The compilation of a Nature Guide (from which this information is taken) and the establishment of two nature trails are just two of the projects that have resulted from the joint co-operation between the participating Quinta do Lago Resort developers and the Ria Formosa Natural Park.
The Ria Formosa
The Ria Formosa is a lagoon separated from the sea by a coastal dune system, which is broken up by various natural and artificial inlets. It includes a narrow strip of land and a series of coastal dunes running almost parallel to the mainland, formed by peninsulas and sandy barrier islands which serve to protect the salt marshes, channels and islets.
Geological Origins of the Ria Formosa
About 6,000 to 7,000 years ago, the level of the sea was much lower that it is now and great quantities of sand (30-40 metres deep) gradually accumulated along the base of the platform, forming submerged sand ridges. The barrier islands, which we can see today, are the result of the evolution of these submerged ridges and their gradual migration towards the continent with the rising of the sea level. At the same time as this process was happening, the rivers deposited large amounts of sediment which created the salt marshes and islets that can be observed today.
Protection Statute
The Ria Formosa is a protected area with the status of 'natural park'. It was legally established in 1987 with its own management plan and with the following objectives:
- To preserve the lagoon system
- To protect the fauna and flora of the region
- To protect migratory species
- To establish orderly use of the territory and its natural resources, thus contributing to its economic, social and cultural progress
The protected area of the Ria Formosa Natural Park extends through the districts of Loulé, Faro, Olhão, Tavira and Vila Real de Santo António, covering an area of approximately 18,400 hectares along 60 kilometres of coastline, from Ancão to Manta Rota.
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