PARQUE NATURAL DA RIA FORMOSA

  • Centro de Educaçâo
    Ambiental de Marim (Tel: 289 700 210 ).

  • East of Olhâo on
    N125.

  • from Faro, Olhão
    & Tavira.

Stretching from Praia de Faro to Cacela Velha, the Ria Formosa Nature Reserve follows 60 km (37
miles) of coastline. It was created in 1987 to protect the valuable ecosystem of
this area, which was under serious threat from uncontrolled building, sand
extraction and pollution, all by-products of the massive rise in tourism. The
lagoon area of marshes, saltpans, islets and channels is sheltered from the open
sea by a chain of barrier islands – actually sand dunes. Inlets between the
islands allow the tide to ebb and flow into the lagoon.

The lagoon waters are rich in shellfish, such as oysters, cockles and clams: bred
here, they make up 80 per cent of the nation’s mollusc exports. The fish life
and warm climate attract numerous wildfowl and waders, and snakes, toads and
chameleons also live here. Apart from fish and shellfish farming and salt
panning, all other human activities which might encroach on the park’s ecosystem
are strictly controlled or forbidden.



The wide lagoon of the Parque Natural da Ria Formosa



Narrow, winding sand path adjacent to wetlands, Quinta do Lago


CENTRO DE EDUCAÇÂO

 



  • Quelfes.
  • Tel: 289 700 210.

  • Mon–Fri.

  • 1 Jan, 25 Dec.

Centro de Educaçâo Ambiental de Marim , about 3 km (2 miles)
east of Olhão, is an environmental education centre. Its 60 ha (148 acres) of
dune and pinewoods are home to various sights, including a restored farmhouse, a
tidal mill, a centre for injured birds, as well as exhibitions and aquariums.
The web-footed Portuguese water dog, once much used by fishermen, has been bred
back from near-extinction here. At the eastern end of the park are Roman tanks
where fish was salted before being exported to the empire.


WATER BIRDS OF THE RIA FORMOSA

The Ria Formosa is an important area for breeding wetland birds such as
cattle egrets, red-crested pochard and purple herons. On drier areas of
land, both pratincoles and Kentish plovers can be found. Some northern
European species, such as the wigeon and dunlin, winter here, and it is a
stopover for migrant birds en route to Africa. Among the resident species is
the rare purple gallinule, symbol of the park.

Related DK Guides