Have you ever pondered the question, “Just how big is Portugal when placed next to a state in the United States?” It’s a fascinating comparison, revealing that Portugal, while a significant European nation, is considerably smaller than many US states. With a total area of approximately 35,608 square miles, Portugal occupies a unique geographical space. Let’s delve into a detailed Portugal size comparison with various US states to truly grasp the scale.
Visual comparison of Portugal overlaid on a map of the United States, illustrating the relative size difference.
Portugal: A European Gem
Nestled on the Iberian Peninsula in southwestern Europe, Portugal boasts a rich history and vibrant culture within its compact borders. This European country, despite its relatively small size geographically compared to the vast expanse of nations like the United States, has played a significant role in global history and continues to be a prominent player in the European Union. Its diverse landscape ranges from stunning coastlines along the Atlantic Ocean to rolling plains and mountainous regions inland.
Map showing Portugal’s location within Europe, emphasizing its position on the Iberian Peninsula.
Portugal vs. Texas: The Size Disparity
When considering the sheer size of the United States, Texas immediately comes to mind as the largest contiguous state. Comparing Portugal to Texas reveals a significant difference. Texas, with its expansive area of approximately 268,596 square miles, is roughly 7.5 times larger than Portugal. This stark contrast highlights the scale difference between a European country and one of the largest states in the USA.
Geographical comparison of Portugal and Texas, illustrating how much larger Texas is.
Portugal Dwarfs Rhode Island
On the opposite end of the spectrum is Rhode Island, the smallest US state. The Portugal vs Rhode Island comparison showcases Portugal’s relatively larger size when placed against the most compact state in the United States. Portugal’s area of around 35,380 square miles makes it over 29 times larger than Rhode Island, which covers a mere 1,214 square miles. This comparison emphasizes the vast range in size among US states themselves.
Visual representation of Portugal’s size compared to the much smaller Rhode Island.
California and Portugal: A Significant Difference
California, the third-largest state in the US, further emphasizes Portugal’s smaller footprint. With an area of approximately 163,696 square miles, California is more than 4.6 times larger than Portugal. The Portugal vs California size comparison demonstrates that even when compared to a large but not the largest US state, Portugal remains considerably smaller.
Map illustrating the size difference between Portugal and the expansive state of California.
New York vs. Portugal: Closer in Size but Still Larger
Moving eastward, New York, a state renowned for its cultural and economic significance, presents a closer size comparison to Portugal. Covering around 54,555 square miles, New York is still approximately 1.4 times larger than Portugal. The Portugal vs New York comparison shows that while the difference is less dramatic than with Texas or California, New York still occupies a larger landmass.
Comparison map showing Portugal relative to the size of New York state.
Florida and Portugal: A Moderate Size Gap
Florida, known for its long coastlines and warm climate, has an area of about 65,757 square miles. The Portugal vs Florida comparison reveals that Florida is larger than Portugal, but the size difference is less pronounced than with some other states. Portugal is approximately 86% smaller than Florida, indicating a more moderate gap in land area.
Visual depiction of the size comparison between Portugal and Florida.
Azores vs. Hawaii: Island to Island
Extending the comparison beyond mainland Portugal, we can look at the Azores, an autonomous region of Portugal consisting of islands in the Atlantic Ocean. The Azores cover about 902 square miles. When compared to Hawaii, a US state composed of islands in the Pacific, we see Hawaii is significantly larger. The Azores vs Hawaii comparison reveals that Hawaii, with approximately 10,931 square miles, is over 12 times larger than the Azores.
A map comparing the island area of Azores (Portugal) and Hawaii (US).
Nevada’s Expansive Terrain Compared to Portugal
Nevada, known for its deserts and mountainous landscapes, covers a vast area of roughly 110,622 square miles. The Portugal vs Nevada comparison shows that Nevada is approximately 3.12 times larger than Portugal. This highlights how even states not among the absolute largest in the US can still dwarf European countries like Portugal in terms of land area.
Geographic size comparison between Portugal and the state of Nevada.
Maine: The Closest US State in Size to Portugal
Interestingly, Maine emerges as the US state closest in size to Portugal. Maine’s total area is approximately 35,380 square miles, remarkably similar to Portugal’s 35,608 square miles. The Portugal vs Maine comparison reveals that Maine is almost the same size as Portugal. While a slight difference exists, Maine provides the most comparable land area to Portugal among all US states.
Map showing the near size equivalence of Portugal and the US state of Maine.
Conclusion: Size is Relative
In conclusion, while Portugal is a country of significant cultural and historical importance in Europe, its geographical size is relatively small when compared to many states in the United States. From being dwarfed by Texas and California to being remarkably similar in size to Maine, the Portugal Size Compared To Us State analysis highlights the vast variations in scale across the United States and provides a clearer perspective on Portugal’s place in the world geographically.
