Lisbon in Europe Lisbon is the capital and largest city of Portugal and the same administrative district and lies on a bay of the river mouth of the Tagus River in the extreme southwest of Europe on the Atlantic coast of the Iberian Peninsula. lisbon The commercial port on the Tagus Cove was before the Roman domination of Ali Ubbo called. Lisbon, founded by the Phoenicians, received at the time of Julius Caesar under the name of Colonia Julia Felicitas Township law. 711 was the place like most of the Iberian Peninsula to the Moors, in the context of the Second Crusade in 1147 Lisbon Portuguese and thus again placed under Christian rule. Following the relocation of the royal seat of Coimbra , the city in 1256 under King Afonso III. the capital of the Kingdom of Portugal. Around 1500, Lisbon saw a brilliant ascent to one of the most prestigious trade and port cities of the time. A massive earthquake in 1755 sealed the economic decline of the city, which had been used decades earlier, insidious, and caused a sensation throughout Europe. In the 19th Century saw a resurgence of Lisbon.

In recent years, the city, however shrunk massively (by more than 800,000 inhabitants in 1980 to 500,000 in 2010), many people have moved into the surrounding countryside. Lisbon has to contend with serious structural problems, among which stand out above all the dilapidated buildings of many buildings and high traffic volumes. portugal lisbon lisbon city lisbon bridge As the largest city in Portugal is still the main port, the seat of government , the chief of state and government agencies, several universities and the Academy of Sciences Lisbon today is the political, economic and cultural center of the country. Lisbon is home to a number of agencies, European Union , including the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction and the European Maritime Safety Agency . The Community of Portuguese-speaking Countries (CPLP) is headquartered in Lisbon. lisbon nightlife Departures & Rates Description Travel to Portugal and visit its capital city of Lisbon, like Rome, lies on seven hills. Located near the Tagus River, it offers unparalleled vistas. The wealth of monuments, churches and museums along its tree-lined avenues will fascinate even the casual student of history.

Beautiful public gardens, squares with decorated pavements, and patterned tile walls form a pleasant vista of natural and artistic beauty as you tour the city. Stop in the superb shops, visit colorful markets and refresh yourself at one of the numerous sidewalk cafes. The Algarve boasts more than 150 miles of superb beaches and averages more than 3,300 hours of sunshine per year. Its privileged location, facing south along the Atlantic, means its coast is entirely unpolluted and the summers are never too hot. Here you will find small coves with interesting rock formations interspersed with busy fishing ports, quaint villages, luxury hotels and tasteful villa communities. Play golf or tennis, go windsurfing, sailing, water skiing or just lie on the beach and soak up the sun. This tour package to Portugalallows you to explore the culture and customs as you interact with locals and dine on local cuisine. Our tours to Portugal will satisfy any appetite. Includes Hotel accommodation for 6 nights Daily buffet breakfast Half day city tour of Lisbon 3-day car rental -Category C.

Car Rental includes unlimited mileage, CDW (Collision Damage Waiver), TP (Theft Protection), Third Party Liability (including passengers), airport surcharge, 24 hour-a-day road assistance and VAT (Value Added Tax) Document holder and luggage tags Hotel taxes and service charges Excludes Airfare, Airport taxes & Fuel Surcharges Visa upon arrival (and upon re-entry) if required Tips and Personal items Lisbon | national capital, Portugal | Britannica.com national capital, Portugal Alternative Titles: Felicitas Julia, Lisboa, Lixbuna, Luzbona, Olisipo, Olissibona, Ulixbone Related Topics Luís de Camões Lisbon, Portuguese Lisboa, city, port, capital of Portugal , and the centre of the Lisbon metropolitan area. Located in western Portugal on the estuary of the Tagus (Tejo) River , it is the westernmost capital city in continental Europe and serves as the country’s chief port, largest city, and commercial, political, and tourist centre.

The city’s name is a modification of the ancient Olisipo (Ulyssipo), and its founding has been attributed to the legacy of Ulysses ( Odysseus ), the hero of Homer ’s Odyssey; to Elisha , purported to have been a grandson of the Hebrew patriarch Abraham ; and, more credibly, to Phoenician colonists. Lisbon owes its historical prominence to its natural harbour, one of the most beautiful in the world. Area city, 33 square miles (85 square km). Pop. (2001) city, 564,657; metro. area, 2,661,850; (2011) city, 547,733; metro. area, 2,821,876. Lisbon. Contunico © ZDF Enterprises GmbH, Mainz Character of the city Once a remote outpost on what was thought to be the farthest edge of the known world, Lisbon had established itself as a centre of operations for Portuguese exploration by the 15th century.

