Sapal de Venta Moinhos Trail

Pedestrian and BTT Trail
access to the Interpretative Center of the Sapal de Castro Marim Nature Reserve and VRSA
all year
Easy
6
no

The «Sapal de Venta Moinhos» route coincides with the access path to the Interpretation Center of the Natural Reserve, going north to the Guadiana River. The interpreted circuit runs south of the building, allowing you to observe, in a short walk, the different biotopes existing in this wetland, namely marshes, salt pans and permanent and temporary ponds. The route is linear, has an extension of 6 km´s, with pedestrian valence and mountain bike.

The path separates the dryland fields to the north (mainly carob and sparse patches of olive grove with undercover rye), from the wetland to the south, with its marshland habitats, the traditional salt pans and the wide estuary that leads to tidal water. .

The Interpretation Center is framed by pine forest and retamal, vegetation characteristic of the coast in the eastern Algarve. At the Center it is possible to see exhibitions and obtain information or publications about the reservation. Inside the building there are good observation points for marshes.

Going up to Casa Abrigo immediately south of the Center, the horizon opens up over the salt complex, the mouth of the Guadiana, and the salty environment. It is usually possible to observe a high number of water birds, especially in the winter or in the seasons of migration, among which stand out the mosquito (reserve symbol), the spoonbill, the flamingo, the white stork, the tailor, or the tern. dwarf sea. The records point to the regular annual occurrence of about 170 species of birds.

The path to the old house of the Fiscal Guard, overlooking the river that draws the border with Spain, crosses pastures of cattle and goats and temporary ponds that lead between the reeds and bunnies of these brackish lands. Next to the house you can reach the river bank; the Guadiana estuary and the Castro Marim marshland stand out as places of shelter and breeding for water birds and for various species of fish, molluscs and crustaceans.

OBS: The trail consists of 2 directional totems, 1 welcome panel, 1 panel with map, and 6 interpretive tables

 

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Pedestrian and BTT Trail