Images of Portugal: River Sado, Alcácer do Sal
From its source at a height of 213 meters in the Ourique hills, the River Sado flows 175 km (109 miles) north to the estuary at Setúbal. 10 km east of Setúbal is the Reserva Natural do Estuário do Sado, a protected wetland and a favorite with bird-watchers. Over 200 species of birds either nest or winter here including ducks, eagles, flamingos, oyster catchers, plovers and sandpipers. A Ramsar site, the nature reserve covers 23,160 hectares, including parts of the municipalities of Setúbal, Alcácer do Sal, Grândola and Palmela.
Boat trips on the river are a popular excursion in traditional vessels used to transport salt or watching the bottle-nosed dolphins in the estuary. Kayaking and wind-surfing also also popular pastimes on the water.
Here the river, which flows only within the territory of Portugal, flows through the historic town of Alcácer do Sal.
