COVA DA BEIRA - Geography and history
The Cova da Beira has an area of 1373 km2 and consists of three municipalities: Belmonte, Covilhã and Fundão. To the north it is bounded by the Serra da Estrela and the Beira Interior Norte, to the west by the Pinhal Interior Norte, to the south by the Pinhal Interior Sul and to the south and east by the Beira Interior Sul.
Despite its small size, the Cova da Beira shows clear contrasts between mountain and high plains. Covilhã itself is situated at the base of the great ridge which rises to the peak of the Serra da Estrela. The Fundão municipality itself owes its name ("Valley floor") to the position left to it by nature in the process of geological formation. It lies within a valley bounded by the Estrela and the Gardunha, making highly fertile farming land. The region has abundant water, lying in the basin of the river Zêzere, whose steep falls and volume of water provide a notable wealth in hydro-electricity, generated mainly for the benefit of other sub-region.
In climate, altitude results in considerable differences, with the mountain environment giving annual average temperatures of the order of 9°-10°C, whilst in the valleys - in practice the Fundão -mean annual temperatures are noticeably higher, around 14°-15°C.
A university inland in the Centro region
The Cova da Beira has a substantial industrial tradition, almost exclusively in the textile trades. The entrepreneurial environment is found throughout the region, but most notably in the municipality of Covilhã, where industry is most concentrated. Indeed, Covilhã was one of the country's first centres for weaving, and even now the Associação Nacional dos Industriais de Lanifícios - the national wool industry association - has its headquarters there. The Universidade da Beira Interior has also helped the region. Although it was founded only recently, it has been successful in attracting students - more than 4 000, which is a very large number given the region's population. The university's impulsion and influence on the region can be noted in many ways. An example is the establishing of a degree course in textile engineering, which provides the background needed by the technical managers who are essential to the further development of the region's main industry. The fact that the university has taken over former industrial buildings is a symbol of the way in which the region is restructuring.
The region's agricultural potential lies in its situation in the foothills of the mountains, where the climate is ideal for fruit-growing. The problems of modernising Cova da Beira's traditional industry can be noted as the region's chief weakness. As is the case in Serra da Estrela, the comparative advantages underlying the region's industrial specialisation have lost relevance, and the problems of industrial restructuring have worsened. The textile industry remains the leading employer, but countless businesses are facing problems of financial survival, with all the resultant social problems.
Additional problems which should not be overlooked are the slow increase of the population in the recent years (from 92 000 in 1995 to 93 500 inhabitants in 2001) and the difficulties of access to certain parts of the region.
Importance of the textile industry
The Cova da Beira has a rather low population density (67.4 inhabitants per square kilometres in 20001), still below the average for the region as a whole, as well as a negative natural population increase.
There are still poor communications with the outside world, despite the improved links with Castelo Branco and thence to Lisboa. The completion of the IP2, which crosses the Centre region from north to south, will undoubtedly improve access into the Cova da Beira.
Previously a strong industrial area, the Cova da Beira presents today an important share of both agriculture and industry in employment. These shares were respectively 18% and 34% in 1999 against national averages of 11% and 31%. On a more local scale Covilhã stands out with more than 50% of the resident working population employed in industry. The trend is even more in favour of the agriculture when looking at the share in the Gross Value Added. The primary and secondary sectors accounted respectively for 8% and 31% of the GVA of the region in 2000 while the national shares are 3% and 29%. The mainstay of this industry has always been textiles, with documentary records of textile activity in the municipality from as early as the mid-17th century: the textile trades were founded on the abundant local supplies of wool and the availability of power in the form of water courses. Recent years have seen a steady succession of mill closures, reflected in the opening of the University in the splendid premises of the former Royal Cloth Mills, and the Fundão municipal offices in those of the former Royal Woollen Mills.
Cova da Beira has good conditions for agriculture, notably in the municipality of Fundão and to a lesser extent Belmonte. The main crops are, in order, apples, peaches, pears and cherries.
The services sector occupied around 48 % of the region's employment in 1999. For tourism, the Cova da Beira lies at the heart of the areas where winter sports can be practised, although this depends on the winter since the climate of the Serra da Estrela will not permit snow to remain on the ground around the year. The result is that in mild winters winter sports must be practised on a limited scale.
|
|