Due to its sensitivity and to changes in the environment, butterflies are an excellent indicator of environmental quality. Butterfly monitoring is one of the components of a project aimed at optimising the population of the cork tree groves of the Caldeirão Mountain.

The Two Tailed Pasha (Charaxes jasius), the biggest daytime butterfly which larvae feed exclusively on Strawberry Trees, Arbutus unedo, can be seen in the hills of Algarve during the warmest months.

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The two tailed Pasha

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Ria Formosa - Credits Daeveb

The Ria Formosa – a coastal lagoon with marshes, salt lakes, mud or sand banks, islets, beaches, dunes and numerous watercourses with barrier islands that outline the limits of an extensive wetland area – was the meeting place of Mediterranean, Phoenician, Greek, Carthaginian, Roman and Arab people and cultures.

Situated in the Sotavento Algarvio (leeward, or eastern side of the Algarve) it extends over the municipalities of Faro, Loulé, Olhão, Tavira and Vila Real de Santo António. The diversity of the fauna and flora is visible along the 18 400ha, 3600ha of which are permanently inundated and include a variety of habitats: marshland (3430ha); fish farming (460ha); fresh water and brackish or saline wetlands, watercourses, vegetation, farming areas, shrub land and pine woods.

Various activities are carried out in this area protected by the Parque Natural da Ria Formosa (Ria Formosa Nature Park), amongst which are fish farming, aquaculture, salt extraction and, especially shellfish farming, which helps enormously in developing the economy of the region.

This region heralds a natural heritage with various species of mammals, birds, reptiles, fish and mollusks. Throughout the areas of low lands and salt lakes there exist species such as: the Purple Gallinule or the Purple Swamphen, a long-legged bird easily recognised thanks to its unusually long legs and its characteristic low-altitude flight. The otter, genet, woodpecker, badger and fox, amongst others, are animals which search out the Ria Formosa.

Where reptiles are concerned, pride of place goes to the chameleon (Chamaeleo chamaeleon).
There is a large variety of bivalves and molluscs. The clam (Ruditapes decussatus) is known for its characteristic flavour and is an essential ingredient in the popular cataplanas. Oysters, cockles and razor-shells are among the Ria Formosa rich habitat.

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Discover the Ria Formosa

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By chance I found this video in YouTube which might give you a glimpse of it. Enjoy and visit it in your next touristic adventure in Tavira :)

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Relax around Ria Formosa

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The Laudanum (Cistus ladanifer L.) is an important element in the existing brushwoods of ecosystems characterized by a Mediterranean climate, especially in non calcareous soils where it often becomes the dominating species.

It is a rapidly growing perennial plant. Usually upright bearing up to 2,5m tall although most of the times it does not exceed 2m in height.

Long, narrow foliage that may reach 10cm in length and 1,5cm width. The younger plants are strongly impregnated with a bright and resinous substance that sticks to the hands and clothes.

It has large solitary 10 cm wide flower. With 3 sepals and 5 white petals, it sometimes has a purple blotch at the base of each petal. Each flower last only one single day in a long succession of flowers.

The fruit is a globose capsule with 7-10 compartments. The plant can be found in the whole western Mediterranean region and on the Canary Islands. It is quite abundant in Alentejo and Algarve and in the Spanish regions of Extremadura, Serra Morena, Andalusia and Castela.

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Laudanum

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The Almond Tree (Prunus Dulcis) is a rain-fed tree of the Rosaceae family, with a broad tree-top and upright spreading branches. It has long, peduncular leaves.

The white and pale pink flowers appear in the end of the Winter – beginning of the Spring.

When the fruits get ripe, the dry fruits open up freeing the kernel which holds the seed: the almond, widely used in the preparation of Algarve’s traditional sweets.

The vast, blooming almond groves are often referred to as the “snow of Algarve”.

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Tavira and the Almond Tree

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