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This information is extracted with the kind permission of the RTA from the website www.visitalgarve.pt
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Algarve's natural reserves |
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Surprises and charms of a natural universe waiting to be discovered |
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The Algarve has a wide range of different areas where Nature is still to be found in an essentially pure state. These are conveniently protected areas where animals and plants are kept safe from the dangers of human aggression.
In the region’s natural parks and the areas designated as classified sites or places of ecological interest, certain species of fauna and flora have survived, which outside these areas are already close to extinction. There are also other species that, because of the region’s very special characteristics, have only found it possible to develop here and so represent an important part of the local heritage.
These protected areas are visited by migratory birds and it is also possible to observe otters, tortoises, flamingos, storks, herons or the rare purple gallinules. In such places, we find enormous expanses of characteristic vegetation and geological curiosities. And we may also come across instances of an earlier human settlement of these areas, such as a basket-weaving workshop or a windmill.
All of this wealth may be enjoyed by walking along marked footpaths, enjoying guided tours or visiting the information centres. These are forms of sustained tourism that enable visitors to get to know and experience the life of these small paradises, where the real keynote is the unaltered charm of nature. |
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Natural reserves: click on image for details
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Located in the Barrocal region, the Fonte da Benémola is a protected area containing ecosystems of significant special interest, not only from the point of view of its geological and landscape features, but also in terms of the fauna and flora living there.
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One of the Portugal's largest natural reserves with 70.000 ha of protected area, and one of the few locations of the Algarve where the nature environment has been almost untouched and the rich cultural and historical heritage has been preserved
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The area from Ponta de Sagres to Cape St. Vincent is a protected area filled with a wide biodiversity of different species and natural habitats, many of which are quite unique in the world.
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Natural park located at the mouth of the River Guadiana. The saliferous area is hosting, among other rare species, flamingos, storks and ospreys.
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Natural reserve of more than 18.000 ha and important hide-away for migrating birds and rare birds species. The information centre is located east of Olhão
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The protected area of Rocha da Pena offers one of the very best vantage points for looking out over the vast expanse of the Algarve’s Barrocal landscape with all the geological oddities and diversity of fauna and flora that the region is famous for.
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