User:Linel yelos/Eastern Algarve

The Eastern Algarve is the extreme south-east corner of Portugal. In Portuguese, it is known as the Sotavento Algarve, meaning lee-ward Algarve, as it lies in the lee of the prevailing south-westerly wind, behind the southernmost point of the Algarve (and of Portugal) at Cabo de Santa Maria on Ilha Desserta. As it is the lee-ward coast, it has a milder climate and warmer sea temperatures than the Central or Western Algarve.

The Eastern Algarve is bordered by the Atlantic to the south, the N2 Faro-São Brás de Alportel-Lisboa road to the west, the Vascão stream - which forms the border with the Alentejo - to the north, and the Guardiana river - which forms the border with Spain - to the east.

The Eastern Algarve has five distinct geophysical zones: the Guardiana river system, the coastal strip of barrier islands and the Rio Formosa Nature Reserve, the coastal plain of good agricultural land characterised by vineyards and citrus orchards, a lime stone strip running roughly parallel to the coast - the Barrocal, and the Serra (hills) which account for the majority of the land area but which is the most sparsely populated. The river valleys of the Eastern Algarve drain into the Ria Formosa in the south and the Guardiana river in the east.

The principle towns of the Eastern Algarve are Faro, Olhão, Tavira, Vila Real de Santo António, Castro Marim, São Brás de Alportel and Alcoutim. These towns are also the administrative centres for the seven council districts - Camaras - of the same names that comprise the Eastern Algarve.

The development of tourism in the Eastern Algarve has lagged behind that of the main tourist area of the Central Algarve, centred around Albufeira. However, it is now catching up rapidly. There are now seven new golf courses, four new hotels in Tavira, and the major beach resorts have developed at Monte Gordo, Altura, Manta Rota and Cabanas.