Ria Formosa Nature Reserve in the Algarve, Portugal

The Ria Formosa in the Algarve is a beautiful labyrinth of lagoons separated from the sea by a coastal dune system which is broken up by various natural inlets. It is one of the most important nature reserves in the network of wetlands that links Europe and sub-Saharan Africa.  The Ria has an enormous variety of natural habitats that provide refuge, feeding and breeding areas for an infinite number of flora and fauna and is a haven for birds.

The beaches of the isles of Faro, Barreta, Culatra, Armona and Tavira form a natural barrier to the Ocean. Behind are the dunes, sometimes just a narrow strip and sometimes wider and then come the labyrinth of lagoons and small sand islands and channels. At low tide other salty habitats are uncovered forming marches and salt marshes.
tide mill

Phoenicians, Romans, Arabs and Christians developed the land, leaving landmarks that can still be seen. Fuzeta, an ancient village that lived on tuna fishing, the crossroads of the Olhão streets with their moorish terraces, the 37 churches of Tavira and the old Arab principality that gave rise to Faro, are good examples. The Ria Formosa Natural Park organisation is responsible for preserving this cultural heritage and in this context has recovered the tide mill at Marim, (near Olhão) preserved a traditional tuna fishing boat and some Roman salt pans, and has a project for breeding the rare and extraordinary  native water dogs which have webbed feet and were used by fishermen to herd fish into nets. They had almost become extinct.

 Bird watching in the Algarve.

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