Odemira

Odemira (Portuguese pronunciation: [oðɨˈmiɾɐ] or [ɔðɨˈmiɾɐ] ) is a town and a municipality in Beja District in the Portuguese region of Alentejo. The population in 2011 was 26,066,[1] in an area of 1720.60 km2, making it the largest municipality of Portugal by area.[2]

Odemira
Flag of Odemira
Coat of arms of Odemira
Coordinates: 37°35′N 8°38′W
Country Portugal
RegionAlentejo
Intermunic. comm.Alentejo Litoral
DistrictBeja
Parishes13
Government
  PresidentHélder António Guerreiro (PS)
Area
  Total1,720.60 km2 (664.33 sq mi)
Population
 (2011)
  Total26,066
  Density15/km2 (39/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC±00:00 (WET)
  Summer (DST)UTC+01:00 (WEST)
Local holiday8 September
Websitehttp://www.cm-odemira.pt

It is famous for its wild beaches and for being home to a significant Dutch and German community. The village of Zambujeira do Mar is home to the Festival do Sudoeste, one of the biggest rock festivals in Europe.

The municipality of Odemira has great agricultural potential, specially in the western area of the region, and is home to major operations of important agricultural companies like Vitacress, world leader in the salad market.

The present Mayor is Hélder António Guerreiro, elected by the Socialist Party in 2021. The municipal holiday is 8 September.

Geography

Coast in Zambujeira do Mar, Odemira

The municipality of Odemira is located in southwestern Portugal, bordered by the municipalities of Sines and Santiago do Cacém to the north, Ourique to the east, and the Algarvian municipalities of Aljezur and Monchique to the south.

Much of the municipality is within the Southwest Alentejo and Vicentine Coast Nature Park.

Climate

Odemira has a Mediterranean climate. Winters are mild and rainy, with daytime temperatures usually around 16 °C (61 °F) and nighttime lows around 6 °C (43 °F). Summers are dry and sunny and are hot in the interior of the municipality (maxima is around 31 °C (88 °F) bordering Ourique) and warm at the coast (where maxima is around 25 °C (77 °F)).[3]

Climate data for Relíquias, 1980-2010, altitude: 244 m (801 ft)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average precipitation mm (inches) 57.1
(2.25)
58.6
(2.31)
46.0
(1.81)
54.1
(2.13)
33.4
(1.31)
10.5
(0.41)
2.0
(0.08)
4.8
(0.19)
19.2
(0.76)
80.4
(3.17)
86.4
(3.40)
79.1
(3.11)
531.6
(20.93)
Source: Portuguese Environment Agency[4]

Parishes

Administratively, the municipality is divided into 13 civil parishes (freguesias):[5]

Notable people

  • Pedro Damiano (1480–1544) a Portuguese chess player and pharmacist by profession
  • Pedro de Almada Pereira (1835 in Odemira – 1911) an Alentejan landowner, schoolmaster and journalist, founded the periodical O Campo de Ourique

Population

Odemira Municipality's population (1801–2011)
1801 1849 1900 1930 1960 1981 1991 2001 2004 2011
6390 11 669 20 489 32 541 43 999 29 463 26 418 26 106 25 738 26 066

References

  1. Instituto Nacional de Estatística
  2. "Áreas das freguesias, concelhos, distritos e país". Archived from the original on 5 November 2018. Retrieved 5 November 2018.
  3. "Monotorização Diária". IPMA. Retrieved 8 January 2022.
  4. "Monthly Precipitation Relíquias". APA. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
  5. Diário da República. "Law nr. 11-A/2013, pages 552 81-82" (PDF) (in Portuguese). Retrieved 29 July 2014.


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