ALGARVE
Plants and Animals

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Algarve	Azores	Costa de lisboa
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Plants and Animals

Plants

Almond Trees Algarve_{Photo: Michael clarke stuff CC 2.0 Generic no changes made}

Because there is sufficient rainfall in autumn and winter, there is a rich vegetation in the Algarve. The almond trees are already in bloom in February. There is a lot of scrub, broom and heather in the Algarve. Various herbs such as rosemary, thyme and lavender grow in between. There are also many wild flowers and plants.

Olive trees, Algarve_{Photo: Muffinn CC 2.0 Generic no changes made}

Various tree species grow in the Algarve. There are cypresses, pines, holm oaks, cork oaks, plane trees and carob trees. In the orchards are fruit trees, figs, olives, lemons and oranges.

In June 2005 it became known that the World Wildlife Fund will replant areas in the Algarve that had been ravaged by severe forest fires in previous years with woody plants. The so-called Cansino project was primarily aimed at the Monchique region. There, more than 70,000 hectares of forest and agricultural land went up in flames in two years.

Animals

Flamingos Algarve_{Photo: Luis Nunes Alberto CC 3.0 Unported no cahnges made}

The animal world of the Algarve is in line with that of Spain, but also has a number of African elements, such as the chameleon, genet and mongoose. Of the mammals come under more for the wild boar and wild cat. Deforestation, erosion and inadequately controlled hunting mean that there are few large mammals left. Nature and environmental protection are still in its infancy. The fish-rich seas around Portugal have been successfully exploited for centuries (sardine, anchovy, cod). The Algarve is an important intermediate station for bird migration. Waders, avocets, curlews and godwits are the main migratory birds. There are also eagles, owls, buzzards and guillemots. In the salt pans and lagoons of the Algarve, flamingos breed ducks and storks.

Rafeiro do Alentejo Algarve_{Photo: Public domain}

The Rafeiro do Alentejo comes from the Alentejo district in South Portugal. This dog breed is a combination of local breeds, which were crossed with the Estrela Mountain Dog and the Spanish Mastiff, among others. It is the largest of the Portuguese breeds and is mainly found in its native region.

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Sources

Champion,N. / Portugal Corona

Dominicus, J. / Portugal Gottmer

Encarta Encyclopedie

Holisova, J. / Algarve ANWB

Keuning, T. / Portugal ANWB

Wakeren, B. van / Algarve, Zuid-Portugal, Lissabon Gottmer

CIA - World Factbook

BBC - Country Profiles

Last updated March 2024
Copyright: Team The World of Info