What Are Some Landforms in Lisbon, Portugal?

• Lisbon, the city of the seven hills, is defined by its land forms.Lisboa roofs image by Igor Groshev from Fotolia.com
  
  The landforms of Lisbon define its character just as much as its culture, architecture and rich history. As a city restricted by natural barriers, Lisbon developed in a way that embraces its many geological features and has now become known for the distinct topography that underlies and defines the city's districts and outer boundaries.
  
  

The Seven Hills

• Lisbon is known as the "cidade das sete colinas," or the "city of seven hills," but this is more of a mythical reference to the city of Rome than an actual, factual description of the city. There are, in fact, eight hills in Lisbon: Sao Jorge, Sao Vicente, Sant'Ana, Santo Andre, Chagas, Santa Catarina, Sao Roque and Graca, which is the highest and, ironically, the most often overlooked hill in the city. Districts within the city are loosely defined by the hill on which they were originally built. The hills are perhaps the most obvious land forms in the city, providing its distinct topography and picturesque setting.
  
  

River Tagus

• The Tagus River is the longest river on the Iberian peninsula and a defining feature of Lisbon's geography. The river empties into the Atlantic at Lisbon through a long, narrow estuary which drains an area of 50,000 square feet. The river defines the city's landmass, which is divided between two blunt peninsulas that create a harbor.
  
  

Tagus Estuary

• Where the Tagus River empties into the Atlantic is the Tagus Estuary, one of the largest and most diverse estuaries in Europe. The flat salt plains of the estuary are home to thousands of bird species and other wildlife and are part of a designated national park. The estuary is rich in resources that helped protect the city from invaders from the east. The Tagus Estuary is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve for its natural diversity and distinct topography.
  
  

Peninsulas of Lisbon

• Lisbon is built atop two peninsulas that are bisected by the Tagus River. The peninsulas, called Lisbon and Setubal, make up the greatest percentage of landmass of the historical Estremadura province. The peninsulas primarily are made up of volcanic rock, sandstone and limestone instead of the predominant granite escarpment that underlies the rest of the Iberian peninsula. The peninsulas created the natural harbor and protected estuary that helped make Lisbon such a wealthy city in the past.