The Aveiro lagoon (''Ria de Aveiro'') is a

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' ...

Portugal Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic, In recognized minority languages of Portugal: :* mwl, República Pertuesa is a country located on the Iberian Peninsula, in Southwestern Europe, and whose territory also includes the Macaronesian ...

. It is located on the Atlantic coast of Portugal, south of the municipality of Espinho and north of Mira (to the north of the

Cape Mondego Cabo Mondego is a cape located in central western Portugal bordering the Atlantic Ocean. It is the westernmost point of the Serra da Boa Viagem and is located three kilometers north of Figueira da Foz. It is classified as a natural monument si ...

). Its average area covers approximately . It is named after the city of Aveiro, which is the chief urban centre located near to the

. Other urban centres near the Ria de Aveiro are Ílhavo, Gafanha da Nazaré, Estarreja, Ovar and

Esmoriz Esmoriz () is a Portuguese city located south of Porto. It is a ''freguesia'' ("parish") of the municipality of Ovar, and part of the Região de Aveiro. The population in 2011 was 11,448, in an area of 9.17 km². Esmoriz was given city status ...

. Some beaches nearby include those of Barra,

Costa Nova Costa may refer to: Biology * Rib (Latin: ''costa''), in vertebrate anatomy * Costa (botany), the central strand of a plant leaf or thallus * Costa (coral), a stony rib, part of the skeleton of a coral * Costa (entomology), the leading edge of th ...

, Torreira, Vagueira, Furadouro, Cortegaça and

Praia de Mira Mira () is a municipality in the central Portuguese district of Coimbra. A coastal municipality, known for its beaches, forests, and agriculture, the population was 12,465 inhabitants in an area of approximately . History In 1442, the regent P ...

. There are also beaches in the

São Jacinto Peninsula SAO or Sao may refer to: Places * Sao civilisation, in Middle Africa from 6th century BC to 16th century AD * Sao, a town in Boussé Department, Burkina Faso * Saco Transportation Center (station code SAO), a train station in Saco, Maine, U.S. ...

. The Aveiro Lagoon is beyond a mere geographical feature of Portugal. This long lagoon stands as one of Europe's last remaining untouched coastal marshland. It is also a haven for numerous bird species. The locals call this rich lagoon Ria de Aveiro. Tourism and aquaculture are the mainstay of the Aveiro Lagoon region. It is also renowned for its artisan fishing and as a center for the collection of

flor de sal ''Fleur de sel'' ("flower of salt" in French; ) or ''flor de sal'' (also "flower of salt" in Portuguese, Spanish and Catalan) is a salt that forms as a thin, delicate crust on the surface of seawater as it evaporates. ''Fleur de sel'' has been c ...

, an expensive salt variety.

References

Lagoons of Portugal Geography of Aveiro District Natura 2000 in Portugal {{Aveiro-geo-stub