ARZILA MARSH

THE ARZILA MARSH IS LOCATED CLOSE TO THE ARZILA, 12 KM WEST FROM COIMBRA, AND IT’S ONE OF THE LAST MARSHES LEFT FROM THE VAST ALLUVIAL PLAIN OF THE MONDEGO RIVER. 

THE GREAT PRODUCTIVITY AND DIVERSITY OF THE ARZILA MARSH ARISES FROM THE CONSTANT PRESENCE OF WATER.

THE AREA IS COVERED WITH AQUATIC VEGETATION SUCH AS BULRUSH SCHOENOPLECTUS LACUSTRIS, COMMON REED PHRAGMITES AUSTRALIS AND REED MACE TYPHA LATIFOLIA.

BESIDES THESE SPECIES, SHRUBS AND TREES CAN BE FOUND ON THE BORDERS OF THE MARSH, INCLUDING WILLOW SALIX SPP., BLACK POPLAR POPULUS NIGRA AND COMMON ALDER ALNUS GLUTINOSA.

A GREAT VARIETY OF ANIMAL SPECIES ARE FOUND IN THIS PROTECTED AREA, WHERE THEY SPEND A PART OR THE WHOLE OF THEIR LIFE CYCLE.

IT’S A HUMID ZONE OF GREAT ECOLOGICAL IMPORTANCE, HABITAT OF SEVERAL SPECIES IN DANGER OF EXTINCTION, SPECIALLY THE OTTER AND NEAR 150 SPECIES OF BIRDS, THAT USE THE MARSH, THROUGHOUT THE YEAR,  AS SHELTER, PLACE FOR FOOD AND REPRODUCTION.

IT HOLDS  ONE OF THE GREATEST CONTINUOUS SPOTS OF REEDPLOTS IN PORTUGAL, OCCUPIED BY SEDENTARY AND VISITANT BIRDS, PROCEEDING FROM THE NORTH OF EUROPE (WINTERLY) AND AFRICA (SUMMER VISITORS).

BIRD SPECIES, THE MOST VISIBLE FAUNA IN THE AREA, INCLUDE SEDGE WARBLER ACROCEPHALUS SHOENOBAENUS, SAVI’S WARBLER LOCUSTELLA LUSCINIOIDES, GREAT REED WARBLER ACROCEPHALUS ARUNDINACEUS, MARSH HARRIER CIRCUS AERUGINOSUS, LITTLE BITTERN IXOBRYCHUS MINUTUS, AND PURPLE HERON ARDEA PURPUREA, AS WELL AS NUMEROUS ANATIDAE SPECIES WHICH SEEK OUT THIS PLACE DURING THE WINTER.

ALSO TO BE FOUND HERE ARE THE IBERIAN PAINTED FROG DISCOGLOSSUS GALGANOI, THE GREEN TREE FROG HYLA ARBOREA, THE SCHREIBER’S GREEN LIZARD LACERTA SCHREIBERI, THE OCELLATED LIZARD LACERTA LEPIDA AND THE OTTER LUTRA LUTRA.

THE ARZILA MARSH NATURE RESERVE WAS CREATED IN 1988 WITH AN AREA OF 585 HECTARES. THE ARZILA MARSH IT’S ALSO CLASSIFIED AS A BIOGENETIC RESERVE OF EUROPEAN COUNCIL, IMPORTANT BIRD AREA (IBA), RAMSAR  SITE, SPECIAL PROTECTION AREA (SPA), AND SITE OF COMMUNITY IMPORTANCE (SCI).

THE RESERVE’S PURPOSES ARE NATURE CONSERVATION, ENVIRONMENTAL SENSIBILIZATION, AND THE SCIENTIFIC INVESTIGATION.

THE ETHNOGRAPHY OF THIS RESERVE IS CHARACTERIZED BY THE HAND MAKING OF MAT, WHIPS MADE WITH MAT RUSCH AND VIMEN, WICH ARE PLANTS BEARED IN THE MARSH.

THE VISITINGS START AT THE INTERPRETATION CENTER AND INCLUDE A SIGNALIZED CIRCUIT WITH THE APPROXIMATE DURATION OF 2 HOURS.

THE BIRD EXAMINATION DEPENDS ON THE SEASON, THE DAY AND THE WEATHER. IT IS WISE TO USE BINOCLES AND FIELD GUIDES.

DURING THE VISIT WE SHOULD RESPECT THESE RULES:

BE QUIET

DON’T DESTROY THE PLANTS

DON’T SMOKE

DON’T START A FIRE

DON’T THROW GARBAGE INTO THE FLOOR

DON’T BRING ANY PETS

FISHING AND HUTING IS FORBIDEN.

AFTER VISITING THIS RESERVE, YOU CAN ALSO VISIT ARZILA, ANOBRA, AND VILA OF PEREIRA.