It is located in the province of Algarve in Portugal, which extends across the municipalities of Loulé, Faro, Olhão, Tavira and Vila Real de Santo António, covering an area of approximately 18,400 hectares over 60 km from Ancão beach to Manta Rota beach.
The Ria Formosa Natural Park was considered one of the most beautiful parks in the Algarve, having a great function and a beautiful habitat.
The Park is an area protected by the status of Natural Park granted on December 9, 1987.
To the south it is protected by the Atlantic Ocean by a dune chain almost parallel to the continental coast formed by two peninsulas (the Ancão Peninsula which encompasses Ancão beach and Faro beach, the Cacela Peninsula encompasses Cacela Velha Beach and Praia da Fábrica) and five sandy barrier islands (Ilha da Barreta, Ilha da Culatra, Ilha da Armona, Ilha de Tavira and Ilha de Huts) that serve as protection for a vast area of salt marsh, channels and islets.
To the north, throughout its entire length, the end of the lagoon does not have a precise delimitation, as it is cut by salt marshes, small sandy beaches, firm, agricultural land and freshwater streams that flow into it (São Lourenço river, Seco river, Marim river, Mosqueiros river, Gilão river, Almargem river and Cacela river).
The Park has its maximum width near the city of Faro (around 6 km) and variations that at its ends (to the West and East) reach a few hundred meters.
The lagoon system has a triangular shape and although it is recognized as a ria, in reality it is not since the lagoon is not a river valley and is formed by barrier islands.
Its bottom is essentially made up of lagoon sediments (organic matter, salty mud), Continental sediments (from transport by rivers and runoff of rainwater) and sandy sediments (from tidal currents, especially in bars, overtopping and winds) which have been consolidated with the help of the "murraça", which is a predominant and characteristic type of vegetation in this region.
Its physiognomy is quite diverse due to the channels formed under the influence of tidal currents, forming a dense hydrographic network.
The area is a wetland of international importance and has a habitat for water birds. For this reason, it is registered with the Ramsar Convention, which is why the Portuguese Government is committed to maintaining the ecological characteristics of the area and promoting its rational use.
This protected area is also classified as a special protection zone under Directive 79/409/EU.
The natural park is twinned with Domaine de Certes - Le Teich, France, under the European Coastal Protected Area Germination Program.
The Ria Formosa National Park has been threatened by the excess population living in the region mainly due to tourism.
The Ria Formosa was considered by BirdLife International as an Important Area for the Preservation of Birds, both in an inland area of 23,296 hectares and in an oceanic area of 19,900 hectares.
The Park is an area protected by the status of Natural Park granted on December 9, 1987.
To the south it is protected by the Atlantic Ocean by a dune chain almost parallel to the continental coast formed by two peninsulas (the Ancão Peninsula which encompasses Ancão beach and Faro beach, the Cacela Peninsula encompasses Cacela Velha Beach and Praia da Fábrica) and five sandy barrier islands (Ilha da Barreta, Ilha da Culatra, Ilha da Armona, Ilha de Tavira and Ilha de Huts) that serve as protection for a vast area of salt marsh, channels and islets.
To the north, throughout its entire length, the end of the lagoon does not have a precise delimitation, as it is cut by salt marshes, small sandy beaches, firm, agricultural land and freshwater streams that flow into it (São Lourenço river, Seco river, Marim river, Mosqueiros river, Gilão river, Almargem river and Cacela river).
The Park has its maximum width near the city of Faro (around 6 km) and variations that at its ends (to the West and East) reach a few hundred meters.
The lagoon system has a triangular shape and although it is recognized as a ria, in reality it is not since the lagoon is not a river valley and is formed by barrier islands.
Its bottom is essentially made up of lagoon sediments (organic matter, salty mud), Continental sediments (from transport by rivers and runoff of rainwater) and sandy sediments (from tidal currents, especially in bars, overtopping and winds) which have been consolidated with the help of the "murraça", which is a predominant and characteristic type of vegetation in this region.
Its physiognomy is quite diverse due to the channels formed under the influence of tidal currents, forming a dense hydrographic network.
The area is a wetland of international importance and has a habitat for water birds. For this reason, it is registered with the Ramsar Convention, which is why the Portuguese Government is committed to maintaining the ecological characteristics of the area and promoting its rational use.
This protected area is also classified as a special protection zone under Directive 79/409/EU.
The natural park is twinned with Domaine de Certes - Le Teich, France, under the European Coastal Protected Area Germination Program.
The Ria Formosa National Park has been threatened by the excess population living in the region mainly due to tourism.
The Ria Formosa was considered by BirdLife International as an Important Area for the Preservation of Birds, both in an inland area of 23,296 hectares and in an oceanic area of 19,900 hectares.
