In the picture is the Flashcard for portugal from the Creative Brain Flash Card Series.
PORTUGAL FACTS FOR KIDS
Portugal is a southern European country on the Iberian Peninsula, bordering Spain.
QUICK FACTS
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Official name: Portuguese Republic |
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Capital: Lisbon |
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Official Language: Portuguese, Mirandese |
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Currency: Euro |
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Continent: Europe |
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Population: 10.6 million |
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Major rivers: The Tagus, The Guadiana, The Douro |
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Major Cities: Porto, Coimbra, Braga, Evora |
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Major Mountains: Mount Pico, Mount Torre, Mount Estrela |
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National Sport: Football |
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National Tree: The Cork Oak |
GEOGRAPHY AND CLIMATE
The geography of Portugal is generally mountainous and has a mix of rugged coastlines, plateaus, plains, and Valleys.
The climate of Portugal is temperate and influenced by the Atlantic Ocean. It enjoys a warm temperate climate with wet winters, dry summers, and the highest temperatures averaging above 71 F.
PEOPLE AND CULTURE
The people of Portugal are very religious and linguistic. The ethnic Portuguese people form 95% of the total population. The first to settle were the Iberians, and over the years Celts, Romans, Germanic tribes, Moors, Jews, and others migrated into the area and combined to develop a people with unique physical characteristics.
Portugal’s cultural heritage as well as the friendly, welcoming nature of the Portuguese themselves have been marked by African, American, and Asian influences. From festivals to food, Portuguese culture is full of many intertwined elements that create an exciting and vibrant atmosphere. Art, religion, literature, and even soccer are all important aspects of life for the people of Portugal.
THE FLAG
The national flag of Portugal is a rectangular bicolor with a field divided into green on the hoist, and red on the fly. Red symbolizes all of the blood lost by people fighting for Portugal to become a republic and green symbolizes hope for the future. The coat of arms is centered on the line between the two colors. There's a red shield, which sits on top of the yellow armillary sphere. The small blue shields represent the five wounds of Christ, while the seven castles represent Portugal's victory over its enemies.
FLORA AND FAUNA
There are over 3 000 species of vascular plants, around 400 species of vertebrates, and an unknown number of invertebrates. Scilla, Daffodil, Thyme, Origanum Majorana, Asteriscus Maritimes, Laurel’s, and Clematis are some of the flowers native to Portugal. Blue gum tree, Maritime Pine Cork oak tree, Holm Oak, Mediterranean Cypress, Cedar, and Ash tree are native trees of the region.
Fauna is a mixture of European and North African species. Wild animals found in Portugal include wolves, lynxes, wildcats, wild boars, goats, deer, and hares, Wild goats, pigs and deer can be found in the Portuguese countryside. Bird life is rich because the peninsula lies on the winter migration route of western and central European species.
POPULAR SPORTS
Football (Soccer) is the most popular sport in Portugal and also the most practiced. Other than football, many other professional well-organized sports competitions take place every season in Portugal, including basketball, swimming, athletics, tennis, gymnastics, futsal, rink hockey, team handball, volleyball, surfing, canoeing, and rugby.
PLACES OF ATTRACTION
Belem Tower: The tower is located in the city of Lisbon. This monument was erected to serve both as a gateway to the city of Lisbon and as a defense against possible invasion and attack from the enemy.
Church of Saint Ildefonso, Porto: The Church of Saint Ildefonso dates back to the 18th century and is located in Porto, near Batalha Square. Completed in 1739, the church was built in a proto-Baroque style.
A must-ride in City Tram: The Lisbon tramway network is a system of trams that serve Lisbon, the capital city of Portugal. In operation since 1873. Arguably the most popular Tram no.28 in Lisbon, runs from Martim Moniz to Campo de Ourique, thanks to all the landmarks and sites you can see along the way.
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CONTRIBUTED BY:
Saffura is a mother of three. She is a yoga instructor and has spent a lot of time teaching yoga for children. She narrates numerous stories to inculcate moral values in children, as she is certain that yoga is for the body and soul. As a mother and yoga instructor, She enjoys new tasks and likes multitasking. She truly believes that will mould her into a strong writer. As a writer she does a lot of research and pays keen attention to details.
