The quasi-synoptic picture of the mesoscale eddy field off Portugal is presented on the basis of recent hydrographic measurements. The dynamic topography and the salinity field at middepths (900--1300 m) is shown to be dominated by several isolated meddy structures superimposed on a general east-west gradient. Deduced from the actual dynamical situation, there is evidence for meddy generation in this region. Numerical process studies demonstrate the possibility of vortex formation by baroclinic instability of a northward middepth jet of Mediterranean Water and by fragmentation of larger-scale Mediterranean Water blobs. ¿ American Geophysical Union 1989