The city centre was destroyed by an earthquake in 1755 but was rebuilt by the marquês de Pombal . This seagirt city of multicoloured houses and elegant parks and gardens is no longer the capital of a vast overseas empire. It has been reconstructed as a bustling modern metropolis. In fact, Lisbon was designated a European City of Culture in 1994, and in 1998 it hosted the World’s Fair (Expo ’98). That event sparked the city’s biggest renewal project since the rebuilding that followed the 1755 earthquake, including the construction of the combined road-rail Vasco da Gama Bridge and other extensive upgrades of the city’s transportation infrastructure . The fair also was the primary catalyst for the construction along the Tagus River of an oceanarium, marinas, hotels, commercial complexes, and entertainment venues . A residential tower over the Vasco da Gama shopping centre in the Expo area of Lisbon. Pedro Moura Pinheiro Fátima Despite modernization, Lisbon in many ways retains the air of a 19th-century city.

The varinas (fish vendors) who roam the streets dressed in long black skirts still carry their wares in baskets on their heads. Vessels tie up at quays where the clang of trolley cars blends with ships’ horns. At dawn, fishing boats deposit their catch for noisy auction with Lisbon shop owners while the fish vendors wait to fill the baskets they peddle through the streets. Farther inland the fish market gives way to the equally colourful and clamorous fruit and vegetable market. Lisbon’s port maintains an intimacy with its city that was common in the days before steam. Amid the freighters, warships, cruise liners, and ferryboats, a picturesque note is struck by the fragatas of Phoenician origin; these crescent-shaped boats with their striking black hulls and pink sails still perform most of the harbour’s lighterage. Flower sellers in Rossio Square, Lisbon. Peter Thompson—Spectrum Colour Library/Impact Photos/Heritage-Images The general outlines of the city remain as they have for hundreds of years. Lisbon is still a city of balconies and vistas.

Some of the most striking of the latter can be seen from the miradouros, the terraces maintained by the municipality on seven of its hillsides. (Many Lisboetas, as the people of Lisbon are known, profess their city to have seven traditional hills, like Rome.) For centuries Lisboetas have discussed the symptoms of an affliction they believe to be endemic in their city: saudade (“melancholy”), a state of anxiety tempered by fatalism that is said to be reflected in fado (“fate”), the melodic but deeply emotional folk songs that can still be heard in specific restaurants, mainly in the historic quarters of Alfama and Bairro Alto. Building at the edge of the Bairro Alto district of Lisbon. Maurits van der Hoofd Scientists Ponder Menopause in Killer Whales City site The city lies on the north bank of the Tagus River estuary, about 8 miles (13 km) from the river’s entrance into the Atlantic Ocean . From the ocean upstream to the city, the river is almost straight and about 2 miles (3 km) wide. It is spanned, on the west side of the city, by the 25th of April Bridge .

Just east of the bridge, the Tagus suddenly broadens into a bay 7 miles (11 km) wide called the Mar de Palha (“Sea of Straw”) because of the way that it shimmers in the sun. Scenically spectacular, this hill-cradled bay of burnished water lies on a strategic sea route and serves as a busy port, handling much of the trade between Portugal and Spain . The 25th of April Bridge over the Tagus River, Lisbon. © M.A.C./Shutterstock.com Capitals & Cities: Fact or Fiction? Lisbon is built in a succession of terraces up the slopes of a range of low rolling hills that rise from the banks of the Tagus River and the Mar de Palha northwest toward the Sintra Mountains , whose covering of lush Mediterranean and Atlantic European flora provides an attractive retreat for the city’s population. Sections of the city vary considerably in elevation, especially in the older areas along the water’s edge, which offer splendid views of the river and the low cliffs that line the river’s southern shore.

