One more list of best photos came from Portugal this time. National winners were inspired with forests and mountains. Surprisingly but you will not find a lot of photos of the ocean. Enjoy!
Laurel forest
Laurel forest, also called laurisilva or laurissilva, is a type of subtropical forest found in areas with high humidity and relatively stable, mild temperatures.
The forest is characterized by broadleaf tree species with evergreen, glossy and elongated leaves, known as “laurophyll” or “lauroid”. Plants from the laurel family (Lauraceae) may or may not be present, depending on the location.
Serra da Estrela
Serra da Estrela is the highest mountain range inContinental Portugal. Together with the Serra da Lousã it is the westernmost constituent range of the Sistema Central and also one of the highest in the system. It includes mainland Portugal’s highest point at 1,993 m (6,539 ft) above mean sea level at its highest point (the summit of the Pico mountain in the Portuguese Azores islands is higher, however).
This point is not a distinctive mountain summit, but rather the highest point in a plateau, being known as Torre (“Tower” in English). Torre has the unusual feature of being a summit that is accessible by paved road. The peak has a topographic prominence of 1204 m and its parent peak is Pico Almanzor, in Spain.
Ponta de São Lourenço
Southwest Alentejo and Vicentine Coast Natural Park
Southwest Alentejo and Vicentine Coast Natural Park is a natural park in the Alentejo and Algarve regions of south-central Portugal.
It is one of the 30 Natural Park areas which are officially under Portuguese protection in the country.
Rocks in Peniche
Peniche is a seaside municipality and a city in Portugal. It is located in Oeste Subregion in formerlyEstremadura Province. The population in 2011 was 27,753, in an area of 77.55 km2. The city proper has about 15,600 inhabitants.
Pico do Arieiro
Pico do Arieiro, at 1,818 m high (5965 feet), is Madeira island’s third highest peak. The footpath northwards towards Pico Ruivo is an important tourist attraction, with a daily average of 1000 tourists trekking on it.
There is easy road access to the summit, with a large car park, a restaurant and souvenir shop. In 2011, an Air Defence Radar Station was built at the top of the mountain near the tourist facilities.
References:
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laurel_forest
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serra_da_Estrela
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southwest_Alentejo_and_Vicentine_Coast_Natural_Park
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peniche,_Portugal
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pico_do_Arieiro