Tavira Island
Description of Tavira Island (Barril)
Tavira Island has a single continuous foredune, backed by an extensive backbarrier with hummocky marshes, dunes, and tidal channels. The selected study site, Praia do Barril, has a recent history of shoreline stability, with an almost continuous foredune. Dune vegetation cover has become denser during the last 50 years. The wider sandy portion of barrier island, nowadays covered by dunes, have relict tidal channels that penetrate into the island body, sometimes reaching the back of the foredune. Due to its low elevation, backbarrier dunes exhibit temporary ponds, where fresh-water vegetation developed. On the oceanic beach, temporary structures are installed and removed each year, supporting hundreds of daily visitors.
The Barril sector of Tavira Island is one of EVREST project study sites as it represents the evolution of a barrier island unaffected directly by tidal inlets, at least since the 1920s.

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2014
The orthophotography is property of DGT (Direção-Geral do Território) of Portugal. The GIS implementation was performed by CIMA of the University of Algarve. -
2008
The orthophotography is property of CIMA DGT (Direção-Geral do Território) of Portugal. The GIS implementation was performed by CIMA of the University of Algarve. -
2005
The orthophotography is property of DGT (Direção-Geral do Território) of Portugal. The GIS implementation was performed by CIMA of the University of Algarve. -
2002
The orthophotography is property of DGT (Direção-Geral do Território) of Portugal. The GIS implementation was performed by CIMA of the University of Algarve. -
2001
The aerial photography is property of CIGeoE (Centro de Informação Geoespacial do Exército) of Portugal. The GIS implementation was performed by CIMA of the University of Algarve. -
2000
The aerial photography is property of CIGeoE (Centro de Informação Geoespacial do Exército) of Portugal. The GIS implementation was performed by CIMA of the University of Algarve. -
1999
The aerial photography is property of CIGeoE (Centro de Informação Geoespacial do Exército) of Portugal. The GIS implementation was performed by CIMA of the University of Algarve. -
1996
The aerial photography is property of Agência Portuguesa do Ambiente (former INAG) of Portugal. The GIS implementation was performed by CIMA of the University of Algarve. -
1989
The aerial photography is property of Força Aérea Portuguesa (FAP) de Ministério de Defesa Nacional of Portugal. The GIS implementation was performed by CIMA of the University of Algarve. -
1986
The aerial photography is property of Força Aérea Portuguesa (Base Aérea Nº 6, Montijo) of Portugal. The GIS implementation was performed by CIMA of the University of Algarve. -
1985
The aerial photography is property of Força Aérea Portuguesa (FAP) de Ministério de Defesa Nacional of Portugal. The GIS implementation was performed by CIMA of the University of Algarve. -
1980
The aerial photography is property of DGT (Direção-Geral do Território) of Portugal. The GIS implementation was performed by CIMA of the University of Algarve. -
1976
The aerial photography is property of Força Aérea Portuguesa (FAP) de Ministério de Defesa Nacional of Portugal. The GIS implementation was performed by CIMA of the University of Algarve. -
1972
The aerial photography is property of Instituto Portugués de Cartografia e Cadastro (IPCC) of Portugal. The GIS implementation was performed by CIMA of the University of Algarve. -
1969
The aerial photography is property of Força Aérea Portuguesa (FAP) de Ministério de Defesa Nacional of Portugal. The GIS implementation was performed by CIMA of the University of Algarve. -
1958
The aerial photography was taken by the United States Air Force (USAF) and the photographs are part of the CIGeoE (Centro de Informação Geoespacial do Exército) collection. The GIS implementation was performed by CIMA of the University of Algarve. -
1952
The aerial photography was taken by the Sociedade Portuguesa de Levantamentos Aéreos Limitada (SPLAL) and the photographs are part of the CIGeoE (Centro de Informação Geoespacial do Exército) collection. The GIS implementation was performed by CIMA of the University of Algarve. -
1947
The aerial photography was taken by the British Royal Air Force (RAF) and the photographs are part of the CIGeoE (Centro de Informação Geoespacial do Exército) collection. The GIS implementation was performed by CIMA of the University of Algarve.
Suggested readings:
Andrade, C. (1990). O ambiente de barreira da Ria Formosa, Algarve-Portugal. PhD thesis. Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal (in Portuguese).
Dias, J.A. (1988). Aspectos geológicos do Litoral Algarvio. Geonovas, 10: 113-128 (in Portuguese).