Cortes de Meio is a parish of contrasts, that ever since it can be seen in the altimetry of its territory, with summits as low as 500m reaching over 1600m high. Its peak is Penhas da Saúde, an atypical place in the mountain range, that was born at the end of the XIX century as a therapeutic resort for the treatment of tuberculosis and evolved into a mountain resort.

Its mountainous habitats (woods, peat bogs and mat grass) form the springs and reservoirs for the Cortes stream, that goes down the mountain through torrents and waterfalls, between granite blocks forming the “famous pools” of crystal clear water, making Cortes de Meio the capital of natural pools®.

The mining of wolfram was a very striking reality in the parish life, with around a dozen licensed mines, however, not much was left today but its memory. The agriculture, the grazing and forest exploration, continue to be the main activities in the landscape of Cortes de Meio.