Testimony of a high energy beach level, installed during MIS5e and constitutes the only record of this environment known in the municipality of Viana do Castelo.
The Local Natural Monument of Praia Eemiana da Ribeira de Anha has a high scientific interest, associated with the preservation of important geomorphological and stratigraphic evidence (Carvalhido, 2014)
The preservation of a clasto-supported conglomerate that stands out, due to the stratigraphic relationship, altimetric position (+0.9 m, nmm) and facies, constitutes the rest of a pebble beach of the last interglacial (MIS5e), with an absolute age close to 125 thousand years (Eemian). This deposit is, until now, the only sedimentary record of the Eemian on the coast of Viana do Castelo, also appearing north of the Lima River, in the coastal sector of Gelfa-Forte do Cão (district of Caminha). In this location, these cores, like the coastal platforms of the last interglacier (which normally occur at 2.0-3.5 m and 4.5-5.5 m nmm), are positioned up to about 1 meter above the same records (beach deposit and coastal platforms) identified in Ribeira de Anha. Carvalhido (2012, 2014a,b,c,d) interpreted these observations as the result of the reverse activity of the Lima Failure (uplift of the northern margin of Lima), estimated at the average rate for the last 125 thousand years, up to 0.008 mm / year.
In the area of this monument, geoforms of the coastal dynamics are also preserved, namely notches and potholes, interpreted as relating to the penultimate interglacier (MIS7, approximate absolute age of 245 thousand years) as well as pre-Roman age salt pans (Carvalhido, 2012).
References:
Carvalhido (2012). O Litoral Norte de Portugal (Minho-Neiva): evolução paleoambiental quaternária e proposta de conservação do património geomorfológico. Tese de Doutoramento, Universidade do Minho, 564 p.
Carvalhido, R.; Pereira, D. & Cunha, P. (2014a) – Depósitos costeiros quaternários do noroeste de Portugal (Minho - Neiva): caracterização datação e interpretação paleoambiental. Comunicações Geológicas (2014) 101, Especial II, 605–609.
Carvalhido, R.; Brilha, J. & Pereira, D. (2014b) – Monumentos Naturais Locais de Viana do Castelo: processo de classificação e estratégias de valorização. Comunicações Geológicas (2014) 101, Especial III, 1219–1223.
Carvalhido, R.; Pereira, D; Cunha, P.; Buylaert, J. & Murray, A. (2014c) Characterization and dating of coastal deposits of NW Portugal (Minho-Neiva area): a record of climate, eustasy and crustal uplift during the Quaternary. Quat Int, 328-329: 94–106
Carvalhido, Ricardo (2014d). Processo de classificação dos 5 Monumentos Naturais Locais de Viana do Castelo. Memória Descritiva. Câmara Municipal de Viana do Castelo.
The Local Natural Monument of Praia Eemiana da Ribeira de Anha has a high scientific interest, associated with the preservation of important geomorphological and stratigraphic evidence (Carvalhido, 2014)
The preservation of a clasto-supported conglomerate that stands out, due to the stratigraphic relationship, altimetric position (+0.9 m, nmm) and facies, constitutes the rest of a pebble beach of the last interglacial (MIS5e), with an absolute age close to 125 thousand years (Eemian). This deposit is, until now, the only sedimentary record of the Eemian on the coast of Viana do Castelo, also appearing north of the Lima River, in the coastal sector of Gelfa-Forte do Cão (district of Caminha). In this location, these cores, like the coastal platforms of the last interglacier (which normally occur at 2.0-3.5 m and 4.5-5.5 m nmm), are positioned up to about 1 meter above the same records (beach deposit and coastal platforms) identified in Ribeira de Anha. Carvalhido (2012, 2014a,b,c,d) interpreted these observations as the result of the reverse activity of the Lima Failure (uplift of the northern margin of Lima), estimated at the average rate for the last 125 thousand years, up to 0.008 mm / year.
In the area of this monument, geoforms of the coastal dynamics are also preserved, namely notches and potholes, interpreted as relating to the penultimate interglacier (MIS7, approximate absolute age of 245 thousand years) as well as pre-Roman age salt pans (Carvalhido, 2012).
