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From Loulé to Cacela Velha in Vila Real de Santo António, the Ria Formosa area is a protected lagoon landscape which was formed in large part by the 1755 earthquake and its dunes and islands continue to be shaped by tidal influences.
The park consists of a vast area
of marsh (sapal), salt pans (salinas),
creeks, dune islands and
two freshwater lakes. In addition
to nature, man has made an impact
by creating canals and inlets
through the islands which create
something of a light barrier before
the ocean greets the shore.
The isles of Faro, Barreta, Culatra,
Armona and Tavira form natural
interludes between land and
sea. Swathes of dunes lie closer to
the land behind the isles and interspersed
with dune and land is
a labyrinth of lagoons, mud flats
and canals.
Safe refuge
This valuable ecosystem was designated
a Natural Park in December
1987 as it was under serious
threat from building, sand extraction
and pollution, all resulting
from the rapid rise of tourism.
Sixty kilometres of coastline
and a full 18.400 hectares of the
whole area came within the Natural
Park’s remit. The park extends
over five (out of a total of
16) Algarvean councils: Loulé,
Faro, Olhão, Tavira and Vila Real
de Santo António.
This remarkably diverse area of
international importance has an
enormous variety of natural habitats
providing refuge, feeding or
breeding areas for an astonishing
array of animal life, from zooplankton
to fish, crustaceans,
amphibians, reptiles, birds and
mammals, such as the otter. Low
tide unveils further salty habitats.
All life here has adapted to whatever
food is available and to the
various amounts of salinity. The
preservation of the area is a prerequisite
for survival for many
species.
Wing and a prayer
The ecosystems’ diversity attracts
many bird species which
can choose between fresh water
and salt water areas for breeding.
Notable among the many is the
purple gallinule (also swamphen
or moorhen) or sultan chicken,
which has been chosen as
the symbol of the Natural Park.
Known to breed only in the Ria
Formosa and not found in any
other part of Portugal, the sultan
chicken, with its violet-blue
feathers and bright red beak and
legs, is rare and endangered. It
reached near extinction when, it
is told, Vale do Lobo (at the western
end of the park) built a freshwater
lake in order to irrigate its
new São Lourenço golf course
with the happy side effect of providing
the gallinule with a passport
to the future. Through protection,
its population is growing
steadily, although still small.
An important breeding area for
wetland birds, the area is home to
cattle egrets, red-crested pochard
and purple herons amongst many
others. Drier areas are inhabited
by pratincoles and Kentish
plovers.
Moreover, the population swells
dramatically during the spring
and autumn migratory periods
when many winged visitors break
their flights, some choosing to
spend the winter there. Residents
and visitors include the dwarf sea
swallow, the grey plover, the tailor
bird, the waders, the common
hawthorn, the straight beaked
kingfisher, ducks, water cocks,
flamingos and some birds of prey
such as the hunting kestrel.
More than 50 species of fish as
well as little known crustaceans
such as Monte Gordo shrimp, estuary
shrimp and Moorish crab
can be found. The waters are rich
in shellfish while amphibians like
toads and frogs as well as reptiles,
such as woodland lizard, water
snakes, snake mouse and chameleon
are part of the Park’s fauna.
Ancient history
Phoenicians, Romans, Moors and
Christians alike used the land
and the sea and each left behind
some evidence of their activities.
Today the area surrounding the
Park, and even parts of the Park’s
waters, contributes to the region’s
economy with salt farms, seafood
farms harvesting mussels,
clams, oysters and cockles. The
shellfish is bred here and comprises
80 per cent of the nation’s
mollusc exports. The port of Faro
is also within the Park’s boundaries.
Apart from fish and shellfish
farming, salt panning and
the activities of the port, all other
human activities which could
encroach on the park’s ecosystem
are strictly controlled.
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