Several geologic faults cross Lisbon and the surrounding region, but, notwithstanding the devastating earthquake of 1755, seismic activity has been limited to slight tremors since the 20th century. Climate Lisbon has a mild and equable climate, with a mean annual temperature in the low 60s F (about 17 °C). The proximity of the Atlantic Ocean and the influence of the Gulf Stream mediate the weather conditions throughout the year. January, the coldest month, has an average temperature of 50 °F (10 °C), and in August the temperature seldom exceeds 82 °F (28 °C). Average monthly rainfall ranges from 0.1 inch (3 mm) in summer up to about 4 inches (100 mm) in winter. City layout Facebook Twitter YouTube Instagram Pinterest It is traditional for poets to refer to the entwining Tagus as Lisbon’s lover. The river is indeed an ever-present part of the city’s decor, and the official entrance to Lisbon is a broad marble staircase mounting from the water to the vast arcaded Commerce Square (Praça do Comércio).

The three landward sides of the square are surrounded by uniform buildings dating from the 18th century. That formal Baroque-inspired layout is pierced by a monumental archway, built a century later, marking the entry north into the central city. In the middle of the square stands a bronze statue of King Joseph I on horseback, an important work by the sculptor Joachim Machado de Castro. Many government offices occupy the buildings that surround Commerce Square. Commerce Square, Lisbon. © ZTS/Shutterstock.com The square lies at the south end of Lisbon’s central district, the Cidade Baixa (“Lower City”). The Baixa was completely rebuilt after the earthquake in 1755 under the supervision of Joseph I’s prime minister, Sebastião de Carvalho , later the marquês de Pombal. The streets are laid out in a grid pattern broken by spacious squares. A series of parallel streets, each named for its original intended occupants (e.g., Rua Áurea [“Golden Street”] for the goldsmiths), runs north from Commerce Square to Dom Pedro IV Square, locally known as Rossio Square.

Rossio Square is a traditional centre of activity and the starting point of the city’s main promenade, the wide, gently sloping Avenida da Liberdade . This treelined boulevard leads north from the city centre to Marquês de Pombal Circle, which features a statue of Pombal. The Baixa remains rigorously protected from change, but the four-story buildings that long lined Avenida da Liberdade and its ancillary streets have been almost totally replaced by taller edifices in a bland modern style. Dom Pedro IV Square, also called Rossio Square, Lisbon, Port. John & Lisa Merrill—Photographers Choice/Getty In the sequence of postearthquake reconstruction, the waterfront’s renovation was followed by the rehabilitation of historical districts, such as Castelo, Alfama, Bairro Alto, Mouraria, and Madragoa, and fashionable residential areas, such as Chiado, Lapa, Estrela, and Príncipe Real. In 1988 a fire destroyed part of the city’s historic Chiado district, which was rebuilt as a shopping area during the 1990s.

Rua Garrett in Chiado is lined with boutiques, silver and porcelain shops, cafés, and bookstores. Peripheral neighbourhoods, such as Ajuda to the west, Rato-Amoreiras to the north, and Graça to the east, were also planned at this time. “Arco de Jesus” alley in the Alfama district of Lisbon. Maurits van der Hoofd Editor Picks: Exploring 10 Types of Basketball Movies Directly east of the Baixa lies Alfama (Arabic: Al-Ḥammah; “Hot Spring”); one of the oldest quarters of the city, it has a blend of Roman and Moorish architecture and narrow streets that crowd between a jumble of houses down to the river. In this area, on the hill where Lisbon was first founded, the Castle of St. George (Castelo de São Jorge) towers over the city. The castle is Moorish in origin and was named for England’s patron saint, in honour of an alliance made in 1386 between Portugal and England. Just below it, the austere white church and monastery of St.

Vincent guards the remains of the saint, which (according to legend) were miraculously brought to the city in a ship guided by two ravens. To commemorate the event, the birds are depicted on the Lisbon coat of arms. Narrow street in the Alfama quarter of Lisbon. © Anton Gvozdikov/Shutterstock.com Lisbon with the Castle of St. George and the Tagus River in the background. Pedro Moura Pinheiro Also to the east, Chelas and Olivais-Sul, two public housing districts implanted on heathland previously considered too difficult to build upon, provide residence for lower-income families. Despite these government-sponsored projects, adequate housing remains a problem as an influx of immigrants (mainly Africans, eastern Europeans, and Brazilians) has caused a housing deficit. A number of neighbourhoods extend west of the Baixa toward suburban Belém . Each possesses its own distinctive character, reflecting the epoch in which it was built. The Bairro Alto (“Upper District”), for example, dates primarily from the 16th century. It is characterized by its maze of straight and narrow streets.

