AVEIRO, port and episcopal see, north-western Portgual, on the Lisbon-Oporto railway. Pop. (1930) 12,735. Aveiro is built on the southern shore of a marshy lagoon, containing many small islands, and measuring about 15m. from north to south, with an average breadth of about one mile. The Barra Nova, an artificial canal about 33ft. deep (built 1801-08), gives access to the ocean. The local industries include the preparation of sea-salt and the catching and curing of fish. There is also a brisk trade in wine, oil and fruit ; while the Aveiro district contains copper and lead mines, besides much good pasture land.
Aveiro is probably the Roman Talabriga. In the 16th century it was the birthplace of Joao Affonso, one of the first navigators to visit Newfoundland ; it soon became famous for its fleet of more than 6o vessels, which went thither yearly for dried codfish.