Coastal Zone

Portugal has over 800 km of continental coastline, with an enormous variety of landscapes: sandy beaches and dune systems, cliffs and bluffs, rocky coasts, tidal platforms and pools, coastal scrubland and stone pine forests. The strong winds, salt, and shifting sand make this area one of the most demanding environments in the country, with highly specialized plants and animals. The islands and islets near the coast, such as the Berlengas, serve as a refuge for seabirds.

This area supports a fauna that lives on land but depends on the sea, whether for food, nesting sites, or the climate it creates. Many birds use the cliffs and islets for nesting, reptiles and invertebrates take advantage of the dunes and scrubland, and the beaches and rocks serve as passage and feeding points for migratory species. As the coast connects the sea to the mainland, it is common to find species from other biomes here, especially from wetlands and grasslands.

This chapter covers the coastal strip exposed to the ocean: beaches, dunes, cliffs, rocky shores, tidal pools, coastal scrubland, stone pine forests, and islands and islets near the coast, including marine species observed from land, such as seabirds, dolphins, and seals. Estuaries, marshes, and salt pans are classified as wetlands, while agricultural fields and coastal villages are covered in the chapter on fields and rural areas. Coastal cities and towns are classified as urban areas.