Photography: Gustavo Veríssimo
Translator: Full circle
This year the municipality of Mafra will have six beaches awarded with the Blue Flag. This quality symbol will be present on the beaches of Algodio (or Norte), Baleia (or South), Foz do Lizandro, Porto da Calada, Ribeira d’Ilhas and São Lourenço.
The Foz do Lizandro beach was even chosen at national level to host the official ceremony of the first Blue Flag hoisting on 1st June. This choice is justified by the consistency of the quality of the beaches in this region, distinguished over the years with the prize awarded by the European Blue Flag program.
The Blue Flag is a widely recognised eco-label awarded to beaches and marinas where environmental quality is a high priority, provided that they cover the four established criteria: water quality, environmental education and information, environmental management, safety and services. In Portugal, 314 bathing areas were distinguished, including 22 river beaches and 17 marinas. In 2016, the Blue Flag Program celebrates its 30th anniversary and Portugal has for the first time over three hundred beaches with the Blue Flag.
Portugal ranks fifth in the world ranking of blue flags, after Spain with 578 award-winning beaches, Turkey with 436, Greece with 395 and France with 379.
The Algarve, with 88 bue flags, remains the Portuguese region with more award-winning beaches, followed by the North of the country (69 flags) and the Tagus region, with 52. The complete list of Blue Flag beaches can be found here.
Esta publicação também está disponível em | This article is also available in: Portuguese (Portugal)
