Área de Proteção Ambiental Lagoas e Dunas do Abaeté, Environmental Protection Area in Salvador, Brazil
The Abaeté Protection Area is an 1,800-hectare (4,400-acre) conservation site in Salvador featuring white sand dunes surrounding a dark-water lagoon surrounded by native vegetation. The territory comprises two distinct zones: a permanent preservation area and a controlled occupation zone.
The area received official protection status in 1987 through State Decree 351 of Bahia. A redefinition came in 1993 via Decree 2540 to adjust protection measures to changing conditions.
The lagoon holds deep spiritual meaning for local communities, who gather here for traditional ceremonies and religious practices throughout the year. Visitors can observe the living connection between people and this natural landscape, particularly visible during early morning visits.
Visit early in the morning when conditions are quieter and light favors the landscape. Wear comfortable shoes suitable for walking on sand and bring plenty of water, as shade is limited throughout the site.
Despite its protected status, the area experienced significant urban changes between 1976 and 2017 that greatly reduced the original lagoons and dune formations. This evolution reveals the tension between conservation efforts and growth pressures.
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