イルハボの湖・トップ5

The Ria de Aveiro, in Portugal, is an estuary rich in biodiversity. This aquatic ecosystem is famous for its meandering canals, salt marshes and diverse fauna. This point, specifically, is on EN 327, which runs parallel to the Ria for long kilometers, offering incredible views.

Pateira de Fermentelos is the largest natural lagoon in the Iberian Peninsula, a haven of biodiversity and home to over 150 species of birds. It is located between the municipalities of Águeda, Aveiro and Oliveira do Bairro, before the confluence of the River Cértima with the River Águeda. There are several trails and paths around the lagoon that can be explored on foot or by bike, especially during the dry season.

a beautiful, quiet bike route always with a view of the Ovar Canal, from time to time there are flamingos in the shallow water...

The entire narrow peninsula separating the lagoon from the ocean is formed by a sand bank deposited off the prehistoric coastline that eventually closed in and filled with water. It is hugged by a wide road with a good shoulder for biking, all the way from the Sao Jacinto ferryboat dock at the southern tip, to Ovar in the north, with two small beach towns in between, worth a detour. To keep it straight, this section highlights the longest part, from the southern tip to Torreira. The middle section goes from Torreira to the bridge that crosses the lagoon to th east, and the norther section goes from the bridge to Ovar, where the peninsula ends. The Ria (lagoon) continues as a natural canal parallel to the coast for another 50 kilometer or so to the north.

The coastal bike route (EuroVelo1) follows a long stretch of the canal formed by the occlusion of the rivers restricted from flowing directly into the ocean by the sand build up along the shore, eventually forming the large Aveiro lagoon, where the rivers finally break through to the ocean.

Right across from the entrance to the Sao Jacinto campground are several docks for the small, colorfully painted traditional lagoon fishing boats still used by local fishermen.

On the lagoon side of the road the local fishermen continue to attach their traditional small shallow boats and also fish with rods from the wooden piers. On the other side a trailhead with picnic tables and restroom is a good rest area with a quick trail to a marshy pond in the nature reserve promising great birding opportunities.