The Ria Formosa Nature Reserve is protected lagoon landscape along the eastern algarve coast from Faro the villa of Cacela Velha near Tavira.
Created in 1755 by the last oceanic earthquake, its sand dunes, islands and bar to the open sea are continuously shaped by tidal changes. Many archeological sites show the remains of Roman and Pre-Roman settlemetns.
Since the mid-80s, the Ria Formosa has been a nature reserve, where sea water birds find protected breeding places and many fish species and other marine organisms reproduce.
As well as salt harvesting, productive activities in this protected area are shellfish farming and small-scale fishing.
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