Portugal is located in the west of the Iberian Peninsula, and is the westernmost country of the European continent. It is bordered by by the Atlantic Ocean to the west and south and by Spain to the north and east. The nation of Portugal also includes two island archipelagos in the Atlantic Ocean, the Azores and Madeira Islands.
To the north, Portugal is characterised by mountainous landscapes and plateaus, and a somewhat cool and moist climate. To the south, the landscape consists predominantly of rolling plains and enjoys a warmer and drier climate. The Algarve region on the southern Portuguese coast (the southwesternmost tip of Europe) enjoys a Mediterranean climate similar to that of Morocco and Southern Spain. Portugal is divided in two by its main river, the Tagus (Tejo). Other major rivers include the Douro, the Minho, the Guadiana, and the Mondego. All these rivers originate in Spain apart from the Mondego, originates in the Serra da Estrela, the highest mountains in mainland Portugal at around 1,990 metres.
The Portuguese Atlantic coast extends for around 950 kilometres, and is characterised by many fine beaches, those in the Algarve ones being the best known. One of the warmest European countries, yearly temperatures in Portugal average around 15°C in the north and 18°C in the south. Spring and summer months are usually sunny and maximum temparatures around 40°C are common in the interior of the country, with ranges of 30°C to 35°C common in the north, and temperatures occasionally reaching 45°C in the south. As may be expected in a country on the Atlantic Ocean, autumn and winter can be rainy and windy, but sunny days are still common. Temperatures rarely fall below 5°C nearer to the sea, but can reach several degrees below 0°C in the interior. Snow is common in the mountainous areas of the north, especially in Serra da Estrela. Portugal's climate can be classified as Mediterranean (particularly in the south), though technically Portugal has an Atlantic rather than a Mediterranean shoreline.
During the past 3,000 years, Portugal has absorbed influences from a rich mix of cultures, including Iberians, Tartessians, Celts, Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Greeks, Romans, Germanic Tribes, Arabs, Moors, Berbers and Jews. All have influenced Portugal's culture, history, language and ethnic composition. The name Portugal itself derives from the Roman name Portus Cale meaning "Beautiful Port". During the 15th and 16th centuries, Portugal was a major economic, political, and cultural power with a colonial empire stretching from Brazil to the East Indies.