Some of these streets, especially those leading down to the Baixa, are so steep that they terminate abruptly, giving way to stairs, cable cars, and, in one case, an elevator (the Santa Justa Lift; an iron structure designed by French architect Raoul Mesnier du Ponsard). Just west and north of the heart of Bairro Alto is the Palace of the National Assembly , also known as the Palace of São Bento. Nearby is the official residence of Portugal’s prime minister. Farther west, toward Belém, Necessidades Palace houses the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Santa Justa Lift, Lisbon. Opium Wars The Belém Palace, a former royal residence, is the official home of the president of the republic. The Belém area reflects Portugal’s maritime past and is known for its Manueline (early 16th-century) architecture, notably the Jerónimos Monastery, founded by Manuel I in 1499, and the Tower of Belém (1515–21; designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1983), which was built to defend the city.

The Monument to the Discoveries (1960), on the Tagus River, commemorates Portuguese explorers of the 15th and 16th centuries. The Belém-Restelo district, a sumptuous residential area in the western periphery , developed from the 1940s. Tower of Belém, Lisbon. © Anton Gvozdikov/Shutterstock.com Transportation Lisbon is connected by rail and road to the interior of Portugal and to the rest of Europe. The 1.5-mile- (2.4-km-) long 25th of April Bridge , one of the longest suspension bridges in western Europe, has served as the main roadway into the city since it was built in the mid-1960s. Inaugurated in 1998, just in time for the World’s Fair, the cable-stayed, combined-purpose Vasco da Gama Bridge , connecting Lisbon and the eastern portion of the metropolitan area to the southern shore, relieved traffic congestion on the 25th of April Bridge and provided additional rail access.

A number of other public- and private-funded improvements to the city’s transportation infrastructure were undertaken in the1990s in preparation for the fair. Notably, a new subway line was added to the system whose first route opened in 1959, and the trolley system in the historic district that primarily served tourists was refurbished and expanded. Also expanded and modernized was the airport at Portela de Sacavém, some 6 miles (10 km) northeast of the city centre, which offers flights to Europe , the Americas, and Africa . The construction of new highways and underground parking lots increased automobile usage, however, and the abundance of cars increased traffic and pollution in the city. Trolley car, Lisbon. © Gary James Calder/Shutterstock.com Health As a major urban centre, Lisbon has a higher percentage of doctors and other health professionals than the rest of Portugal. The city’s hospitals include state, private, and military establishments. Since the 1990s, efforts have been made to modernize the city’s public hospitals, and branches of larger hospitals have opened in other areas of the city. Education Officially, education in Portugal is free and compulsory for children ages 6 through 15.

In addition to public schools, Lisbon has many private schools, including American, French, German, Spanish, and Swedish schools.The medieval University of Lisbon was founded in 1288 and remained Portugal’s only university until the 16th century. It moved back and forth between Lisbon and Coimbra several times before settling in Lisbon from 1377 to 1537, when it permanently relocated to Coimbra and took the name of that city. Thus, the capital was left without a university until 1911, when the University of Lisbon was restored. The Technical University of Lisbon was founded in 1930, and the New University of Lisbon opened in the city during the 1970s. The Catholic University of Portugal was established under the tutelage of the Roman Catholic Church in 1968. Lisbon also has a large number of specialized colleges and polytechnic institutes. Prior to the 1974 coup in Portugal, university education was restricted to the elite. Not until the 1990s did the number of university applicants increase, and then, after a brief flourishing of private universities, student applications decreased again in the 2000s.

Many Portuguese students have chosen to study abroad, especially in the United Kingdom , while a number of new immigrants have opted to enter the workforce rather than pursue higher education. Page 1 of 2 The Geography of Lisbon The Geography of Lisbon Lisbon, capital city, is located on the right side of the Tagus river in the center of Portugal. Portugal is located in south-western Europe, bordered by Spain on the north and east and by the Atlantic Ocean on the south and west. It is the westernmost city in continental Europe and lies more or less in the centre of the country, approximately 300 km from the Algarve in the south and 400 km from the northern border with Spain. It has an area of 84 sq. km. and a population of 556 797 inhabitants. The area known as Greater Lisbon has a population of 2,1 million in an area of 2750 sq. km. It has an area of 84 km2, 53 civil parishes and a population of almost 550 thousand inhabitants, thus being the most populous city in the country, followed by Porto.

