Nature
Unique ecosystems of the Setúbal Peninsula.
The Setúbal Peninsula is one of the most biologically diverse areas in Portugal. The Serra da Arrábida mountain range, covered in Mediterranean maquis, descends to the turquoise waters of the Atlantic and shelters endemic plant species found nowhere else in the world. The Sado River estuary is home to the largest resident population of bottlenose dolphins in Portugal and serves as a crucial stopover on the migration route of thousands of bird species.
The Arrábida Natural Park and the Sado Estuary Nature Reserve — two protected natural areas — define the ecological identity of the region. Here, Mediterranean and Atlantic ecosystems coexist side by side: sea caves and salt marshes, limestone cliffs and the sandy beaches of Tróia.
In this section — detailed articles on the natural heritage of the Setúbal Peninsula.