The Natural Park of the Northern Coastline (Portuguese: Parque Natural do Litoral Norte) is one of Portugal’s thirteen natural parks. It is nestled on the Atlantic Ocean’s coastlines in the municipality of Esposende. The park was established to protect the dunes and the local fauna, including birds and fish.
The park has northern Portugal’s longest and best-preserved length of Atlantic dunes. The estuaries of Cávado and Neiva include some of the park’s most notable ecosystems. It is home to over 240 plant species of plants. In the terrestrial area alone, 140 kinds of birds may be sighted. During migrations especially in the winter, the estuary zone is a critical region for food and rest. It is home to 19 species of mammals
The Parque Natural do Litoral Norte is located in the municipality of Braga and is one of Portugal’s several protected areas. Between the mouth of the Neiva River and the region of Aplia, the Park has a vast expanse of white dunes surrounded by little vegetation that aids in the stabilisation of the sands. Along the beach, you’ll see the region’s traditional windmills, which were once used to grind grains. Incredible rocks that can exceed 18m in height stretch along the coastline.
It is a region of considerable agricultural activity, particularly in masseiras, also known as troughs, which are cultivated fields excavated into the sand adjacent to the dunes until they reach the water table, ensuring the crops with water and protection from the winds. This shoreline is a typical location for picking sargassum in June and dried it in the sun. Indeed, the Minho coast’s sands were fertilised via the usage of seaweed and pilado (a tiny crustacean), which were the primary fertilisers for many years.