The area known as Greater Lisbon (which includes Lisbon and the surrounding areas) concentrates a population density of 3 million inhabitants spread over 2750 km2. Lisbon is connected to the south bank by Ponte 25 de Abril (25th of April Bridge), inaugurated in 1966 between Lisbon and Almada, and by Vasco da Gama Bridge (inaugurated in 1998 to connect Lisbon to Alcochete and Montijo). To the north is the district of Leiria, and northeast and east is Santarém. The Atlantic Ocean and the Tagus estuary are to the south, which also demarcates Lisbon to the east, separating it from the district of Setúbal. Tagus River, the largest in the Iberian Peninsula, is born in the Albarracín mountain, Spain, at 1593 meters altitude and flows into the Atlantic Ocean, in Lisbon, after covering just over 1000 kilometres. And it was precisely from the mouth of the Tagus River that the Portuguese sailed, in vessels and caravels, to discover the world.

Due to its privileged geographical location, every year, the Port of Lisbon receives hundreds of luxury passenger ships. This city also has a Natural Reserve of the Tagus estuary, where many bird species nest. Lisbon, Portugal - VdudesV Lisbon, Portugal Lisbon, Portugal Lisbon is the capital and the largest city of Portugal. It is the westernmost large city located in continental Europe, as well as its westernmost capital city and the only one along the Atlantic coast. Lisbon lies in the western Iberian Peninsula on the Atlantic Ocean and the River Tagus, and has a population of 547,631 within its administrative limits on a land area of 84.8 square kilometres (32.7 sq mi). The urban area extends beyond the administrative city limits with an estimated population of 2.7 million,on an area of 958 square kilometres (370 sq mi), making it the 11th most populous urban area in the European Union. About 3,035,000 people live in the Lisbon Metropolitan Area (which represents approximately 27% of the population of the country).

Lisbon is recognised as a global city because of its importance in finance, commerce, media, entertainment, arts, international trade, education and tourism. It is one of the major economic centres on the continent, with a growing financial sector and one of the largest container ports on Europe's Atlantic coast. Lisbon Portela Airport serves over 16 million passengers annually (2013); the motorway network and the high-speed rail system of Alfa Pendular link the main cities of Portugal. The city is the 7th-most-visited city in Southern Europe, after Istanbul, Rome, Barcelona, Madrid, Athens and Milan, with 1,740,000 tourists in 2009. The Lisbon region is the wealthiest NUTS II region in Portugal, GDP PPP per capita is 26,100 euros (4.7% higher than the average European Union's GDP PPP per capita). It is the 10th richest metropolitan area by GDP on the continent amounting to 110 billion euros and thus €39,375 per capita, 40% higher than the average European Union's GDP per capita.

The city occupies 32nd place of highest gross earnings in the world. Most of the headquarters of multinationals in the country are located in the Lisbon area.It is also the political centre of the country, as seat of Government and residence of the Head of State. The seat of the district of Lisbon and the centre of the NUTS II Lisbon region. Lisbon is one of the oldest cities in the world, and the oldest in Western Europe, predating other modern European capitals such as London, Paris and Rome by centuries. Julius Caesar made it a municipium called Felicitas Julia, adding to the name Olissipo. Ruled by a series of Germanic tribes from the 5th century, it was captured by the Moors in the 8th century. In 1147, the Crusaders under Afonso Henriques reconquered the city and since then it has been a major political, economic and cultural centre of Portugal. Unlike most capital cities, Lisbon's status as the capital of Portugal has never been granted or confirmed officially – by statute or in written form. Its position as the capital has formed through constitutional convention, making its position as de facto capital a part of the Constitution of Portugal.

Lisbon enjoys a Mediterranean climate. Among all the metropolises in Europe, it has the warmest winters, with average temperatures 15 °C (59 °F) during the day and 8 °C (46 °F) at night from December to February. The typical summer season lasts about six months, from May to October, although also in November, March and April temperatures sometimes reach around 25 °C (77.0 °F). Lisbon enjoys a Subtropical-Mediterranean climate (Köppen climate classification: Csa) with mild winters and warm to hot summers. The average annual temperature is 21.5 °C (70.7 °F) during the day and 13.5 °C (56.3 °F) at night. Average annual temperature of the sea is 17.5 °C (63.5 °F).

