Alto Trás-os-Montes

Alto Trás-os-Montes
NUTS III Subregion (Subregião)
The olive trees in the municipality of Bragança
Name origin: alto trás-os-montes, Portuguese for high behind-the-mountains
Country Portugal
Region Norte
Border subregions Ave, Cávado, Douro, Tâmega
Municipalities Alfândega da Fé, Boticas, Bragança, Chaves, Macedo de Cavaleiros, Miranda do Douro, Mirandela, Mogadouro, Montalegre, Murça, Valpaços, Vila Pouca de Aguiar, Vimioso, Vinhais
Length 161.17 km (100 mi), West-East
Width 88.71 km (55 mi), North-South
Area 8,171.62 km2 (3,155 sq mi)
Population 214,460 (2008) Estimates
Density 26.24/km2 (68/sq mi)
Timezone WET (UTC0)
 - summer (DST) WEST (UTC+1)
ISO 3166-2 code PT-20
Area code +351
ccTLD .pt
Demonym Transmontanan
Currency Euro (€)[1]
Date format dd-mm-yyyy
Drive right-side
Location of the Alto Trás-os-Montes subregion in continental Portugal
Wikimedia Commons: Trás-os-Montes
Statistics from INE (2001); geographic detail from Instituto Geográfico Português (2010)

Alto Trás-os-Montes (Portuguese pronunciation: [ˈaɫtu ˌtɾazuʒˈmõtɨʃ]), or Nordeste Transmontano, is a large NUTS-level 3 subregion of the Norte Region of Portugal. Its 15 municipalities occupy an area of 8,168 km2 (3,154 sq mi) in the north-east of continental Portugal with an estimated 2008 population of 214,460 inhabitants; thus it constitutes approximately 40% of the area, but only 6.1% of the population, of the Norte Region.

Geography

The Trás-os-Montes area refers to a contiguous territory that has similar social and cultural identities, but diverges on the potential economic abilities, while constituting a territorial unit with scale and critical mass to act in concert politically.[2] In addition to its land border with Spain (in the north and north-northeast), it is also juxtapositioned with the subregions of the Douro (to the south), Tâmega Subregion (in the southwest), Ave (in the southwest) and Cávado (in the west). The NUTS III region of Alto Trás-os-Montes includes the following municipalities:

The inhabitants are not homogeneously distributed within the region: with most of the population concentrated in the principal urban agglomerations, the region has experienced a continuous process of rural-to-urban population migration to centres within or outside the region. Yet, simultaneously, the medium-to-small centres have taken on a catalytic role in urbanization and economic development.

The structure of the Trás-os-Montes hierarchy is highlighted by the largest of these "medium"-sized cities (Bragança, Mirandela and Chaves), corresponding to the principal urban poles, and articulated by a complementary urban network, constituted by the seats of the municipalities of Alfândega da Fé, Boticas, Macedo de Cavaleiros, Miranda do Douro, Mogadouro, Montalegre, Ribeira de Pena, Valpaços, Vila Flor, Vila Pouca de Aguiar, Vimioso and Vinhais.

The proximity of Trás-os-Montes with Spain has allowed a cross-cultural and cross-social partnership, that has helped to develop both social and economic projects.

Economy

The Sé in Bragança, ancient medieval cathedral in the Trás-os-Montes
The main square in the municipality of Miranda do Douro

Institutionally, the municipalities of the Trás-os-Montes are aggregated into three associations that plan and promote regional development tasks within the region: Associação de Municípios da Terra Fria do Nordeste Transmontano (which include Bragança, Miranda do Douro, Mogadouro, Vimioso and Vinhais), the Associação de Municípios da Terra Quente Transmontana (with Alfândega da Fé, Macedo de Cavaleiros, Mirandela and Vila Flor) and Associação de Municípios do Alto Tâmega (Boticas, Chaves, Montalegre, Ribeira de Pena, Valpaços and Vila Pouca de Aguiar).[3] The municipality of Mogadouro falls within the Associação de Municípios do Douro Superior. The AMTF-NT assumes the largest part of regional development funding and organizational motivation.[4]

The agro-forestry activities in the region are transitioning to socially or economically viable commerce sectors, with the emigration of more residents into the urban areas. Agriculture, with its base in the production of olive oil, the raising of cattle, and cultivation of fruit orchards, remains the primary source of income in this region.

References

Notes
  1. ↑ Until 2002, the Portuguese escudo was used in financial transactions, and until 1910 the Portuguese real was the currency used by the monarchy of Portugal.
  2. ↑ Gestluz e Inpublic (June 2008), p. 15
  3. ↑ Gestluz e Inpublic (June 2008), p.16
  4. ↑ Gestluz e Inpublic (June 2008), p.16
Sources
The medieval ruins of the Castelo de Pena de Aguiar, in the municipality of Vila Pouco de Aguiar
The Roman-era bridge of the town of Chaves

Coordinates: 41°35′N 7°10′W / 41.583°N 7.167°W / 41.583; -7.167

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