Portugal will import 2.2 million tons of sand to restore the beaches of the Algarve
Portugal has launched a large-scale operation to artificially restore beaches in the Algarve resort region, which involves transporting 2.2 million tons of sand.
The work covers more than 6 kilometers of coastline between Quarteira and Garrao.
The sand is extracted from the seabed, transported by ships, and evenly distributed along the coastline. Thanks to the project, the beaches could expand by approximately 37 meters.
“The sand is extracted from the seabed, transported by ship, and evenly spread along the shore,” the report states.
The work is being carried out in phases in several areas: Trafal, Vale do Lobo, Garrao, Forte Nova, and Quarteira. The total volume of material is about 1.8 million cubic yards of sedimentary rock, and the project cost amounts to 17.2 million euros.
The Algarve is one of Europe’s most popular tourist regions, but the coastline is gradually being destroyed by erosion, rising sea levels, and storms.
Environment Minister Maria da Graça Carvalho emphasized that the project’s goal is to protect people and infrastructure.
“The government is committed to ensuring ‘the safety of people and the protection of the coastline,’” she stated.
Similar work was carried out in the region in 1998, 1999, 2006, and 2010. However, a significant portion of the sand previously deposited was eventually washed away by the sea again, indicating the temporary nature of such protection.
As a reminder, the Odesa region expects an increase in the number of Black Sea beaches officially open for recreation in the summer of 2026. At the same time, the region and Odesa itself continue to be attacked daily by dozens of enemy drones, which affects the security situation.
