Monday, 01 February 2010
the entrance to the Fortaleza of Sagres
After we skipped a visit to the fortress of Sagres early January, we want to go there today. At about 10:00h we are at the entrance. Tickets are 3 Euros each. Only through these fortifications you can reach the Ponta de Sagres where there is a small lighthouse we see flashing into our window each night.
the small chapel within the fortification
the entire fortification
there are several information points
The ruins of the fortress are of less interest to us, it is mere ruined walls. But beyond the fortification there is a beautiful circuit leading around the entire Ponta de Sagres. There are several information points on the seafarer nation Portugal and the country's energy production.
"Did you know that,
- the oceans provide energy from 5 different sources (waves, currents, tides, thermal gradient, and salinity gradient)
- by 1980 there were already over 1,100 inventions to convert wave energy into electrical energy
- the first attempt to harness wave energy to generate electricity was made in the 1960s in Japan, using maritime signal buoys"
the lighthouse of Ponta de Sagres
Ponta de Sagres is like a giant finger of rock pointing out to the ocean. During our circuit we see many fishermen breathtakingly close to the cliffs. We dare not think of sitting or standing so close to the precipice.
the steep coast of Sagres
bizarre rock formations on Ponta de Sagres
On the Ponta de Sagres there are several crevises only nature is able to create. These are fenced for safety reasons. The water, however, can be heard rushing beneath. Thus it feels as if the entire plateau was hollow out from below. We do not regret our visit to the fortification, even if the fortress itself was not much of worth. The circuit on the other hand, really was worth visiting and full of information.
