Sapal de Castro Marim e Vila Real de Santo António Nature Reserve, Nature reserve at Guadiana River estuary in Algarve, Portugal.
The Sapal de Castro Marim e Vila Real de Santo António is a nature reserve at the Guadiana River estuary near the Atlantic coast in southern Portugal. It features salt marshes, mudflats, and sand dunes spread across an extensive area of coastal wetland.
The area was officially designated as a protected reserve in 1975, becoming the third such protected site in Portugal for coastal wetlands. This designation marked a turning point in safeguarding this important habitat.
Traditional salt harvesting continues in the marshes here, with workers using methods passed down through generations to collect sea salt. This local practice shapes how the landscape is used and maintained today.
The reserve is open around the clock for wildlife watching and exploration. Early mornings and sunset hours are ideal times to visit, as animals are most active during these quieter periods.
The reserve acts as a nursery ground where young fish, crustaceans, and shellfish find shelter and food before moving to deeper waters. This breeding habitat plays a quiet but vital role in maintaining marine populations across a wider region.
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