Barlavento and Sotavento
The region is subdivided into two areas, a western part called Barlavento (area of departure of the wind) and the eastern part, the Sotavento (east of Faro, to which the wind blows). From an administrative point of view, each of these areas has 8 municipalities with as main city Faro for the Sotavento and Portimão for the Barlavento. The complementarity between these two sides, with the mountains, the Barrocal and the coastal areas, has contributed to the identity and unity of the Algarve region. They are of great beauty and all deserve to be visited.
Le Barrocal
Located on a massif made up of limestone and schistose rocks, nestled between the mountains and the coast, it presents a succession of hills that extend from Cape St. Vincent to Castro Marim. This region of low hills, not exceeding 300 m, is a transition zone between the coast and the mountains. The rich and diverse Mediterranean flora finds its best expression here. Also known as beira-serra, this area has always been the main supplier of agricultural products in the Algarve, among which we can distinguish the arbutus and the cork, as well as the orchards in arido-culture, an agricultural landscape of Arabic inspiration. The rounded shapes of the hills covered with cork oaks, undulating landscapes of white houses surrounded by market gardens and green orchards, give a particularly soft character to this region.
La Serra
It is the mountainous part formed by schistose and granitic rocks, where three massifs dominate: the Serra de Monchique, the highest point of the Algarve with the mount Foia at 902 m. Then come the Serra de Espinhaço de Cão and the Serra do Caldeirão or Mù. These mountains occupy half of the region and its peaks act as a barrier protecting the south coast from the effects of the cold north winds. The freshness of the mountains surprises those who arrive directly from the torrid beaches. Its landscapes invite you to hike along one of the many trails and refresh yourself in the crystal clear springs that flow between the rocks.
The coastal zone
The coast is bathed on both sides by the Atlantic Ocean and concentrates most of the regional economic activity: tourism. It includes distinct territories: in the west, the Planalto Vicentino, essentially siliceous, made up of sands and shales. The Vicentino promontory to the Sagres peninsula includes the only biogenetic reserve. Finally, to the south, the narrow sedimentary plain of dry to sub-humid tendency extends to the sea margin and it is here that the limestone cliffs of Barlavento and the golden sands of Sotavento are concentrated.
Around the Cape of St. Vincent, the coast gradually loses its high cliffs framing its beaches, reaching the long stretches of sandy beaches to the east.
The Costa Vicentina is presented as a plateau bounded on the east by the Serra de Espinhaço de Cão and opens to the Atlantic on the west. It culminates at 157 m in Torre de Aspa and is characterized by high and rugged escarpments and very wide and windy beaches, which have become playgrounds for surfers. This imposing coastline is essentially rocky, with cliffs carved in the ancient massif of shale and dark-colored gravel of the Paleozoic, with a folded and fractured structure, except for the point of Carrapateira and Sagres, carved in more recent limestone of the Mesozoic.
On the south coast, the beaches offer long stretches of golden sand, bathed by warm waters and punctuated by coves and caves. Numerous warnings are placed around the cliffs, the collapse being a natural phenomenon due to erosion. Consolidation works are regularly launched on these cliffs in order to reinforce them before the beginning of each summer season.
Coastal lagoons and their wealth
The Algarve has two areas of coastal lagoons of incredible ecological richness: the protected marshes of the Guadiana River (the reserve of Castro Marim and Vila Real de Santo Antonio) and the plains of the Faro estuary called Ria Formosa. The Ria Formosa is a complex system of lagoons and islands (Barreta, Culatra, Armona, Cabanas) forming a dune line with highly sought after beaches. Marshes, sandbanks, mudflats, salt flats, freshwater lagoons and islets serve as habitat or refuge for a diverse fauna and allow economic activities such as shellfish farming, especially clam farming. It is also a wetland of worldwide interest for many animal species, especially birds that linger in this major migration corridor, in addition to endemic species. Tourism, whether environmental with birdwatching or just beach tourism, contributes greatly to the economic revenue of the Ria. This impressive area of 18,000 hectares extends over 60 km of coastline and crosses the municipalities of Loulé, Faro, Olhão and Tavira.
The Arade, the Guadiana and the others..
In terms of hydrography, the Algarve is crossed by rivers such as the Arade, the Gilão and the Guadiana. With a total length of 928 km, born on the plateau of La Mancha in Spain, the Guadiana crosses Mérida and Badajoz and then reaches the Portuguese plain before serving as a border. The Guadiana basin is the4th largest in the Iberian Peninsula, draining a total area of 66,800 km²; 17% of this area is in Portuguese territory. The Arade River originates in the Algarvian mountains and flows through Portimão and Silves before emptying into the Atlantic, east of Praia da Rocha. At the time of the discoveries, it was navigable to Silves where there was an important port. Nowadays, due to the huge silting up, only small boats can access it. You can go up its banks and discover a preserved bucolic landscape, while "taking it easy". In Tavira, the Gilão River (also known as the Sequa River) contributes to the charm of the city, separating it into two distinct historical parts and allowing for long walks along the cobblestones of its banks.
