ICN - PPAF Costa da Caparica Traditional Cache
ICN - PPAF Costa da Caparica
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(micro)
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This protected area is part of the Setúbal peninsula and is bounded to the north by Costa da Caparica and to the south by the Albufeira lagoon. Its altitude ranges from sea level to 111 m. The area’s sandy beaches run along 13 km of the coast and attract thousands of people every year. The seaside line of dunes, which makes the transition to the beaches, is a highly dynamic and vulnerable area, in which characteristic plants like sand couch Elymus farctus, sea holly Eryngium maritimum and marram grass Ammophylla arenariacan be found. Near the Fossil Scarp – a natural monument that runs along the entire stretch of dunes – lies the impressive Mata Nacional dos Mêdos. These woods were planted in the 18th century by king D. João V to create a barrier between ocean and farmland to prevent the sand invading. Further inland, these woods are classified as a Botanical Reserve due to the number of plant species present, which include stone pine Pinus pinea, Phoenician juniper Juniperus phoenicea, mastic tree Pistacia lentiscus, strawberry tree Arbutus unedo, kermes oak Quercus coccifera and French lavender Lavandula stoechas.
The main traditional economic activities are agriculture and fishing, by the farmers of Terras da Costa and the fishermen of Fonte da Telha respectively. Fishing used to be carried out in “half moon” boats, pulled out to sea. These were later replaced by motor-boats and the nets are pulled from the sea by tractors. The species caught are mainly Atlantic horse mackerel Trachurus trachurus, pouting Trisopterus luscus, soles Solea spp., seabassDicentrarchus labrax, seabream Diplodus sargus, squid Loligo spp. and cuttlefish Sepia officinalis.
There is evidence of the human presence in the area in some archaeological sites. Also worthy of mention is the Convento dos Capuchos (16th century). On the outskirts of the Protected Landscape, north of the Arriba (scarp) one can find the Reduto de Alfena of King D. Pedro II, and the old Campo Entrincheirado with various types of cannon built near the end of the Portuguese monarchy and recently named Frente Marítima de Defesa Civil.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
frr fcbvyre