Barrier islands of Ria Formosa - Tavira

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The system of barrier islands of Ria Formosa consists of 5 islands and 2 peninsulas (from west to east - Ancão, Barreta or Deserta, Culatra, Armona, Tavira, Cabanas and Cacela) separated by 6 inlets (Ancão or S . Luís, Faro, Olhão, Armona or Grande, Fuzeta, Tavira and Cacela or Lacém). The islands and peninsulas are sandy and define an important lagoon body made up of marshes, tidal shallow, tidal channels and small muddy or sandy islands. Barrier islands systems are designated so because they have a string of islands that define a lagoon body, between them and emerged continent. Consequently, the islands constitute a barrier between the lagoon and the ocean. Ria Formosa barrier islands system has some unique or rare features in all the world like systems. One of the interesting originality is the general layout of the system itself, forming roughly a scalene triangle (one vertex is the so-called Santa Maria cape, on Barreta island). This protruding form of Algarve system is unique and rare. The characteristics of the Ria Formosa barrier islands system are incompatible with an intense and permanent occupation. However, it turns out that, in recent decades, the occupation has revealed a tendency to intensify, become permanent and, what is extremely serious, is located in the most fragile and higher risk areas.

Due to the preservation of their natural values, Barreta or Deserta island, Tavira island and Cacela island stand out.