Making the transition between sea and land, the Ria Formosa is a large lagoon system, which extends along 60 km of the leeward coast of the Algarve and occupies about 18 thousand hectares, between the peninsula of Ancão in the municipality of Loulé and Manta Rota, in the municipality of Vila Real de Santo António.

It is the most important wetland in the south of Portugal and includes a wide variety of habitats: barrier islands, marshes, sandbanks, dunes, salt flats, fresh and brackish water lagoons, streams, forests, agricultural areas, which it also provides an enormous diversity of fauna and flora.

Classified as a wetland of international interest, the Ria Formosa is a reference for its avifauna. It is a wintering place for birds from northern and central Europe, it is a crossing point for migratory routes and is home to rare species such as the sultana (Porphyrio porphyrio), symbol of the park.

From a botanical point of view, it stands out for the vegetation of the dune and marsh areas.

A true nursery for marine species, it is also a center for the production of bivalve molluscs.

Don't miss out on discovering this Natural Park, visiting the towns and villages that developed in communion with the Ria, enjoying the vast sands of the barrier islands, walking along the pedestrian trails that cross it or taking boat trips.

Be enchanted by the grace of the waterfowl and sharpen your eyes because you might eventually spot another important inhabitant of the Ria Formosa: the chameleon.

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Discover also MARINA VILAMOURA

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Fonte: https://www.visitalgarve.pt/pt/4294/parque-natural-da-ria-formosa.aspx