Considered to be one of the ten most important wetlands in Europe, has a total area of 14,192 hectares and includes a large expanse of the estuary's waters, mud flats interspersed with inlets, salt marshes, saltworks and alluvial farming land (water meadows). The Reserve covers part of the Alcochete, Benavente and Vila Franca de Xira municipalities in the upstream area of the Tagus estuary, with a total area of 32 km2, making it the largest in Western Europe. 

The Tagus Estuary is a maternity for several fish species like soles and seabass. Amongst the sedentary species we can find the sand goby and the common shrimp. We still find several salt water species that come to lay their eggs during the winter time like sea lamprey, the twaite shad or the eel. 

Nevertheless, it is the birdlife that gives the Tagus estuary the status of the most important wetland in Portugal and one of the most important in Europe. Populations of wintering species sometimes reach 120,000. Regular counts indicate that over 10,000 waders overwinter in this area, particularly the avocet (the reserve symbol), the flamingo, the greylag goose, the dunlin and the black-tailed godwit. 

When you sail around the Natural Reserve remember that is forbidden to anchor, fish or swing inside the total protection zone.

Download the Tagus estuary birdlife and fish species.