In the coldest month – January – the high temperature during the day typically ranges from 11 to 18 °C (52 to 64 °F), the low temperature at night ranges from 3 to 13 °C (37 to 55 °F) and the average sea temperature is 15 °C (59 °F). In the warmest month – August – the high temperature during the day typically ranges from 26 to 35 °C (79 to 95 °F), the low temperature at night ranges from 17 to 22 °C (63 to 72 °F) and the average sea temperature is 20 °C (68 °F). Generally, a summer season lasts about 6 months, from May to October. Three months – March, April and November – are transitional, sometimes the temperature exceeds 25 °C (77 °F), with an average temperature in these three months of 18.9 °C (66 °F) during the day and 12.0 °C (53.6 °F) at night.

December, January and February are the coldest months, with an average temperature of 15.5 °C (59.9 °F) during the day and 8.9 °C (48.0 °F) at night. Among all metropolises (together with Valencia) and capitals (together with Malta) in Europe, Lisbon has the warmest winters, and the mildest nighttime temperatures in Europe: among the warmest in the winter – from an average of 8.3 °C (46.9 °F) in the coldest month, and comfortable 18.6 °C (65.5 °F) in the warmest month. Rain occurs mainly in winter, the summers being generally dry. Sunshine hours are about 2,800 per year, from an average of 4.6 hours of sunshine duration at day in December to an average of 11.4 hours of sunshine duration at day in July. Lisbon's public transport network is extremely far-reaching and reliable. The Lisbon Metro as its main artery, connecting the city centre with the upper and eastern districts, and now reaching the suburbs.

Ambitious expansion projects will increase the network by almost one third, connecting the airport, and the northern and western districts. Bus, funicular and tram services have been supplied by the Companhia de Carris de Ferro de Lisboa (Carris), for over a century. Lisbon's Portela Airport is located within the city limits. It is the headquarters and hub for TAP Portugal as well as a hub for Easyjet, SATA International, Luzair, EuroAtlantic Airways, Portugália, White Airways, and High Fly airlines. It has been proposed that a New Lisbon Airport should be built. The project has been put on hold because of the Portuguese, and overall European, economic crisis and also because of the long discussion on whether there is a need for a new airport at all. The city of Lisbon is rich in architecture; Romanesque, Gothic, Manueline, Baroque, Modern and Postmodern constructions can be found all over Lisbon.

The city is also crossed by historical boulevards and monuments along the main thoroughfares, particularly in the upper districts; notable among these are the Avenida da Liberdade (Avenue of Liberty), Avenida Fontes Pereira de Melo, Avenida Almirante Reis and Avenida da República (Avenue of the Republic). There are several substantial museums one can visit in the city. The most famous ones are the Museu Nacional de Arte Antiga (National Museum of Ancient Art), the National Azulejo Museum, the Museu Calouste Gulbenkian (Calouste Gulbenkian Museum), containing varied collections of ancient and modern art, the Museu Nacional do Traje e da Moda (National Museum of Costume and Fashion), the Berardo Collection Museum (Modern Art) at the Belém Cultural Center, the Museu da Electricidade (Electricity Museum), The Museu Nacional dos Coches (National Coach Museum, containing the largest collection of royal coaches in the world), the Museum of Pharmacy, the National Museum of Natural History and Science, Museum of the Orient, the Museu do Teatro Romano (The Roman Theatre Museum), and the Lisbon City Museum.

Lisbon's Opera House, the Teatro Nacional de São Carlos, hosts a relatively active cultural agenda, mainly in autumn and winter. Other important theatres and musical houses are the Centro Cultural de Belém, the Teatro Nacional D. Maria II, the Gulbenkian Foundation, and the Teatro Camões. The monument to Christ the King (Cristo-Rei) stands on the southern bank of the Tagus River, in Almada. With open arms, overlooking the whole city, it resembles the Corcovado monument in Rio de Janeiro, and was built after World War II, as a memorial of thanksgiving for Portugal's being spared the horrors and destruction of the war. Lisbon has a long tradition in sports. It hosted several matches, including the final, of the UEFA Euro 2004 championship. The city also played host to the final of the 2001 IAAF World Indoor Championships and the European Fencing Championships in 1983 and 1992, as well as the 2003 World Men's Handball Championship, and the 2008 European Judo Championships.

