Sky blue sky over the Atlantic Ocean coast of Lagoon de Obidos, Portugal.

by Marjolein Zijlstra

Óbidos Lagoon is a beautiful lagoon from the Atlantic Ocean that extends as a wetland between the municipalities of Óbidos and Caldas da Rainha, in the Oeste region of Portugal.
Between a break in the high and rugged rocks along the Atlantic coastline lies a silvery sandbank about 400 metres wide. At high tide, organism-rich salty water flows into the lagoon from the Atlantic and mixes there with the fresher water to form brackish water, at low tide the water flows back out of the lagoon towards the ocean. Around the lagoon there is plenty of supply and opportunity for various types of water sports, Kite surfing, Windsurfing, Paddle board, as well as fishing, cycling, hiking and bird watching. But for parents with small children in behind the sandbank in the lagoon plenty of space for playing in the calm clean water that slowly slopes a little deeper. Still, parents will always have to keep an eye on their offspring at the water's edge.
In the higher rugged cliffs along the coast, beautiful footpaths have been created, there are plenty of seating areas, lookout points over the vistas of the Atlantic Ocean. The flora and fauna is defined by the salty climate that prevails so close to the coast with almost constant sea breezes that also dust some of the salty water at the fierce moments, thus providing the basis for the growth of distinct salt-loving plants. In any case, the region is a beautiful setting, with small villages like a beaded necklace along the coast where everywhere there are still some elements of earlier times adding some extra atmosphere.