Praia do Coral, Sandy beach in Viana do Castelo, Portugal
Two long stone jetties protect the wide sandy shoreline at the mouth of the Lima in northern Portugal, creating sheltered areas for swimmers along the coast.
The shoreline received its name after the Chinese freighter Coral Bulker ran aground near the western jetty on December 25, 2000.
Fishermen from the area regularly use the nearby river mouth as passage between the Atlantic and the Lima, maintaining centuries-old maritime traditions.
The site offers parking areas, showers, restrooms, and several paved access paths. Atlantic water temperatures remain cool, ranging from 57 to 64 degrees Fahrenheit (14 to 18 degrees Celsius) in summer.
The western jetty extends over 900 meters (nearly 3,000 feet) into the Atlantic and forms together with the Lima mouth a complex system of currents and protected swimming zones.
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