Praia Velha

Velha beach is a Type II non-urban beach, classified as “Golden Beach” in 1998 by the Environment Ministry, taking into account its natural characteristics. From a geomorphological point of view, Velha beach is a sandy beach with a dune cord that extends to Aveiro, appearing at the southern limit of the beach, in contrast to this type of landscape, a cliff (named Penedo do Cabo) that extends about 10 Km to the South and marks the transition between two coastal landscapes. The dune system of Velha beach is characterized by longitudinal, transverse, and parabolic dunes, where several natural dune habitats with interest for nature conservation are inserted, with the particularity of the dune cord that starts at north of the beach, being the result of historical, and identity, “Afforestation of the Coastal Dunes” carried out at the end of the century 19th and early 20th century. The São Pedro stream flows into the long sandy beach, which crosses the Leiria National Forest from the east to the west. Since the flow of the stream is not sufficient to excavate a continuous communication to the sea, there is often a permanent lagoon that changes its shape depending on the volume of water and wind intensity, drawing a water mirror in the sand, of rare beauty, and where, during winter and spring, some groups of sea birds can be observed on its banks.