Northern Littoral Natural Park

(Redirected from Parque Natural do Litoral Norte)

Northern Littoral Natural Park
IUCN category V (protected landscape/seascape)


Location	Braga & Porto districts, Portugal
Nearest city	Esposende
Coordinates	41°31′36″N 8°47′7″W / 41.52667°N 8.78528°W / 41.52667; -8.78528
Length	16 km (9.9 mi)
Area	87.62 km (33.83 sq mi) (85% aquatic)
Created	November 17, 1987 (1987-11-17)
Governing body	ICNF

The Northern Littoral Natural Park (Portuguese: Parque Natural do Litoral Norte) is one of the thirteen natural parks of Portugal. It encompasses the shores of the Atlantic Ocean in the municipality of Esposende. The park was created to preserve the dunes and the wildlife in the area, mainly birds and fish.

The park has the longest and best preserved stretch of Atlantic dunes in northern Portugal. The estuaries of Cávado and Neiva are home to some of the most significant habitats in the park. It has around 240 species of plant. 140 species of birds can be observed in the terrestrial area alone. The estuarine zone is an important area for food and rest during migrations and in winter. It has 19 species and 8 potencial species of mammals.

It is an area of intense agricultural activity, namely in masseiras, also called troughs, cultivated fields dug in the sand next to the dunes until very close to the water table, which thus ensure water and protection from the winds to the crops. This coast is one of the traditional places for gathering sargassum, which was collected in June and dried in the sun. Indeed, the sands of the Minho coast were fertilized thanks to the use of seaweed and pilado (small crustacean), for many years the main fertilizers used. The festa dos sargaceiros of Apulia, with their typical costumes, is just one of the many festivities that take place here.

References

^ "Parque Natural de Montesinho". natural.pt. Retrieved 1 March 2021.

External links

v t e Protected areas of Portugal
National park	Peneda-Gerês
Nature parks	Alvão Arrábida Cape Girão Guadiana Valley Douro International Tagus International Madeira Montesinho Northern Littoral Ponta Do Pargo Ria Formosa Serra da Estrela Serra de São Mamede Serras de Aire e Candeeiros Sintra-Cascais Southwest Alentejo and Vicentine Coast
Nature reserves	Arzila Bog Berlengas Boquilobo Bog Castro Marim and Vila Real de Santo António Marsh Desertas Garajau Sado Estuary Santo André and Sancha Lagoons São Jacinto Dunes Savage Islands Serra da Malcata Sítio da Rocha do Navio Tagus Estuary
Protected landscapes	Azibo Reservoir Bertiandos and São Pedro de Arcos Lagoons Corno do Bico Costa da Caparica Fossil Cliff Litoral De Vila Do Conde e Reserva Ornitológica Do Mindelo Rocha da Pena Serra de Montejunto Serra do Açor
Natural monuments	Pegadas de Dinossáurios da Serra de Aire Portas de Ródão Carenque Pedra da Mua Lagosteiros Pedreira do Avelino Cabo Mondego
National forests	Barão de São João Buçaco Camarido Choupal Dunas de Mira, Gândara e Gafanhas Pinhal de Leiria Margaraça Medos Vale de Canas
Others	Cambarinho Faia Brava

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