Estuário do Sado Nature Reserve, Nature reserve in Setúbal, Portugal
The Sado Estuary Nature Reserve is a large wetland area where the Sado River meets the sea, creating a mix of shallow waters, salt marshes, and mudflats. The landscape features open waterways, tidal channels, and flat areas dotted with salt ponds, all supporting diverse plants and animals.
The government protected this area in 1980 to safeguard the ecosystems at the mouth of the river. This decision came as scientists recognized how important these wetlands are for birds, fish, and mammals that depend on them.
The local communities have worked these waters for centuries, producing salt through traditional methods that shape the landscape and remain visible in the organized patterns of the salt ponds.
Several marked trails cross the reserve with viewing points for birdwatching and dolphin spotting. Waterproof clothing and sturdy shoes are useful since the terrain is wet and muddy, and weather can change quickly.
Bottlenose dolphins, known locally as roazes, live in these waters year-round and are a highlight for visitors hoping to spot them. This dolphin population is one of the few that stays permanently in European estuary waters.
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