References:
Carvalhido (2012). O Litoral Norte de Portugal (Minho-Neiva): evolução paleoambiental quaternária e proposta de conservação do património geomorfológico. Tese de Doutoramento, Universidade do Minho, 564 p.
Carvalhido, R.; Pereira, D. & Cunha, P. (2014a) – Depósitos costeiros quaternários do noroeste de Portugal (Minho - Neiva): caracterização datação e interpretação paleoambiental. Comunicações Geológicas (2014) 101, Especial II, 605–609.
Carvalhido, R.; Brilha, J. & Pereira, D. (2014b) – Monumentos Naturais Locais de Viana do Castelo: processo de classificação e estratégias de valorização. Comunicações Geológicas (2014) 101, Especial III, 1219–1223.
Carvalhido, R.; Pereira, D; Cunha, P.; Buylaert, J. & Murray, A. (2014c) Characterization and dating of coastal deposits of NW Portugal (Minho-Neiva area): a record of climate, eustasy and crustal uplift during the Quaternary. Quat Int, 328-329: 94–106
Carvalhido, Ricardo (2014d). Processo de classificação dos 5 Monumentos Naturais Locais de Viana do Castelo. Memória Descritiva. Câmara Municipal de Viana do Castelo.
Location
This place should be visited with some caution, because depending on the maritime conditions, the geosites may not be visible. Try to visit at low tide and with a calm sea.
Coordinates
Lat: 41.672035
Long: -8.825345
Theme
Point of interest
Themes
Discover all the themes of Eemian Beach of Ribeira de Anha
Ecological Recovery
The following proposal was presented by the Mayor of the Chamber:- "PROPOSAL - Cooperation Protocol within the scope of the Progama de Reabilitação de Áreas Classificadas do concelho de Viana do Castelo - Responsabilidade ambiental no âmbito das áreas classificadas do concelho de Viana do Castelo".
In the scope of the Municipal Strategy for Nature Conservation, a plan inscribed in the ongoing Environment and Biodiversity Agenda for the four-year period 2017-2021, the Municipality prepared the Programa de Reabilitação Ecológica das Áreas Classificadas do concelho, in this first phase, focusing on 5 of the 13 Natural Monuments, unique areas for the knowledge of the geological history of the Iberian Peninsula since more than 500 million years ago and which are part of the application that the Municipality is preparing for recognition as a UNESCO World Geopark territory. Viana do Castelo is a rich territory from the point of view of Natural and Cultural Heritage, with about 4,800 hectares specifically designated for the protection of fauna and flora habitats (3 sites of Community importance of Natura 2000 Network), being the only municipality in the country with the geological heritage inventory concluded and duly classified with 13 natural monuments, making up a total area of about 2,832 hectares. The recovery programme that was drawn up supported an application to PO SEUR, with approval of the overall investment amount of 500,000 euros, financed at 85%, with implementation in 2020 and 2021. The ecological recovery interventions that are intended to be carried out include actions to eradicate and control exotic species, mainly Acacia dealbata (Mimosa), Acacia longifolia (Acacia longifolia) and Acacia Melanoxylon (Australia), Carpobrotus edulis (beach weevil), Arundo donax (giant reed), Trandescantia fluminencis (Fortune grass or tradescância) and Cortaderia selloana (pampas grass or plumas). In addition to these actions, supported by an exhaustive inventory carried out by the Municipality for those species, the programme includes actions to promote scientific literacy to the population and the densification of the Municipality's Citizen Science strategy, extending the Bioregisto platform to the cartography of invasive vegetation, in collaboration with the Functional Ecology Centre of the University of Coimbra (invasoras.pt). In addition, planting actions are planned in the areas to be ecologically intervened, namely native species such as oak, pine, hawthorn, holm oak, birch or heather, among others, within the scope of the Municipal Year for the Recovery of Portuguese Native Forests, currently underway. In order to guarantee the perennial success of the intervention and the investment made, the rehabilitation programme foresees the involvement of the social and business fabric, and within the scope of the environmental responsibility of the institutions, so that they may take responsibility for the maintenance of the ecological quality of all or parts of the classified areas of the municipality of Viana do Castelo. The programme for the ecological rehabilitation of the classified areas of Viana do Castelo - 1st phase - was carried out with the collaboration of the Parish Councils of Afife, Carreço, Darque, Vila Nova de Anha and Santa Marta de Portuzelo, and also with the Parish Councils of Mazaferes and Vila Fria and the Parish Councils of Viana do Castelo (Santa Maria Maior and Monserrate) and Meadela. The Associação de Caçadores de Vila Nova de Anha and the Comissão Diretiva dos Baldios da Montaria were also partners.
