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The Region |
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The Região de Turismo Planície Dourada covers a wide territory in the south of Portugal, which includes the
districts of Aljustrel, Almodôvar, Alvito, Barrancos, Beja, Castro Verde, Cuba, Ferreira do Alentejo, Mértola, Moura, Ourique, Serpa and Vidigueira. The region is entirely interior and its boundaries are, on
the north, the region of Évora, on the east, Spain, on the south, the Algarve and on the west the districts of Odemira, Santiago do Cacém and Grândola. It takes up an area of approximately 8.500km2 and has a
low population of just 15,4 inhab/km2. |
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The entire region can be defined as a peneplain with only a few hills worth of mention: the Mendro
hills (412m) in Vidigueira, the Adiça/Ficalho hills (518m) on the east, the Alcaria Ruiva hills (370m) in Mértola, and the Mú/Caldeirão (577m) that divide the Alentejo and the Algarve. |
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Three main rivers run through this area – the Guadiana, the Sado and the Mira – and so do several other
streams and waterways, most of which feed into the above |
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mentioned rivers and sometimes dry in summer, leaving only some ponds along its riverbeds. |
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Of these smaller watercourses we can mention the Ardila, the Chança, the Terges e Cobres, the Oeiras, the Vascão, the
Odivelas and the Roxo. |
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There are also several dams which, in addition to their original purpose (to supply water to the inhabitants
and for irrigation) are also important leisure areas where it is possible to fish and practise non-motorised water sports.These dams include Alvito (in Cuba), Monte da Rocha and Santa Clara (in Ourique),
Monte Clérigo (in Almodôvar), Roxo (in Aljustrel),Odivelas (in Ferreira do Alentejo) and Tapada Grande (in Mértola), |
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these last two with infra-structures like restaurant, toilets, canoe rental, paddle boats, etc. |
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The climate is Mediterranean, characterized by little and poorly distributed annual rainfall, mostly
concentrated in the Autumn and Winter. The Summer in this region is a dry and hot season. |
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The average temperature in winter varies between 8ºC and 12ºC, and in summer ranges from 21ºC to
25ºC, but often there are temperatures above 35ºC during the day. Over one third of the days in the year register temperatures over 25ºC. |
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