Torre (Serra da Estrela)

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Torre
HPIM0085.JPG
Trig point that marks the highest point of Continental Portugal.
Highest point
Elevation1,993 m (6,539 ft)
Prominence1,204 m (3,950 ft)
Parent peakTorre Cerredo
Isolation159 km (99 mi) Edit this on Wikidata
ListingExtreme points of Portugal
Coordinates40°19′18.8″N 07°36′46.6″W / 40.321889°N 7.612944°W / 40.321889; -7.612944Coordinates: 40°19′18.8″N 07°36′46.6″W / 40.321889°N 7.612944°W / 40.321889; -7.612944
Geography
Torre is located in Portugal
Torre
Torre
Portugal
LocationSeia, Guarda District, Portugal
Parent rangeSerra da Estrela (part of Sistema Central)
Climbing
First ascentUnknown
Easiest routeDrive

Torre (English: Tower) is the highest point of Mainland Portugal, and the second most elevated of the Portuguese Republic (only Mount Pico, in the Azores, is higher). This point is not a distinctive mountain summit, but rather the highest point in a mountain range. Torre has an unusual feature of being a summit that is accessible by paved road, the Regional Road 339 (R 339), formerly National Road 339 (N 339).

It is located in a mountain range named Serra da Estrela, on the border between the municipalities of Seia, District of Guarda and Covilhã, District of Castelo Branco.

Ski lifts of the ski resort near Torre, on January 2007

The actual elevation of this area is 1,993 metres (6,537 feet), according to measures realized by the Instituto Geográfico do Exército (a military organization). Right in the highest point of the mountain range, situated in the middle of a roundabout, near a road that connects the cities of Seia and Covilhã, a trig point that shows the highest point in Serra da Estrela was built.

Near Torre, there are a restaurant, stores with typical products of this region, like the Serra da Estrela cheese, and a ski center called Vodafone Ski Resort, situated in the municipality of Seia. However, the nearest urban area of this place is the city of Covilhã, 20 km (12 mi) away, and the nearest accommodations are situated in the village of Penhas da Saúde, 10 minutes away.

Climate[]

Torre is the culminating point of the Serra da Estrela range and as such tends to present the lowest temperatures and highest precipitation levels. The climate is defined as a transition between the typical Mediterranean climates seen south of the range and the not-so-typical oceanic climates found north of the range. Precipitation is very high, with around 2,400 mm (94 in), but when compared to lower valley regions of the range, rain is rather weak and continuous.[1] Snow can occur anywhere between October and May, mostly in February, but it is very irregular.[2][3]

Climate data for Torre, 1971-2000
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °C (°F) 2.5
(36.5) 		3.0
(37.4) 		4.0
(39.2) 		7.5
(45.5) 		10.5
(50.9) 		13.5
(56.3) 		17.5
(63.5) 		17.5
(63.5) 		14.0
(57.2) 		8.5
(47.3) 		4.5
(40.1) 		3.0
(37.4) 		8.8
(47.9)
Daily mean °C (°F) 0.8
(33.4) 		1.2
(34.2) 		2.3
(36.1) 		4.3
(39.7) 		7.2
(45.0) 		10.5
(50.9) 		14.3
(57.7) 		14.3
(57.7) 		11.7
(53.1) 		6.5
(43.7) 		3.2
(37.8) 		1.5
(34.7) 		6.5
(43.7)
Average low °C (°F) −1.0
(30.2) 		−0.5
(31.1) 		0.5
(32.9) 		1.0
(33.8) 		4.0
(39.2) 		7.5
(45.5) 		11.0
(51.8) 		11.0
(51.8) 		9.5
(49.1) 		4.5
(40.1) 		2.0
(35.6) 		0.0
(32.0) 		4.1
(39.4)
Average rainfall mm (inches) 350
(13.8) 		300
(11.8) 		180
(7.1) 		240
(9.4) 		200
(7.9) 		100
(3.9) 		30
(1.2) 		30
(1.2) 		120
(4.7) 		220
(8.7) 		270
(10.6) 		400
(15.7) 		2,440
(96)
Source: IPMA[4]

References[]

  1. ^ Mora 2006, p. 84
  2. ^ Mora 2006, p. 80
  3. ^ Mora, Carla Andreia da Silva (2006). "Climas da Serra da Estrela. Características regionais e particularidades locais dos planaltos e do alto Vale do Zêzere" (PDF) (in Portuguese). Retrieved 15 June 2021.
  4. ^ "Gráficos Monitorização Diária". IPMA.

Sources[]

Air Force Base built in 1957 in Torre
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