From 2006 to 2008, Lisbon was the starting point for the Dakar Rally. The city hosted the 2014 UEFA Champions League Final. Copyright 2014-2015 GSC350 - 1755tsunamiLisbonPortugalorigin 1755tsunamiLisbonPortugalorigin THE 1755 LISBON, PORTUGAL EARTHQUAKE, TSUNAMI, & FIRE Geographical Background Lisbon is the capital city of Portugal as well as its largest city. It lies on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean, where the Tagus River and the ocean meet. Portugal lands between Spain (on the right of it) and the Atlantic Ocean (on the left of it). In addition, the continent of Africa lies below it. The map above shows Portugal lying next to Spain, with the Tagus River flowing through its country. Lisbon, the capital city, lies on the edge of the Portugal, where the Tagus River and the Atlantic Ocean meet. Previous Natural Disasters Portugal contains numerous fault lines and lies nearby the Atlantic Ocean which also contains a large amount of faults underwater.

Additionally, Lisbon is at the mouth of the Tagus River, which further enhances the hazards of Lisbon, because the lower part of the Tagus River is on top of a fault line. All of these result in the historical earthquakes experienced by Portugal, Spain, Morocco, and other adjacent countries. Being the capital city that lives on the edge of the Eurasian Plate, which collides with the African Plate, Lisbon experiences constant earthquakes. In the 14th century, Lisbon has eight recorded significant earthquakes, while in the 15th century, it had five recorded large earthquakes. Because Portugal happens to be on the edge of where the two plates collide, Portugal has a long history of earthquakes, followed by tsunamis and other natural disasters caused by these large quakes. Although the frequency of these natural disasters is not extremely high, the effects of each event are enormously great. The impacts on the country of Portugal and other close-by nations have resulted in major deaths and damages on the economy. Because of these devastating losses for the country, Portugal began its studies of seismology, hoping that understanding the natural hazards of their location would lower their losses in the future.

Some of the most significant historical disasters that impacted Portugal include the 1531 earthquake (which totaled a loss of roughly 30,000 citizens) and the 2007 earthquake (which measured a 6.1 on the Richter Scale but did not result in any damage or deaths). Other less tragic events include the 1551 earthquake that collapsed 200 houses and the 1597 earthquake that shook down the buildings of three streets. The 1755 Lisbon Earthquake, Tsunami, & Fire On November 1st, 1755, Lisbon faced their greatest natural disaster of their history. At 9:30 am in the morning, an earthquake with an estimated intensity of magnitude 8.7 hit the city. Most of the population was in churches celebrating All Saint’s Day. The majority of the city structures began to collapse, either crushing the city residents inside or trapping them in. The shaking lasted for 9 minutes, one of the longest earthquakes in historical records. In other parts of Portugal, as well as nearby countries such as Spain and Morocco, other cities were also devastated by this natural catastrophe.

Following a few minutes after the earthquake, Lisbon experienced a large tsunami. The citizens that did escape the earthquake had run to the coast to avoid the crumbling buildings, but were ultimately swallowed up by the harbor waves. Effects of the tsunami were said to have been felt all throughout the Atlantic Ocean, impacting western Europe, North Africa, North America, and the Caribbean Islands. The rest of the city had broken out in fires due to the remains of candles that set off on the debris of the city ruins. The fires lasted for five days and destroyed most of Lisbon, the city capital. In Lisbon alone, an estimate of 30 to 40 thousand people were killed due to the 1755 earthquake, tsunami, and fire. The number of casualties throughout all of the locations that felt this event added up to an approximation of 90,000 to 100,000 deaths. Historical engravings displayed the city on fire, shook to shambles, and engulfed by the sea. Citizens are trapped with no where to go.

Origin Hypothesis of the 1755 Lisbon Tsunami The 1755 earthquake that neared a magnitude 9.0 occurred 200 kilometers from the Portugal coast, in the Atlantic Ocean. In this area, the major fault that exists is the Azores – Gibraltar Fracture, where the Eurasian and African Tectonic Plates collide. Some believe that the 1969 earthquake that occurred in the Atlantic Ocean had the same epicenter as the 1755 quake, but records say that the travel time from the epicenter to Portugal took 40 minutes during the 1755 quake while the 1969 had a travel time of 50 minutes. Scientists agree that due to the different time lengths, the two earthquakes could not have originated from the same epicenter. Even until today, the epicenter or origin of the 1755 Lisbon earthquake is still unknown. Because society lacked the technology during 1755, it has been difficult to calculate the exact number of fatalities, injuries, building damages, and so on. However, through the studies of journals and land cores, scientists have been able to formulate hypotheses and estimates.