The following proposal was presented by the Mayor of the Chamber:- "PROPOSAL - Cooperation Protocol within the scope of the Progama de Reabilitação de Áreas Classificadas do concelho de Viana do Castelo - Responsabilidade ambiental no âmbito das áreas classificadas do concelho de Viana do Castelo".
In the scope of the Municipal Strategy for Nature Conservation, a plan inscribed in the ongoing Environment and Biodiversity Agenda for the four-year period 2017-2021, the Municipality prepared the Programa de Reabilitação Ecológica das Áreas Classificadas do concelho, in this first phase, focusing on 5 of the 13 Natural Monuments, unique areas for the knowledge of the geological history of the Iberian Peninsula since more than 500 million years ago and which are part of the application that the Municipality is preparing for recognition as a UNESCO World Geopark territory. Viana do Castelo is a rich territory from the point of view of Natural and Cultural Heritage, with about 4,800 hectares specifically designated for the protection of fauna and flora habitats (3 sites of Community importance of Natura 2000 Network), being the only municipality in the country with the geological heritage inventory concluded and duly classified with 13 natural monuments, making up a total area of about 2,832 hectares. The recovery programme that was drawn up supported an application to PO SEUR, with approval of the overall investment amount of 500,000 euros, financed at 85%, with implementation in 2020 and 2021. The ecological recovery interventions that are intended to be carried out include actions to eradicate and control exotic species, mainly Acacia dealbata (Mimosa), Acacia longifolia (Acacia longifolia) and Acacia Melanoxylon (Australia), Carpobrotus edulis (beach weevil), Arundo donax (giant reed), Trandescantia fluminencis (Fortune grass or tradescância) and Cortaderia selloana (pampas grass or plumas). In addition to these actions, supported by an exhaustive inventory carried out by the Municipality for those species, the programme includes actions to promote scientific literacy to the population and the densification of the Municipality's Citizen Science strategy, extending the Bioregisto platform to the cartography of invasive vegetation, in collaboration with the Functional Ecology Centre of the University of Coimbra (invasoras.pt). In addition, planting actions are planned in the areas to be ecologically intervened, namely native species such as oak, pine, hawthorn, holm oak, birch or heather, among others, within the scope of the Municipal Year for the Recovery of Portuguese Native Forests, currently underway. In order to guarantee the perennial success of the intervention and the investment made, the rehabilitation programme foresees the involvement of the social and business fabric, and within the scope of the environmental responsibility of the institutions, so that they may take responsibility for the maintenance of the ecological quality of all or parts of the classified areas of the municipality of Viana do Castelo. The programme for the ecological rehabilitation of the classified areas of Viana do Castelo - 1st phase - was carried out with the collaboration of the Parish Councils of Afife, Carreço, Darque, Vila Nova de Anha and Santa Marta de Portuzelo, and also with the Parish Councils of Mazaferes and Vila Fria and the Parish Councils of Viana do Castelo (Santa Maria Maior and Monserrate) and Meadela. The Associação de Caçadores de Vila Nova de Anha and the Comissão Diretiva dos Baldios da Montaria were also partners.
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Technical details
References and scientific articles
Carvalhido (2012). O Litoral Norte de Portugal (Minho-Neiva): evolução paleoambiental quaternária e proposta de conservação do património geomorfológico. Tese de Doutoramento, Universidade do Minho, 564 p.
Carvalhido (2014). Processo de classificação dos 5 Monumentos Naturais Locais de Viana do Castelo. Memória Descritiva. Câmara Municipal de Viana do Castelo.
Child Mode
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