PARQUE NATURAL LITORAL NORTE | NATURALMENTE ESPOSENDE

On the coastal platform, the North Coast Natural Park is characterized by its scenic beauty. The 16 kilometers of coastline conceal some of Portugal's most beautiful landscapes, worthy of photographing or painting, thus preserving the image over time.

This protected area, created in November 1987, was reclassified as a Natural Park in July 2005. The protection of the coast from uncontrolled urban development and the preservation of natural values ​​were key factors in its classification, and this area is also included in the "North Coast" Site of the Natura 2000 Network. The Natural Park emerged as a means of reconciling sustainable development with the conservation of natural resources. It does not intend to prohibit the use of this territory, but rather to establish rules and mechanisms for its proper use. Between the mouth of the Neiva and Apulia, the coastal strip consists of a strip of beaches and dunes, associated with reefs, the small estuaries of the Cávado and Neiva rivers, patches of pine forest, a rural landscape dotted with several population centers, and a recently urbanized area.

The northern beaches, once extensive stretches of fine sand, now alternate between pebbles (old Marinhas terraces) and sand, making us reflect on the advance of the sea and the importance of the dune strip as a protective barrier. The southern beaches mostly retain the extensive sandy stretches that are so attractive to tourists and that made Ofir a popular tourist destination. On the beaches of Puglia, sargassum became a symbol of agro-maritime work, as the land fertilizer came from the sea, in a setting where the fields themselves were made of sea sand with the scent of the sea, forming beautiful "masseiras."

The North Coast is notable for its large areas of dune cordons, a refuge for plant and animal species. They are also an important element of protection against water and wind, and for inland habitats. The dunes are especially developed in the northern areas (Antas and Belinho) and in the southern areas (Fão and Puglia). This habitat has unique characteristics due to the extremely harsh and rugged conditions, where very rare species such as the sand eel (Ammophila arenaria), the maritime euca (Cakila maritima), among others, occur. In addition to the dune cordon, there is also a significant area of ​​pine forest where we find the wild pine (Pinus pinaster) and the manso pine (Pinus pinea). There are also small areas of riparian forests of Alnus glutinosa and Carvalhal, where we can find species such as the Red Oak (Quercus robur), the Black Oak (Quercus suber), the Black Oak (Laurus nobilis), the Black Oak (Alnus glutinosa), and the Black Oak (Crataegus monogyna).

One of the unique features of this Natural Park is its marine area. It covers a total area of ​​8,761.81 hectares, and the marine area occupies 7,703 hectares. The cold waters of the Atlantic, combined with a rocky substrate with outcrops that can exceed 18 m, constitute some of the ecological factors contributing to the great biodiversity found in this habitat.

With a strong connection to the marine area, the Cávado River estuary and the smaller Neiva River estuary constitute a natural resource of notable importance. Their rich landscape, combined with a diverse range of flora and fauna, a breeding ground and nursery for many species, means that estuaries are home to some of the most significant habitats in the PNLN.