Ria Formosa

The Ria Formosa lagoon, located in Algarve, south of Portugal, is a barrier islands system that communicates with the sea trough 6 inlets. Five of these inlets are natural born and have mobility characteristics and the 6th is an artificial inlet that has been opened with the purpose of making it easier to access to the port of Faro.

Related Topics:
Algarve - Portugal - Faro

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Presently the main inlet of the system is the Faro-Olhão inlet, which was artificially open. The process started in 1927 but only in 1952 the engineering works have been completed and assumed the present configuration.

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Within the Ria Formosa system different and sometimes antagonic uses may be found. Part of the system is a Natural Park but Ria Formosa also plays an important role in the region economy. Beyond the tourist use the system is also the support of other economic activities like seafood farms and the port of Faro.

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The Ria Formosa is also a nature reserve of over 170 km² and a stopping place for hundreds of different birds during the spring and autumn migratory periods.

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The most important cities near the Ria Formosa area are Tavira, Faro and Olhão.

Related Topics:
Tavira - Faro - Olhão

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There are also some towns, which names are: Fuzeta (belongs to municipality of Olhão), Santa Luzia, Cabanas de Tavira (these two to Tavira) and Cacela Velha (belongs to Vila Real de Santo António).

Related Topics:
Fuzeta - Olhão - Santa Luzia - Cabanas de Tavira - Tavira - Cacela Velha - Vila Real de Santo António

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