Portugal

A country that occupies the western part of the Iberian peninsula in southwest Europe, Portugal borders the Atlantic Ocean to the west and south, and Spain to the east and north. It also includes two Atlantic archipelagos, the Azores and Madeira that occupy strategic points along the approaches to the Strait of Gibraltar. The overseas territory of Macao (Macau) was returned to China in 1999. Portugal has developed a diverse and increasingly service-oriented economy since joining the European Economic Community (now the European Union) in 1986. During World War I, Portugal declared war on Germany in 1916 and its troops fought in France and Africa. It remained neutral in World War II, but hosted British forces in the Azores.Portugal qualified for the European Monetary Union in 1998 and began to use the euro on January 1, 2002, along with 11 other member countries. Despite being hit hard by conditions of austerity, Portugal successfully exports textiles, clothing, footwear, paper, wood products, cork, tinned fish, wine, electrical equipment, and refined petroleum. Tourism is another area that has seen good growth. The European Countries Today series provides information on 15 of the most important countries in Europe. Each book in the series describes the history, geography, economy, culture, and relationship each country has with its neighbors. There is also a separate title, European Union Facts & Figures, which provides statistical and factual information about the European Union. Each title in this series includes color photos throughout, and back matter including: an index and further reading lists for books and internet resources. Key Icons appear throughout the books in this series in an effort to encourage library readers to build knowledge, gain awareness, explore possibilities and expand their viewpoints through our content rich non-fiction books. Key Icons in this series are as follows: Words to Understand are shown at the front of each chapter with definitions. These words are set in boldfaced type in that chapter, so that readers are able to reference back to the definitions--building their vocabulary and enhancing their reading comprehension. Sidebars are highlighted graphics with content rich material within that allows readers to build knowledge and broaden their perspectives by weaving together additional information to provide realistic and holistic perspectives. Text-Dependent Questions are placed at the end of each chapter. They challenge the reader's comprehension of the chapter they have just read, while sending the reader back to the text for more careful attention to the evidence presented there. Research Projects are provided at the end of each chapter as well and provide readers with suggestions for projects that encourage deeper research and analysis. And a Glossary of Key Terms is included in the back matter containing terminology used throughout the book. Words found here broaden the reader's knowledge and understanding of terms used in this field.