The Compass: Portugal

At mainland Europe’s western edge lies one of its lesser-known gems—a land of wild coasts, terraced vineyards, and historic cities whose cobbled streets tell a multitude of stories.  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌    ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  

 

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Your navigation into the weekend Portugal

At mainland Europe’s western edge lies one of its lesser-known gems—a land of wild coasts, terraced vineyards, and historic cities whose cobbled streets tell a multitude of stories. In this week’s edition, we discover why tectonic activity off the coast of Portugal could shrink the Atlantic Ocean, learn about a legendary wine that made one Portuguese island famous, and see how volcanic waters in the Azores turn green tea purple. Let’s explore Portugal.

SCIENCE

PHOTOGRAPH BY PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA, AFP/GETTY IMAGES How to live with mega-fires? Portugal’s feral forests may hold the secret The world's forests are getting drier and people are living closer to them, ushering in a dangerous new era—unless we can find a way to coexist with the flames. READ MORE SHARE

PHOTOGRAPH BY JULIO MANUEL VIDAL ENCINAS Surprising DNA found in ancient people from southern Europe A study of 8,000 years of genetics from Spain and Portugal yields a surprisingly complex picture of the inhabitants' ancestry. READ MORE SHARE

ILLUSTRATION BY NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC, ART: TOMÁŠ MÜLLER, GRAPHIC EDITORS: MANUEL CANALES, MATTHEW CHWASTYK, RESEARCH: RYAN WILLIAMS A tectonic plate may have peeled apart—and that could shrink the Atlantic Ocean Something strange is happening off the coast of Portugal, and scientists have now proposed a groundbreaking explanation. READ MORE SHARE

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ORONOZ/ALBUM A spy, a map, and the quest for power in 16th-century Europe In 1502, as Europeans hungrily looked to the vast new continent across the Atlantic Ocean, innovative maps of these unfamiliar territories became objects of power and intrigue. Alberto Cantino, an Italian spy, acquired a Portuguese map showing stunning finds in the New World. READ MORE SHARE

TRAVEL

DREAM NOW, GO LATER

PHOTOGRAPH BY LUKAS BABALIS, 500PX/GETTY IMAGES Try the coveted wine that made this Portuguese island famous Madeira is renowned for its landscapes, lore—and its legendary wine, which graced the tables of America’s Founding Fathers. READ MORE SHARE RELATED: THESE NATURAL SWIMMING POOLS WERE FORMED BY LAVA +

PHOTOGRAPH BY MICHAEL NOLAN, ROBERT HARDING/NAT GEO IMAGE COLLECTION Drink volcanic purple tea in the Azores São Miguel Island is home to mineral-rich hot springs that turn green tea purple, among other weird wonders. READ MORE PHOTOGRAPH BY MAURICIO ABREU, AURORA Discover Europe's far-flung island paradise Portugal’s sun splashed Azores Islands are a trailblazer in sustainable tourism. READ MORE

PHOTOGRAPH BY GENNA MARTIN Locked down on the island my ancestors once fled The coronavirus creates a surreal stay in the Azores for a photojournalist and aspiring round-the-world traveler. READ MORE SHARE

TRAVEL GUIDE Discover the best of Lisbon READ MORE

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