Founded in 1987,it encompasses 60 km of the East coast of the Algarve, between Ancão (municipality of Loulé) and Manta Rota (Vila Real de Santo António) and occupies an area of 18,400 hectares, covering parts of the districts of Loulé, Faro, Olhão, Tavira and Vila Real de Santo António.
The major part of this area corresponds to the barrier-island system of Ria Formosa, a coastal dune barrier, running roughly parallel to the continent, which protects a shallow, warm water lagoon, carved into a labyrinth of salt marshes, channels, tidal flats and islets. This string of sandy islands is composed mainly by Peninsula do Ancão(also known as "Faro island"), the islands of Barreta or Deserta, Farol-Culatra (where you can find de lighthouse of Santa Maria and the fishing village of Culatra, opposite to Olhão ), the islands of Armona-Fuseta, Tavira, Cabanas, and finally Peninsula de Cacela .
The Ramsar Convention (1971) classified this area as a Wetland of International Interest which is the wintering ground of several bird species originated from northern and central Europe. The symbol of the Park is The Purple Gallinule, a rare species which inhabits in Portugal and breeds exclusively in this lakes of the Algarve. Another inhabitant of the park, almost extinct in Europe, is the Chameleon.
At botanical level this area acquires great importance due to the zones of dune vegetation and marshland.
The Ria is also of a huge economic importance due to the variety of fish, shellfish and molluscs, specially to Olhão, a city also known as the capital of the Ria Formosa. Here, clams are grown, which about 80% of its production is for exportation. The golden sea bass or shrimp-of-Quarteira and tuna fish are also abundant.
Another important economic activity is the extraction of salt in salt mines which are currently also areas of refuge for some species. Some of these salt flats were transformed into true high- tech industries of aquaculture of fish.
The Natural Park of Ria Formosa is composed by: