RIA FORMOSA NATURAL PARK
The Ria Formosa is a natural system on the Algarve coast, and has one of the richest and most interesting geologies, floras and faunas of Europe. It is a protected area since 1987, with the status of Natural Park, with the aim of preserving the lagoon system, protect the fauna and flora, migratory species and habitats, and promote the orderly use of the land and the natural resources.
It has about 18,400 hectares, and 60km of extension between Ancão area and Manta Rota area. It partially covers the municipalities of Loulé, Faro, Olhão, Tavira and Vila Real de St. António. Contains beaches, five barrier islands (Deserta or Barreta, Culatra, Armona, Tavira and Cabanas) and two peninsulas (Ancão and Cacela), islets, and largely marshland areas and lagoon areas, covered by a dense network of water channels with an average depth of 2m.
Geologically, the area is mostly composed by sands, sandstones and limestones.
Most of watercourses that flows into the estuary are seasonal, this fact and the low rainfall leads to a lagoon system receiving mostly salt water from the ocean.
Ria Formosa has several habitats: barrier islands, salt marshes, sand banks and mud, dunes, salt marshes, freshwater ponds, brackish water lagoons, rivers, forests and agricultural areas, which allowed a huge diversity of flora and fauna.
Regarding flora ria has dune vegetation (marram, cottonweed), salt marsh vegetation (small cordgrass), the forest (maritime pine, stone pine, sobreiro, Olea europea var. sylvestris, lavander and thyme) and riverside vegetation (common reed, thypha).
Regarding fauna Ria is a privileged area for shelter and feeding, reproduction and persistence of numerous animal species. The composition and abundance of zooplankton in the estuary is a very important factor.
Mammals (otter, genet, beech marten), reptiles (moorish gecko, chameleon), amphibians (perez’s frog, frog), birds (spoonbill, grey heron, gannet, oystercatchers, sandwich tern, loon-necked black oystercatchers, bar-tailed godwit, black-headed gull), insects (dragonfly), cephalopods (octopus, cuttlefish, squid), crustaceans (green crab, uca tangeri), bivalve molluscs (chequered carpet shell, oysters, common cockle, cockles, razor clam), annelids (sand worm), and fish (two banded sea bream, sea bream, goldline, sea bass, pagrus, pandora, eel; and the Ria has the largest community of seahorses in the world: long snout seahorse, and short snout seahorse).
Ria Formosa environmental and landscape characteristics gives it a high scientific, cultural social and economic value which has been preserved.
RIA FORMOSA TOURS
Urbanização Atalaia Mar Lote M2.1
Bias do Sul, 8700-129 Moncarapacho
Algarve, Portugal
Tlm.: (+351) 962 156 922 / (+351) 961 189 857
E-mail: passeios.ria.formosa@gmail.com
Formosamar, Lda
Largo do Carmo Apartado 129
8001 - 902 Faro, Algarve – Portugal
Tel: +351 918 720 002
Email: info@formosamar.com