Ria Formosa
Encyclopedia
The Ria Formosa lagoon
, located in Algarve, in southern Portugal
, is a system of barrier islands that communicates with the sea through 6 inlets. Five of these inlets are natural and have mobility characteristics. The 6th is an artificial inlet that was opened with the purpose of allowing easier access to the port of Faro
.
Presently the main inlet of the system is the Faro-Olhão inlet, which was artificially opened. The process started in 1927 but only in 1952 were the engineering works completed and it assumed the present configuration.
Within the Ria Formosa system, different and sometimes antagonistic uses may be found. Part of the system is a Natural Park 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.
The Ria Formosa is also a designated Natural Park of over 170 km² and a stopping place for hundreds of different birds during the spring and autumn migratory periods.
The most important cities near the Ria Formosa are Tavira
, Faro
and Olhão
.
There are also some towns in this area, whose names are: Fuzeta (which belongs to the municipality of Olhão
), Santa Luzia
, Cabanas de Tavira
(these last two belonging to Tavira
) and Cacela Velha
(which belongs to Vila Real de Santo António
).
Several buses run from Tavira to Cabanas and back each day. The nearest train station is in nearby Conceição which is on the Tavira to Vila Real
line.
Ria Formosa, a true sanctuary of nature. Privileged place to observe birds, by being a migratory corridor containing some of the last places in the Europe for some birds to make nests, Ria Formosa is visited annually by about 30 thousand birds from different species. Boat trip in Ria Formosa
, Cabanas de Tavira
, Cacela Velha
and Manta Rota
. Barril attracts a good number of naturists and gay
s. Another gay beach is Cacela Velha. Tavira Island Beach has a camping park.
Lagoon
A lagoon is a body of shallow sea water or brackish water separated from the sea by some form of barrier. The EU's habitat directive defines lagoons as "expanses of shallow coastal salt water, of varying salinity or water volume, wholly or partially separated from the sea by sand banks or shingle,...
, located in Algarve, in southern Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
, is a system of barrier islands that communicates with the sea through 6 inlets. Five of these inlets are natural and have mobility characteristics. The 6th is an artificial inlet that was opened with the purpose of allowing easier access to the port of Faro
Faro, Portugal
Faro is the southernmost city in Portugal. It is located in the Faro Municipality in southern Portugal. The city proper has 41,934 inhabitants and the entire municipality has 58,305. It is the seat of the Faro District and capital of the Algarve region...
.
Presently the main inlet of the system is the Faro-Olhão inlet, which was artificially opened. The process started in 1927 but only in 1952 were the engineering works completed and it assumed the present configuration.
Within the Ria Formosa system, different and sometimes antagonistic uses may be found. Part of the system is a Natural Park 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
Grooved carpet shell
The grooved carpet shell, Ruditapes decussatus, is a clam or bivalve mollusc in the family Veneridae. It is distributed worldwide and due to its ecological and economic interest has been proposed as a bioindicator....
harvesting) and the port of Faro.
The Ria Formosa is also a designated Natural Park of over 170 km² and a stopping place for hundreds of different birds during the spring and autumn migratory periods.
The most important cities near the Ria Formosa are Tavira
Tavira
Tavira is a Portuguese city, situated at 37°07' north, 7°39' west in the east of the Algarve on the south coast of Portugal. It is 30 km east of Faro and 160 km west of Seville in Spain. The Gilão River meets the Atlantic Ocean in Tavira....
, Faro
Faro, Portugal
Faro is the southernmost city in Portugal. It is located in the Faro Municipality in southern Portugal. The city proper has 41,934 inhabitants and the entire municipality has 58,305. It is the seat of the Faro District and capital of the Algarve region...
and Olhão
Olhão
Olhão , or Olhão da Restauração, is a city and a municipality in the Algarve region, in Southern Portugal. It is located near Faro, which is the district's capital and the capital of the Algarve. It is mostly a fishing port city...
.
There are also some towns in this area, whose names are: Fuzeta (which belongs to the municipality of Olhão
Olhão
Olhão , or Olhão da Restauração, is a city and a municipality in the Algarve region, in Southern Portugal. It is located near Faro, which is the district's capital and the capital of the Algarve. It is mostly a fishing port city...
), Santa Luzia
Santa Luzia (Tavira)
Santa Luzia is a freguesia in the municipality of Tavira . It is considered the "capital do Polvo" or "capital of octopus" which is a local speciality....
, Cabanas de Tavira
Cabanas de Tavira
Cabanas de Tavira is a civil parish, and former fishing village, in the municipality of Tavira, in the Portuguese Algarve. The parish covers an area of approximately 4.2 km², and encompasses a resident population of approximately 1181 inhabitants...
(these last two belonging to Tavira
Tavira
Tavira is a Portuguese city, situated at 37°07' north, 7°39' west in the east of the Algarve on the south coast of Portugal. It is 30 km east of Faro and 160 km west of Seville in Spain. The Gilão River meets the Atlantic Ocean in Tavira....
) and Cacela Velha
Cacela Velha
Cacela Velha is a village located in the civil parish of Vila Nova de Cacela, municipality of Vila Real de Santo António, Algarve, Portugal...
(which belongs to Vila Real de Santo António
Vila Real de Santo António
Vila Real de Santo António is a city, civil parish, and municipality in the Algarve, Portugal. It is one of only three municipalities in Portugal without territorial continuity : its territory comprehends two parts, with the municipal seat located in the eastern part. Both the city and the...
).
Several buses run from Tavira to Cabanas and back each day. The nearest train station is in nearby Conceição which is on the Tavira to Vila Real
Vila Real de Santo António
Vila Real de Santo António is a city, civil parish, and municipality in the Algarve, Portugal. It is one of only three municipalities in Portugal without territorial continuity : its territory comprehends two parts, with the municipal seat located in the eastern part. Both the city and the...
line.
Entertainment
Little villages and towns in the area, like Cabanas de Tavira, have a large number of bars, cafés and restaurants which run along the riverfront and are also dotted around a couple of blocks inland.Ria Formosa, a true sanctuary of nature. Privileged place to observe birds, by being a migratory corridor containing some of the last places in the Europe for some birds to make nests, Ria Formosa is visited annually by about 30 thousand birds from different species. Boat trip in Ria Formosa
Beaches
The coast of east Algarve has a remarkably mild climate, with sunny days all year round. Winters are usually mild and summers are not very hot. Because of these features, beaches in the Ria Formosa area are well known, like Vale do Lobo, Faro Island, Culatra, Barril, Tavira IslandTavira Island
Tavira Island 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 the Algarve, including areas where naturism can be legally practised. It is part of...
, Cabanas de Tavira
Cabanas de Tavira
Cabanas de Tavira is a civil parish, and former fishing village, in the municipality of Tavira, in the Portuguese Algarve. The parish covers an area of approximately 4.2 km², and encompasses a resident population of approximately 1181 inhabitants...
, Cacela Velha
Cacela Velha
Cacela Velha is a village located in the civil parish of Vila Nova de Cacela, municipality of Vila Real de Santo António, Algarve, Portugal...
and Manta Rota
Manta Rota
Manta Rota is a small town in the civil parish of Vila Nova de Cacela, municipality of Vila Real de Santo António, in the Algarve, Portugal. Manta Rota is an important tourist destination due to its sandy beaches by the Atlantic Ocean.- Location :...
. Barril attracts a good number of naturists and gay
Gay
Gay is a word that refers to a homosexual person, especially a homosexual male. For homosexual women the specific term is "lesbian"....
s. Another gay beach is Cacela Velha. Tavira Island Beach has a camping park.