Lagos, Portugal
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Lagos (pronounced LAH-gush, meaning Lakes) is a town on the Algarve coast of Portugal with 15,000 inhabitants (25,000 in the entire municipality). The population is spread amongst three distinct geographical areas: litoral (coastal), barrocal (interior) and serra (mountains). Most of the inhabitants live in the litoral region and work in the service sector. In the barrocal region, people work in agriculture, and in the serras, in forestry.
Lagos is located approximately thirty-five kilometers east of the south-western-most point of Europe, in the locality of Sagres; to the north, the road to Milfontes and Sines winds through the scenic Parque Natural do Sudoeste (Southwest Natural Park).
Lagos is an ancient maritime town with 2,000 years of history. It became important during the 15th century period of Portuguese exploration. Prince Henry the Navigator lived in Lagos, and from there expeditions to Morocco and to the western coast of Africa were embarked on. Nigeria's former capital, Lagos, was named after this town in Portugal. The old Portuguese town was a very beautiful city with many monuments until it was destroyed by the earthquake and tsunami of 1755, but it still preserves some walls from the 16th century, a governor's castle and an ancient slave market.
Lagos' economy, like many coastal towns in Portugal, has always been closely linked to the sea, and fishing has been an important activity since very ancient times. Since 1960, the city has embraced tourism, which has become its most important economic activity. It has beautiful beaches, good climate, the sea, a scenic coastline, and historical patrimony. It also has plenty of cultural and night-life entertainment venues. Many local traditions are celebrated, ranging from architecture to gastronomy and handicrafts. In gastronomy, there are the local specialties: "Dom rodrigos" and "morgados" cookies based on local products (almonds, figs and eggs), the "moscatel" wine of Lagos and "aguardente de medronho" (a strong alcoholic spirit).
Lagos has many natural interest sites, including:
- Ponta da Piedade (Mercy Point)
- Grutas da Costa d'Oiro (Golden Coast grottos)
- Laguna de Alvor (Alvor Lagoon)
- Mata Nacional de Barão de S.João (National "Mata" of Saint John’s Baron)
Beaches
- Across the river from Lagos:
- Meia Praia (Half beach), with soft and white sand, is one of the biggest bays in Europe and has a calm sea due to its width. Owing to its lack of rocks it is ideal for nautical sports. When the wind is strong, there are many sheltered sand beaches between the cliffs.
- On the coast:
- Praia Solaria (Sunny beach).
- Praia da Batata (Potato beach).
- Praia dos Estudantes (Students' beach).
(All linked by tunnels in the rocks) - Dona Ana, the beach most frequented by tourists, other beautiful beaches are not so crowded, for example:
- Canavial.
- Camilo.
External link
- Lagos, Portugal (http://portugal-info.net/algarve/lagos.htm) Website of Portugal Travel, in English.de:Lagos (Portugal)