Bragança District

Bragança District ( pt, Distrito de Bragança ; mwl, Çtrito de Bergáncia) is a traditional political division of Portugal, in the northeast corner bordering on Spain ( Castile and Leon and Galicia), covering 7.4% of the nation's continental landmass. the total resident population was 136,252, making it the second-least populous district in Portugal, only surpassing Portalegre District.

Bragança is administratively divided in twelve municipalities and 299 parishes located in the north-eastern part of Trás-os-Montes. The capital of the district, Bragança, is from Porto, the second largest town in Portugal, from the Spanish town of Zamora and from Salamanca, also in Spain.Sreko Devjak et al. (2007), p.2 It is bordered by Spain ( Castile and Leon and Galicia) in the north and northeast, Vila Real District in the west, Viseu District in the southwest and Guarda District in the south.

History

During the Roman era, the territory was part of the much larger province of Gallaecia, dependent administratively on Astorga and the gold, iron and silver trade route. Although names similar to Bragança appeared around 666 B.C. (Wamba) or 569 A.D. (Council of Lugo), a territory identifiable as ''Bragança'' only appeared after the Celts who baptised one of their main settlements ''Brigantia'', in the second century, which was later Latinized to ''Bragança''. But this settlement was limited.

The region's name was derived from the traditional feudal history of the northern region: the Bragançãos family of Castro de Avelãs were the basis of this lineage that included Fernão Mendes, who later married the Infanta Sancha (daughter of Afonso Henriques), inheriting the region on the death of the King. The Bragançãos would maintain their hold on the region until 1258, when Afonso III transferred the title to Nuno Martins, but the name ''Braganção'' would continue to influence the region. Eventually, the King Afonso V established the Dukedom of the '' Duchy of Braganza'' for his uncle, Afonso, Count of Barcelos to strengthen the ties of the crown to the land. When the royal House of Braganza ascended to the throne of Portugal (through John IV), the significance of ''Bragança'', as the hereditary seat of the Kings and Emperors of Portugal was sealed.

The district of Bragança was constituted upon the creation of the district system on 25 April 1835; a creation of the Liberal government, it was inspired by the French '' départements'', with the objective to ''"facilitate the action of government...and permit access to the authorities"''. The establishment of the districts was primarily done to counteract the centralizing tendencies of the governmental authority.Governador Civil de Braga (2002), p.1

Geography

Physical geography

The district is composed of two distinct regions described in terms of its geographic differences: the northern areas, with the higher altitudes constitute the ''Terra Fria Transmontana'' (''Cold lands''), and the Alto Trás-os-Montes, where the landscape is dominated gentler slopes of the plateau; and the southern areas, the ''Terra Quente Trasmontana'' (''Hot Lands''), where the climate is milder, marked by the valleys of the Douro River and its tributaries. Its area allows a wide diversity of landscapes, and the district is known for its climatic differences (nine months of winter and three of heat), its rugged geomorphology, an aging population and urban to rural migration of its residents over time.

It is the Douro River that characterizes the geography, dividing the borders within the district, its southern frontier and extreme northeast borders with Spain. It is in the Douro valley that the lowlands of the district are primarily located, although almost all are 400 metres above sea level, with the exception of the municipality of Mirandela and its rivers. In addition to the Douro, the rivers of the district run north to south (or northeast to southwest) within the Douro watershed. The principal rivers are the Tua River, which springs from the mountains of Mirandela, at the confluence of Tuela and Rabaçal Rivers, and the Sabor River, which springs in Spain, and crosses the eastern part of the district. Both rivers have a network of tributaries, such as the Baceiro River (feeding the Tuela), the Mente River (serving the Rabaçal), and the Azibo River (supporting the Sabor).

The mountain ranges divide these water courses: the Serra da Nogueira (approximately 1320 metres) separates the Tuela and Sabor valleys; more to the south, the Serra de Bornes (1199 metres), in the municipalities of Macedo de Cavaleiros and Alfândega da Fé, and the Serra de Montesinho (1400 metres) at the frontier, shield the Spanish autonomous communities from Portugal. A major part of the dams in the district are located along the Douro; the Valeira, Pocinho, Saucelle, Aldeadávila, Bemposta, Picote and Miranda Dams, along the main river, and the Azibo, Nuzedo de Baixo and Rebordelo, along its tributaries.

Ecoregions/protected areas

Bragança includes several natural sanctuaries, such as the '' Parque Natural de Montesinho'', the ''Parque Natural do Douro Internacional'', and the ''Paisagem Protegida da Albufeira do Azibo'', oasises in the northwest part of the peninsula.

Human geography

Consisting of twelve municipalities, the district of Bragança is the fifth largest district of Portugal:
* Alfândega da Fé

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