Landscapes of Portugal: Paleogeographic Evolution, Tectonics and Geomorphology

Abstract

This chapter synthesizes the most relevant aspects of geology, tectonics and geomorphology of Portugal. Its main purpose is to frame, in a morphostructural point of view, the more specific chapters on Portuguese geomorphological landscapes. It includes a summary of (i) the main evolutionary stages of the Portuguese territory, as well as the present tectonic framework of Portugal’s mainland, Azores and Madeira archipelagos, and (ii) the main regional features of the geomorphological units. The synopsis is based on the scientific publications of many colleagues, physical geographers and geologists, who with their work contributed, over the years, to the geomorphologic knowledge of the country. Professor António de Brum Ferreira was the “greatest teacher” of Portuguese geomorphologists, to whom many of us owe the taste, rigour, the practice and the knowledge of geomorphology.