The Ria Formosa

lagoon A lagoon is a shallow body of water separated from a larger body of water by a narrow landform, such as reefs, barrier islands, barrier peninsulas, or isthmuses. Lagoons are commonly divided into '' coastal lagoons'' (or ''barrier lagoons ...

, located in the

Algarve The Algarve (, , ; from ) is the southernmost NUTS II region of continental Portugal. It has an area of with 467,495 permanent inhabitants and incorporates 16 municipalities ( ''concelhos'' or ''municípios'' in Portuguese). The region has it ...

, in southern

Portugal Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic ( pt, República Portuguesa, links=yes ), is a country whose mainland is located on the Iberian Peninsula of Southwestern Europe, and whose territory also includes the Atlantic archipelagos of th ...

, is a system of barrier islands that connects to the sea through six inlets. Five of these inlets are natural and have mobility characteristics. The sixth is an artificial inlet that was opened with the purpose of allowing easier access to the port of Faro. In 2010, the lagoon was recognised as one of the country’s seven natural wonders. Following a public vote in which 656,356 voted, the Ria Formosa was announced the winner of the Marine Area category of the ‘7 Maravilhas Naturais de Portugal’. Presently the main inlet of the system is the Faro-Olhão inlet, which is an artificial construction. The process started in 1927 but it was only in 1952 that the engineering works were completed and it assumed the present configuration. Ria Formosa, Tavira, Algarve (6045773830)

Ria Formosa, Tavira, Algarve (6045773830)

Part of the system is a 170 km² protected natural area, but Ria Formosa also plays an important role in the region's economy. Beyond the tourist use the system also supports other economic activities like seafood farms (including grooved carpet shell harvesting) and the port of Faro. Besides being a natural park, Ria Formosa is classified as a

Ramsar site A Ramsar site is a wetland site designated to be of international importance under the Ramsar Convention,8 ha (O) *** Permanent 8 ha (P) *** Seasonal Intermittent < 8 ha(Ts) **

BirdLife International BirdLife International is a global partnership of non-governmental organizations that strives to conserve birds and their habitats. BirdLife International's priorities include preventing extinction of bird species, identifying and safeguarding ...

as an

Important Bird Area An Important Bird and Biodiversity Area (IBA) is an area identified using an internationally agreed set of criteria as being globally important for the conservation of bird populations. IBA was developed and sites are identified by BirdLife Inte ...

, both in its lagoon area with 23,296 hectares and the oceanic zone with 19,900 hectares. It serves as a stopping place for migratory birds during the spring and autumn migratory periods. The most important cities near the Ria Formosa are

Tavira Tavira () is a Portuguese town and municipality, capital of the ''Costa do Acantilado'', situated in the east of the Algarve on the south coast of Portugal. It is east of Faro and west of Huelva across the river Guadiana into Spain. The Gilã ...

, Faro and

Olhão Olhão (), officially known as Olhão da Restauração, is a city and municipality in the Algarve region of southern Portugal. The population of the municipality in 2011 was 45,396, in an area of . Located near the regional capital Faro and form ...

Entertainment

Little villages and towns in the area, such as

Cabanas de Tavira Cabanas de Tavira (; Portuguese for ''"cottages/huts of Tavira"'') is a former Freguesia (Portugal), civil parish in the municipality of Tavira, Portugal. In 2013, the parish merged into the new parish Conceição e Cabanas de Tavira. The parish co ...

, have a large number of bars, cafés and restaurants which are located along the riverfront and are also dotted around a couple of blocks inland. Annually, about 30,000 birds can be observed from Ria Formosa, since the region serves as a migratory corridor and contains some the last remaining nesting grounds in Europe for some bird species. There are also some towns in this area, whose names are:

Fuzeta Fuseta () is a former civil parish in the municipality of Olhão, Portugal. In 2013, the parish merged into the new parish Moncarapacho e Fuseta. The parish occupies an area of approximately and at the 2001 census had a population of 2,146. This ...

(which belongs to the municipality of

), Santa Luzia,

(these last two belonging to

) and Cacela Velha (which belongs to

Vila Real de Santo António Vila Real de Santo António (, often run together as ) is a city, civil parish, and municipality in the Algarve, Portugal. The population in 2011 was 19,156, in an area of 61.25 km2. It is one of the few municipalities in Portugal without te ...

). The area is served by public transport from Tavira to Cabanas, namely buses. The nearest train station is in nearby Conceição which is on the Tavira to Vila Real line. Trains stop there daily, but at irregular intervals.

Islands and beaches

Ria Formosa is located in the southernmost portion of the Algarve and continental Portugal and has a mild climate, with sunny days all year round. Because of these features, beaches in the Ria Formosa area are highly regarded. The majority of the islands of the Algarve are part of the wetland. These include

Armona Island Armona Island is one of the islands of Algarve, Portugal. Armona is in length, and from wide. It is accessible by regular 20-minute Ferry trips or even quicker water taxi from the waterfront in Olhão. The island is populated with a large number ...

Barreta Island Barreta Island (Portuguese: ''Ilha da Barretta'') is an island in Algarve, Portugal, about long and wide. Barreta is also known as Deserta, Deserted Island or Santa Maria Cape Island. Is one of the more isolated islands in Algarve. There is a p ...

, Cacela Island,

Culatra Island Culatra Island is a barrier island located in the Ria Formosa in the Algarve region of Portugal. It has an approximate population of around 700 people divided across three communities of Farol, Hângares and Culatra. Geography & Layout The islan ...

and

Tavira Island Tavira Island ( pt, Ilha de Tavira) lies south of the town of Tavira, Portugal, just a few hundred metres off the coast. It is 11 kilometres long and varies between 150 m to 1 km in width. The island has 11 km of the best beaches in t ...

. It also hosts small communities such as Vale do Lobo,

, Cacela Velha and Manta Rota.

Barril Beach Tavira Island ( pt, Ilha de Tavira) lies south of the town of Tavira, Portugal, just a few hundred metres off the coast. It is 11 kilometres long and varies between 150 m to 1 km in width. The island has 11 km of the best beaches in t ...

attracts

naturist Naturism is a lifestyle of practising non-sexual social nudity in private and in public; the word also refers to the cultural movement which advocates and defends that lifestyle. Both may alternatively be called nudism. Though the two terms a ...

s. Tavira Island Beach has a campsite.

References

External links

Video showing the train trip to Praia do Barril, located inside the natural park
{{Authority control Nature conservation in Portugal Lagoons of Portugal Ramsar sites in Portugal Important Bird Areas of Portugal Algarve Geography of Faro District Tourist attractions in Faro District Natura 2000 in Portugal Birdwatching sites in Portugal