Algarves
| Algarve | |
| Distrito de Faro | |
| Region | |
.jpg) Algarve's typical coast (Marinha Beach, near Lagoa).
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| Name origin: algarve from Arabic: الغرب the west | |
| Country | Portugal |
|---|---|
| Region | Algarve |
| Capital | Faro |
| - elevation | 11 m (36 ft) |
| - coordinates | 37°0′52″N 7°56′7″W / 37.01444°N 7.93528°WCoordinates: 37°0′52″N 7°56′7″W / 37.01444°N 7.93528°W |
| Highest point | Fóia |
| - elevation | 902.0 m (2,959 ft) |
| Lowest point | Sea level |
| - location | Atlantic Ocean |
| - elevation | 0.0 m (0 ft) |
| Area | 4,996.80 km2 (1,929 sq mi) |
| Population | 451,006 (2011) |
| Density | 90/km2 (233/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 |
 Location of the Algarve Region in context of the national borders
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Website: amal |
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| Statistics from INE (2005); geographic detail from Instituto Geográfico Português (2010) | |
The Algarve (Portuguese pronunciation: [ɑɫˈɣaɾβɨ)], from Arabic: الغرب al-Gharb "the West") is the southernmost region of continental Portugal. It has an area of 4,997 square kilometres (1,929 sq mi) with 451,006 permanent inhabitants, and incorporates 16 municipalities. The region has as its administrative centre in the city of Faro, where both the region's international airport (FAO) and public university, the University of Algarve, are located. Tourism and related activities are extensive and make up the bulk of the Algarve's summer economy. Production of food, which includes fish and other seafood, fruit, oranges, carob beans, figs and almonds, is also economically important in the region. The Algarve is the most popular tourist destination in Portugal, and one of the most popular in Europe. Its population triples to nearly 1.5 million people in the peak holiday season thanks to seasonal residents, and receives an average of 7 million foreign tourists each year. In total, including national visitors, almost 10 million people visit the Algarve annually.
The Algarve is currently the third richest region in Portugal, after Lisbon and Madeira, with a GDP per capita 86% of the European Union average.
Human presence in southern Portugal dates back to the Paleolithic and Neolithic periods. The presence of megalithic stones in the area of Vila do Bispo attests to this presence.
The Cynetes, influenced by Tartessos, were established by the sixth century BC in the region of the Algarve (called Cyneticum). They would be strongly influenced by the Celtici. Those indo-European tribes, Celtic or pre-Celtic, founded the city of Lagos (then called Lacóbriga). The Phoenicians had established trading ports along the coast circa 1000 BC. Some sources claim that the Carthaginians founded Portus Hanibalis – known today as Portimão – in about 550 BC. Much of the Iberian Peninsula was absorbed into the Roman Republic in the second century BC (despite the resistance of the Lusitanians and other tribes), and the Algarve region similarly came under Roman control. Many Roman ruins can still be seen, notably in Lagos, but also at Milreu. Roman bath complexes and fish salting tanks have been found near the shore in several locations, for example the ones near Vilamoura and Praia da Luz.
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Wikipedia