Spain,
Ireland,
France,
Belgium or the
city of Hong Kong. This classification represents a rise of two places in front
of the position of 2004. In the technological context,
Portugal is in 20 th place in the list and under the heading of public
institutions, Portugal is the 15th best.
Portugal's main industries are oil refineries,
automotive, cement production, the paper industry, textile and footwear,
furniture, and corcho. Manufacturing accounts for 33% of Portuguese exports.
Portugal is the fifth largest producer of tungsten,
and the eighth largest producer of wine. Agriculture and fishing no longer
represent the highest concentration of the economy. However,
Portugal has a tradition in the fisheries sector, and
is one of the countries with the highest per capita fish production in the
world.
Portuguese wines, especially port wine and Madeira wine, are recognized
worldwide.