Arrabida Natural Park description and photos - Portugal: Lisbon Riviera (Topic)

Arrabida Natural Park description and photos - Portugal: Lisbon Riviera. Detailed information about the attraction. Description, photographs and a map showing the nearest significant objects. The name in English is Arrabida Natural Park.

Photo and description

Arrabida Natural Park is located on the northern bank of the Sado estuary, between Setubal and the fishing village of Sesimbra. The park was founded in 1976, covers an area of about 108 square kilometers and is one of 30 places in Portugal that are officially protected by the state.

The park area is located on the slopes of Arrabida, and the highest point in the park is Serra do Arrabida. The park has two beaches that are popular with the residents of Lisbon and Setubal.

Visitors will be able to admire the plants that are typical of the Mediterranean climate. Among these plants one can see rare specimens of macchia, thickets of evergreen shrubs that grow only in the Mediterranean. The presence of these plants is one of the reasons why the park area in Arrabid is considered a unique international and scientific relic. In order to preserve this type of flora, special zones have been created, which are under the protection of the Park staff and you can look at them only with their accompaniment. In total, about 213 species of vertebrates live in the park, including reptiles, amphibians, birds and mammals.

There are companies in the park that offer services for organizing diving and climbing mountains, and for lovers of speleology - descent into the caves. For those wishing to learn more about the life of animals and plants, it is worth visiting the Museum of Oceanography, which is located in the Nossa Senhora do Arrabida Fort, next to Portinho Beach. In 2004, a fire destroyed most of the park, which is now being restored.

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Topic: Arrabida Natural Park description and photos - Portugal: Lisbon Riviera.