Characterization of the Municipality

Climate

The region has a Mediterranean climate, sweetened by the Atlantic influence. This climate of hot dry summers and short rainy winters marks the vegetation, the fauna, the landscape, the architecture and the people. Average annual temperature of about 16ºC. Average annual values of global radiation – 155cal/ Km2. Average number of uncovered sun hours a year: 2950. Dominant Winds – NW and NE. Strong thermal amplitudes (above 25ºC). Total annual precipitation between 600 and 700mm.

Soils

In the municipality we check out the existence of a high soil volume presenting strong conditionings to the direct productive use. According to the Municipality Master Plan (PDM), 42% of the existing soils are of E-class – as they are skeletal with high erosion risk, rocky outcrops and very low fertility.
 
Even though, in the strip between the towns of Monsaraz and Reguengos de Monsaraz, there is an extensive area of Mediterranean soils, sometimes for clays, with a fertility without erosion problems, those soils from A and B class, correspond to approximately 15% of the soil totality. Thus, we must conclude the greater part of the existing soils in the municipality don’t produce, being mostly rocky or composed by uncultivated bushes.

Topography 

The municipality of Reguengos de Monsaraz has a relief that, despite being wavy, is not much accentuated, being essentially composed by two major areas: one with the altitude varying between 490ft and 660ft, developing along the Southeast and Southwest limits, reaching the municipality centre; and another with altitudes between 660ft and 820ft, developing Northern and North-eastern to the municipality, and extends almost until the south limits of the municipality.

Hidrography 

The municipality of Reduengos de Monsaraz is cut by several waterlines. In its totality, it’s about brooks which empty in the River Degebe, south-western, and in the River Guadiana, eastern.

In the left margin of the River Guadiana there are the other brooks crossing the municipality and which usually have a W-E way, finally meeting the Guadiana – brooks of Besteiros, Azavel, Banha, Vale das Lebres, Pega, das Velhas, Quinta and  Álamo.

Environment and Landscapes

Rivers and Lagoons
> Guadiana
> Degebe
> Azevel

Man-made Lakes
> Alqueva

Flora and Fauna
> Holm-oak, Cork-tree, Carrasco (kind of holm-oak), Wild olive-tree, wild pear-tree, Dogwood, Myrtle, Honeysuckle, Bush, Sargasso, Broom, Rosemary, Ash, Alder, Poplar, Willow, Oleander, Tamarisk and Tamujo (species of blackthorn).


> Chimney Swallow, Huuse Martin, Tower Owl, Wood Pigeon, Papa-amoras (mulberry eater), blackbird, Crested Tit, Robin, Cretzschmar’s Bunting, Rock Swallow, Egyptian Vulture, Bittern, Fiend, Small Lark, Galician Owl, Ivy, Little Bustard, Pernicious, Common Partridge and Royal Lark.
Fox, Badger, Weasel, Hare, Andalusian hemipode, Wild Boar, Wild Cat, Mongoose, Genet, Stone Marten, Rabbit, Mus, Rattus, Apodemus and Mus spretus.
Cobra de ferradura (Coluber Hemorrhois), Southern Smooth Snake, Common House Lizard, Common Lizard, Sardanisca argelina (Psamnodromus Algirus), Ladder-snake, Lataste’s Viper , Ratoeira Snake and Iberian Wall-lizard.