Póvoa de Varzim beaches
The fish industry in Póvoa de Varzim developed during the Roman Empire and is one of the earliest tourist areas in Portugal attracting visitors since early 18th century.
In 2016, all its coastline were blue flag beaches, including all the urban area from Cape Santo André to the seaport.
Most of these also meet criteria under "Praia com Qualidade de Ouro" (Gold Quality Beach) attributed by the Portuguese environmental organization Quercus, which is based in stricter criteria, including excellent water quality for five years in a row and better-scoring microbiological tests than those defined by the EU.
Beaches (called Praia in Portuguese) are managed by traditional Povoan families, known as Banheiros who are descendant of fishermen who left fishing for this business some generations ago.
In the beginning of the 18th century, Benedictine monks walked distances to take the "Baths of Póvoa", in search of iodine, considered invigorating, and cures for skin and bones problems throw sea and sun-baths.
These monks were attracted by the large amounts of algae that ends up in the local beaches from the sheltered bay to Cape Santo André.
By the 19th century, the popularity increased with people from the provinces of Minho, Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro that arrived by medical advice to cure several health problems, by breathing the air and diving in the rich iodine seawaters of Póvoa, in a popular movement that occurred in the European Atlantic coast since the 18th century.
The south beaches are sided by the urban area, have medium sand, occasionally fine, and with granitic gneiss outcrops.
The Northwestern coast is completely dominated by the Dune system of Póvoa de Varzim, most of the foredunes are dynamic.
The grey dunes ecosystems suffered significant damage due to human activity, agriculture or housing.
Other small fish recorded locally include worm pipefish, rock gobies and snail-fish.
The giant Marthasterias glacialis is the most sighted starfish, but other smaller species do exist such as purple Asterias rubens, the tiny Asterina gibbosa and the exotic-looking Ophiothrix fragilis brittle star.
Paracentrotus lividus is the general urchin locally and has diverse colour varieties including purple, green and pink.
Two types of mussels often occur, including the extremely common Mytilus edulis and the rarer Modiolus barbatus, along with several other species of bivalves.
it is a very large area, where surfing can be done during high or low tide, with swells from northwest to Southwest, with consistent waves that break in the beach without conditioning factors.
Currently transformed into the port of Póvoa de Varzim, there are still small portions of the former fine sand beach visible.
Occasionally used for flirting by straight and gay couples, it lost prominence for Quião and Rio Alto Beaches in the outskirts.