Many believe that the Azores – Gibraltar Fracture Zone is the cause of the 1755 Lisbon earthquake. Since the east part of the Azores – Gibraltar Fracture separates the Eurasian and African Plates, there is a lot of complex activity that takes place there. The east portion of the fracture is also known as the compression zone, where subsidence occurs. Because the 1755 Lisbon earthquake resulted in a magnitude of 8.5-9.0, theories suggest that the only fault line within the Atlantic Ocean in this area that could impact such a great natural disaster is the Azores – Gibraltar Fracture. Due to the subsidence of one plate under another, the sea waters become displaced. The small waves become large harbor waves as they near the coast, because the ocean dept decreases near land. As the ocean level becomes shallower, the sea floor pushes the waves higher into the air, creating the monstrous 1755 Lisbon tsunami that took part in becoming Europe’s greatest natural disaster of its history. Influences on Technology Experiencing such a tragic natural disaster that caused numerous deaths and great economic loss, Europe took immediate action and began their first researches into seismology.

As Europe become more educated and technologically advanced, their awareness of natural hazards allowed them to prevent the same events from repeating. Today, there are many ways to communicate early alerts to the public about potential natural disasters. In addition, there are better building codes in urban cities to help buildings withstand these hazards. Resources About.com. "Lisbon Earthquake, 1 November 1755." < > Holmes, Oliver Wendell. Updated Mar 2008.Viewed Nov 2008. < > Kozak, Jan T., and James, Charles D. Updated Nov 1998. Viewed Nov 2008. Pararas-Carayannis, George. "The Great Lisbon Earthquake and Tsunami of 1 November 1755." Updated 2000. Viewed Nov 2008. < > Pereira, Alvaro S. The Opportunity of a Disaster: The Economic Impact of the 1755 Lisbon Earthquake. Cherry Discussion Paper Series: Mar 2006. Viewed Nov 2008. < > Risk Management Solutions WebPage. < > Tilling, Heliker, and Wright.

United States Geological Survey WebPage. Updated 1997. Viewed Nov 2008. < > United State Geological Survey WebPage. Updated July 2008. Viewed Nov 2008. < > Wynn, Russell. Updated April 2002. Viewed Nov 2009. < > Lisbon Travel Guide - Lisbon Travel Tips and Reviews | IndependentTraveler.com Trip Reviews Lisbon, Europe's westernmost capital and Portugal's cultural hub, lies on the Atlantic coast at the mouth of the Tagus River. The city is a delightful mix of must-see museums, castles and cathedrals. Its charming neighborhoods feature residences decorated with colorful tiled facades, sidewalk cafes along pedestrian thoroughfares and enchantingly original boutiques. The sidewalks are often paved with black and white volcanic stones in patterns specific to this city. Lisbon has a refreshingly noncommercial feel, old-fashioned and relaxed, and exploring on foot is a delight. Portugal enjoyed its heyday long ago, and some of the older buildings that reflect this era are as opulent as they get.

However, much of the city was leveled in the devastating earthquake of 1755, so visitors will notice that the city's architecture is not as old as that found in some European capitals. Prices tend to be lower than in the rest of Europe, especially for meals, wine and entrance fees to the main attractions. If you like fish and shellfish, you've come to the right city. Pastry shops abound, many with lovely storefronts, providing sit-down respite for coffee, tea and something sweet. Lisbon is a city of hills, and the up-and-down geography adds to its charm. One of the best ways to experience it is via a tram ride through the medieval Alfama district, Baixa (the central business district) and the Bairro Alto (the major restaurant and nightlife area). Both the Alfama and Bairro Alto districts have wonderful miradoures, or viewpoints, to take in the city below, the nearby hills and the wide Tagus River. Lisbon is a perfect jumping-off point for day trips to Portugal's resort towns -- such as Estoril, near the mouth of the Tagus, and lovely Sintra, with its palaces up in the hills -- or a Catholic pilgrimage to Fatima.

Question: The city of Lisbon in Portugal lies on which river?
Answer: The Tagus